Recently, a young woman came to Palo Verde Animal Hospital to get a health certificate so she could take her precious kitty, “Buttons”, with her back to her parent’s home in Indiana. She asked about how to best care for “Buttons” during the flight and while she was in Indiana. Summer is the season for going back home. Of course you are going to bring your best friend. Often the trip could be made much better if you had begun preparation long before the trip instead of a few days before you were leaving.

Here are a few words about trip preparation. Cats are afraid of unfamiliar places. A carrier should be purchased for “Buttons” if she doesn’t have one already. The carrier should be small and dark so “Buttons” feels like she’s hiding and it should have adequate openings for ventilation. The carrier should have been made familiar to “Buttons” for 2 months prior to the trip. It could have been left out in her area of the home. “Buttons” could have gone on several short rides in her carrier. When “Buttons” is traveling she should be placed in her familiar carrier and heavy, absorbent towels should be in the carrier in case she can’t hold it. The trip should be as short as conditions will allow. A direct flight will help. She will be OK without food or water for half a day if need be, but you should keep the time as short as you can. When “Buttons” gets to the new quarters everything will be foreign and it will be new territory. It takes at least 2 weeks for a kitty to begin to accept the new territory. Keep her carrier out. The carrier is familiar and it will help keep her at ease. Anything else that you bring that she may know should be where she can see and smell it. Kitty’s sometimes run away in unfamiliar places. Special needs should be taken so that “Buttons” doesn’t get outside. Cats often run away and never come back if the home is new to them. As an added precaution it would help for “Buttons” to have a microchip placed for identification. Animal shelters across the country scan every stray for a microchip. The microchip would help bring “Buttons” home if she did accidentally get outs, even if it’s 1,500 miles from home.

“Buttons” would rather have not even gone on the trip. She would be much more at ease at home with pet sitter care. Kenneling is the safest of all. Even with all of the loving and attention that “Buttons” would get at the kennel though, she would rather have been at home.

If “Buttons” had been a dog there would be a few differences. Dogs hold so tightly to their “pack” that they are usually happy any place the “pack” goes. They would be unhappy if left alone in Phoenix. Preparatory car trips are still helpful. The microchip would also be helpful.

Another question that we are asked frequently has to do with tranquilizers on the flight. The airlines and most veterinarians discourage the use of tranquilizers. In an airline sponsored study in travel deaths of pets it was found that almost all airline pet deaths are a result of the tranquilizers. The tranquilizer reduces the pets ability to adapt to problems and changes. Anxious pets could be started on Prozac beginning 1 month or more prior to the trip. Fluoxetine reduces anxiety without dangerously tranquilizing your pet.

When “Buttons” owner made the appointment for the health certificate she was asked where she was going and when her last rabies vaccine was given. She was also asked to bring the rabies vaccination certificate. The rabies vaccination status is the most important issue on a health certificate. “Buttons” had to meet the rabies vaccination requirements of the state of destination in order to qualify for a health certificate. The rabies certificate must have the date of vaccine, vaccine type, vaccine brand and serial number. In “Buttons” case we had to give her a rabies vaccination when we wrote the health certificate.

With a few precautions “Buttons” should have a good trip. Remember that “Buttons” doesn’t know what it’s all about. Preparation and reassurance will help her have a better trip.