How to fly with a cat

Cabin or hold

Most airlines accept a cat in the cabin in a soft carrier that goes under the seat in front of you. The weight limit includes the carrier. According to our data, most airlines set it at 8 kg; a few use 7, 9 or 10 kg.

• Turkish Airlines: up to 8 kg with the carrier, carrier no larger than 23 × 30 × 40 cm.
• Lufthansa: up to 8 kg with the carrier, a soft carrier up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm with no rigid frame or wheels.
• KLM: up to 8 kg including the carrier; the carrier up to 46×28×24 cm. In the cabin in Economy, and in Business only within Europe (KLM’s rules).

Some airlines don’t take cats in the cabin at all. Emirates, for example, only allows falcons on certain flights to Pakistan and guide dogs. A cat can leave Dubai in the hold if the destination accepts animals as baggage, the whole journey is under 17 hours and any Dubai connection is under 6 hours. Animals travelling into Dubai must go as cargo.

If your cat is over the limit, the options are the hold or cargo. The rules there are different: a rigid crate, a separate fee, breed and temperature restrictions.

The carrier: what IATA requires

Airlines follow the IATA rules for live animals, but each can add stricter requirements of its own. For cabin travel IATA advises:

• The carrier fits under the seat in front. Keep in mind that a soft carrier may get squashed there.
• Your cat can sit, stand, turn around and lie down in a natural position.
• The carrier is leak-proof and escape-proof, with absorbent bedding inside.
• The cat usually stays in the carrier for the whole flight; the exact rules depend on the airline.

Size limits vary between airlines, so check them against your flight’s rules rather than an “airline approved” label on the box.

Buy the carrier after you have chosen the airline: a 55 × 40 × 23 cm carrier works for Lufthansa but not for Turkish Airlines, which allows 40 cm in length.

Documents for your cat

The rules are set by the destination country and sometimes by the transit country. Below are the main requirements for the EU and the US. For other destinations, see our country rules.

Entering the EU from outside the EU (European Commission, Your Europe):

1. A microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccination doesn’t count.
2. A rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks of age or older. After the first shot, wait at least 21 days.
3. A rabies antibody (titre) test if your departure country isn’t on the EU list. The blood sample is taken at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before the health certificate is issued; the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml, tested by an approved laboratory.
4. An EU animal health certificate from an official vet, issued no more than 10 days before entry, plus your written declaration that the trip is non-commercial.
5. Entry through a travellers’ point of entry where pets are checked, unless your departure country is exempt.

Entering the US: USDA APHIS has no animal health requirements for pet cats, and the CDC requires that cats appear healthy on arrival; it recommends but doesn’t require a rabies vaccination. Your destination state may still have its own rules. To fly from the US to another country, APHIS advises contacting a USDA-accredited vet and getting a USDA-endorsed health certificate.

The titre test and the waiting periods take months. Start with the paperwork and book flights once the timeline is clear.

Build a document checklist

Sedatives: only on your vet’s advice

IATA does not encourage sedatives or tranquilisers for animals in transport and its cabin guidance specifically advises against them for cats and dogs. If your vet does prescribe something, tell the airline: it may refuse a sedated animal.

The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) warns that these drugs can increase the risk of heart and breathing problems and are generally not allowed by airlines. Turkish Airlines is strict: pets given sedatives before the flight are not accepted.

We recommend discussing your particular case with a vet and an animal behaviourist: they can advise how to help your cat cope with the flight and whether it needs any products at all

Getting your cat ready

1. Introduce the carrier weeks ahead: leave it open at home with a blanket and treats inside.
2. Check the age rules: IATA requires animals to be at least 8 weeks old and weaned, and many airlines ask for more: Lufthansa requires 12 weeks, or 15 weeks on flights to, from or via Germany.
3. Give a light meal at least 2 hours before the flight and a little water.
4. At security you’ll usually be asked to take your cat out while the carrier goes through the X-ray; the procedure depends on the airport. Put a harness on beforehand so the cat can’t slip away.

Request pet carriage right after booking, or even before: cabin spots for animals are limited. Lufthansa confirms the booking no later than 72 hours before departure. KLM asks you to add the pet in My Trip at least 48 hours before departure (KLM’s rules).

What to do next

Find a flight that takes cats in the cabin: our search compares fares including the pet fee and shows where pets aren’t accepted. Then check the destination country’s rules and build your document checklist. Flying with two cats? Read our separate guide.

When flying with a pet, it’s best to buy the ticket on the airline’s own website: it’s easier to add the animal to the booking, and if the flight or rules change you deal with the airline directly, without a middleman.

Find flights with a pet