A couple months ago I relocated from Chicago to the Bay Area for work. While it was a bit of an unexpected move, I decided I was up for the adventure. This meant that my kitty, Isaac, who was born and raised in Chicago, would need to get there somehow.

Preparing to Travel

After lots of research I decided it would be best to fly him. I was extremely nervous about this and spent weeks scouring the internet for tips and advice. Thankfully, Isaac and I made it to California safely, though it felt a bit harrowing during the time!

To prepare I purchased Isaac a TSA-approved vest. I also already had a soft-sided carrier that I used for occasional drives back home to St. Louis. The TSA-approved vest was very important because you have to take the animal out of their carrier so that the carrier can be x-rayed.

The Journey

The night before our flight we went to a pet-friendly hotel near O’Hare to stay the night. Luckily my dad drove me which at least minimized some of the stress of that part of the journey. Thanks to some internet tips I had read beforehand, I knew to bring a portable litter box, food, and water bowl, with small bags of litter that could be tossed later.

The next day, our time came to head to the airport. We hopped on a free shuttle and made our way, my heart racing as we got closer and closer to our destination.

 

I flew United, which imposes a $125 extra fee for pets. Oddly though when I checked in, no one seemed to mind or care that I had a pet with me. I actually had to chase someone down at the check-in desk to make sure they were aware I had a pet and to get my receipt.

I was most worried about taking Isaac out of his carrier for security since I knew it would expose him to chaos of the airport. And boy, was he unhappy. He reluctantly let me take him out of the bag, groaning and digging his claws into me as I held onto him and put the bag through. The guy behind me remarked “oh isn’t he cute…” anything but!! It was also in this moment that I realized *just how* noisy airports really are, something you don’t notice until it really matters.

 

We made it through safely. I think the TSA was sympathetic because they even helped me get my belongings and Isaac safely back in the bag.

Now, my cat is not small. He easily clocks in at 17 pounds. With the hardest part behind us, I still had to drag him to our gate (not close!) and was crossing my fingers that the bag would fit under the seat safely.

Isaac and I boarded the plane and made our way to our seat. The bag fit nicely underneath.

This was perhaps the longest 4-hours of my life. He mewed softly a few times which tugged at my heart. I didn’t want to risk unzipping the bag so I just rubbed the sides of his carrier to let him know I was here and that he was okay. I don’t think my neighbor, conked out for most of the trip, even noticed. At one point I heard someone wonder, “is there a cat on board?”, so his presence was largely unfelt.

By the time we arrived I was exhausted from the stress of the journey and physical exertion of dragging him around. After a short bus ride at the airport we made it to the rental car agency, got our rental car, and were on our way to our new home.

Settling In

Isaac sniffed around his new home for a few minutes, and then quickly settled in with me on our makeshift bed. A week later the movers arrived with the rest of our belongings, and Isaac was back to being a happy cat who loves boxes.

A few weeks later, the experience was behind him, as he peacefully soaked up the California sun in his new home.

What do you think?

Have you ever traveled with a pet? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments!