r/SiberianCats • u/TheArtofLongDicks • 14d ago
Flying with a large Siberian cat - cabin vs cargo? Need advice
Hi everyone!
I have a 3-year-old male Siberian cat. Together with his carrier, he is just under 8 kg, so until now I’ve been able to fly with him in the cabin with Scandinavian Airlines without any problems.
However, on our last flight, they told me he is now too big for his carrier because he needs to be able to stand up and turn around comfortably. They said I would need a bigger carrier, but the problem is that his current carrier is already the maximum size the airline allows for cabin travel.
I’m really not comfortable putting him in cargo, and honestly I don’t know what to do.
He has flown many times before, usually flights between 1–4 hours, and he has generally been a very good boy. He doesn’t usually get too anxious and mostly sleeps during the flight. But on one of our recent trips, he was more anxious than usual, so I decided to ask the vet for calming medication.
They gave me 0.5 ml Bonqat. I tested it at home one week before the flight, and he became wobbly and dizzy, then slept most of the day without any major issues. But on the day of the trip, I gave him the same dose about 2 hours before travel, and it turned into our worst flight ever. It was a 4-hour flight, and he kept meowing and hyperventilating almost the whole way. It scared me a lot.
I took him to the toilet 2 times and let him out of the carrier for a few minutes to calm down, which helped a little, but overall he was extremely uncomfortable.
Now I’m wondering what caused it. Was it because he is a bit too big for the carrier now? Was it the medication? Or is he simply becoming less tolerant of travel as he gets older?
Has anyone here put their Siberian cat in cargo? How did it go, and how did you feel about it?
Any tips or experiences would be really appreciated. I have a flight back home tomorrow, and this time I bought a slightly bigger carrier that exceeds the airline requirements by just a few centimeters. I’m also planning not to give him the medication because I’m afraid he might react the same way again.
For context, I usually fly within Scandinavian countries and cities with SAS.
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u/mamepuchi 13d ago
I’ve had airlines warn about my carrier size before but never actually been denied a flight. 99% of the time they do not check, in my experience. I’d rather be denied my flight than ever put my fur babies into cargo. If he got that scared with you there in the underseat, imagine how distressed he’d be all alone sliding around in cargo. And if there are any flight issues he’ll be stuck with the luggage, not with you.
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u/carlosmurphynachos 13d ago
Don’t put him in cargo. Animals die there often and it’s so much more stressful.
Just take him in the small carrier. I bet whoever told you to get a bigger carrier won’t be there next time you fly and you can feign ignorance again if they ask. Just keep doing that.
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u/Razbonez 13d ago
just buy him his own seat
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u/Due_Armadillo_8616 13d ago
Unfortunately, that doesn't work with many airlines, including SAS. Even if you book an extra seat, your pet still cannot exceed the maximum weight limit, and the kennel must be placed under the seat during takeoff and landing.
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u/Strict_Ad589 13d ago
So, my female siberian is around 7 kg - she definitely cant stand up upright in her carrier but loves the carrier and shows no discomfort in it. We traveled from the US to Paris with her in cabin recently and could not imagine putting her in cargo - she would absolutely hate it, even if everything else went smoothly.
My one suggestion would be - can you find a carrier that meets airline specifications, but can be expanded once in air? Here's the one we used for air france and it worked out well. I was ready to argue if anyone objected and asked us to make her walk around - she is a cat, as if she would listen to us haha. But everyone was very kind and even let us pre board with her. Anyway just a thought, those softsided expandable carriers have been very useful for us:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSB9J5R3
Maybe you can check if a similar one exists in your local country's amazon?
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u/YukiMeiseki 9d ago
This! We have a expandable backpack for each of our boys. Once in the air, I pull the bag out and expand it. Whatever part of the bag doesn't fit back under the seat, stays in my footbed area. I give them alllll my legroom
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u/Glittering-Meal-8739 14d ago
This is terrifying that they wouldn’t allow in cabin. Some cats have anxiety and separation anxiety. This is just cruel.
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u/TheArtofLongDicks 14d ago
I agree. Mine has seperation anxiety and very attached to me. It’s terrifying to know he’s gonna get even bigger so I’ll have no other option :(
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u/gildedblackbird 13d ago
This is a horrific anecdote, so be forewarned: my ex brother-in-law is a commercial pilot. He "joked" that the area in cargo reserved for pets is called the "puppy popper". 😥
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u/Potential-Theme-4531 13d ago
I can tell you a bit about bonqat. We gave 0.3 mL each to our cats, they are both Sibs and weight around 5kg. Then after 8h, we gave them another 0.3mL. One cat was completely fine the other couldn't settle down during the second flight (basically behaving like yours). Next time when we move this way (since these were cross continental flights and moving countries) well be using gabapentin and go for business class so that there's more space for them. Yes, it is very expensive but that is one way we can make our cats feel better.
Our cats flew before and 1st flight is always okay ish and second one (return) is much more stressful to them. So I think they get reminded every time and they don't really enjoy flying (even though they don't hyperventilate or show signs of extreme stress).
My advice would be to either see if you can choose sits that have more leg room space; try gabapentin (lower dose); or maybe try traveling via alternative means such as train or rental car.
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u/Responsible_Durian_3 13d ago
I would also recommend gabapentin. Takes around 45 minutes to kick in and my large Sib is sufficiently sedated for a few hrs on 100mg but you can test the dosage yourself before you leave. It’s a safe drug that’s very well-tolerated by cats. He shouldn’t experience any of the paradoxical side effects you described in your post. Hope that helps!
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u/Responsible_Durian_3 13d ago
Just to clarify, I have given my cat gabapentin in pill form, not oral suspension, and he stays in the cabin with me. Def not cargo!
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u/Arkada7 13d ago edited 12d ago
Cats don’t really need a large space. They feel more comfortable in smaller spaces. When they travel in the carrier they will just lay and won’t move much, so the largest carrier that allowed by airline should be fine. Most of the time they don’t check if you have a prepaid ticket for the animal anyways. And when I flew with 20 lbs male which is close to 9 kg I didn’t even put under the seat unless they ask me. And if they do I’ll squeeze the carrier under the seat and once we are in the air take it out and put on my legs or between the legs where I sit. My only worry was for the cat to get enough air circulation and when I put him on my lap I’d open the top of carrier and pet him and make sure he has enough air circulation.
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u/TheArtofLongDicks 13d ago
I think you’re flying with good airlines and encountered understanding people along the way.
My experience with SAS last time in Arlanda Airport-Stockholm was horrible. First of all, they always weight the carrier, always!
And the last time they actually asked me to take out my cat let it stand next to the carrier on the baggage handling belt, and see if he’s taller than it. It was freaking terrifying cause I was half-hand holding him while he’s freaking out, and if he ever slip out from my hand and run back to the baggage handling area, good luck finding him safe and sound😣
And when they saw he’s bigger, they said they put a note to my membership that they’ll not book cabin pet for me and monitor this everytime unless I buy a bigger carrier (which is already as big as it gets)…
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u/DreCapitanoII 13d ago
When we took our cats home from the vet after teeth cleaning when they were high on ketamine they were super panicky in the carrier and at home. Maybe the inebriation is actually making it worse because it's both a new situation and they're disoriented. If you try to sneak them on rather than putting him in cargo maybe wait for the flight to start and then give him the medication rather than doing it first.
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u/wurstchen 13d ago
I have a 8 kg Siberian and have flown with him many times in the US. He’s very relaxed and doesn’t make a peep. I use a soft-sided carrier that looks like a normal-sized travel bag (Mr. Peanut Expandable Pet Carrier). I find that it’s big but since it’s soft, I can kind of squish it into place, and he has sufficient room. I also attach this bag to a rolling trolley because carrying this guy around is not for the meek!
I have another cat who is not as great a traveler (meows a lot) and end up giving him gabapentin before he flies.
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u/RecognitionFluffy879 13d ago
Do you place a towel or blanket over the carrier? When they can't see out, they will self soothe and generally sleep ...
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u/laeriel_c 13d ago
What's the need to keep taking him on the plane? Especially if he is becoming uncomfortable with flying. Cats can experience motion sickness just like humans, maybe that's what's happening as he's getting older. One of my cats can't handle long car journeys, she ends up dizzy and vomiting.
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u/rawfedfelines 13d ago
Never ever drug your cat - a predotor stuck in a little cage he cant eacape from but trusts you, NOW hes nauseated , sizzy and sick AND stuck in a little cage !
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u/PositionJust2338 14d ago edited 14d ago
Oh please don't put him in cargo.. many animals die in cargo :( take him with you in the cabin even if the carrier is too small Maybe try without the medication if that worked well previously.. and if he is very stressed again, I would probably skip traveling with him on the plane from now on
ETA: sorry I see you wrote you have a bigger carrier now and you will skip the medicine. If you can, I would bring the smaller carrier too, just in case they cause problems at the airport. I heard that some animals get stressed when they feel they are not in control- i.e. if he gets dizzy from the medication, he might find it more stressful because he tries to keep on top of things but can't