Transporting Cats in Cargo: What to Expect and How to Prepare
The vast majority of cats travelling internationally do so in the cargo hold. For most destinations, there is no cabin option – and even where cabin travel is permitted, many cats are too large or their owners prefer the convenience of cargo rather than managing a carrier under the seat for 10+ hours.
Understanding what cargo travel actually involves helps owners prepare their cats properly.
The Cargo Hold: What it’s Like
The cargo hold of a modern wide-body airliner (Boeing 777, Airbus A330, A350) is:
- Pressurised at the same cabin altitude as the passenger cabin (equivalent to 6,000-8,000 feet)
- Heated to approximately 18-20°C during cruise (not as warm as the passenger cabin, but not cold)
- Dark and vibrating
- Significantly quieter than the passenger cabin after take-off noise subsides
The physical environment is survivable. The challenge for cats is psychological: unfamiliar confinement, strange smells, handling by strangers, and separation from their owner and home environment.
Preparing Your Cat
Crate familiarisation (6+ weeks before):
- Leave the carrier open in the cat’s living area
- Place bedding and toys inside
- Feed meals near or inside the carrier
- Progress to closing the door for short periods, then longer
- A cat comfortable sleeping in its carrier handles cargo better
On travel day:
- Do not feed for 4 hours before the flight (reduces nausea risk)
- Place a worn item of clothing in the carrier (familiar scent)
- Secure a frozen water holder to the inside of the crate door
- Add absorbent bedding
Pheromone products:
- Feliway spray applied to bedding 15-30 minutes before travel (allow to air for 10 minutes)
- Feliway can reduce travel stress without the risks of sedation
Crate Requirements
An IATA-compliant rigid carrier is required for cargo. The cat must be able to stand, turn around, and lie naturally. Typical cats need an IATA size 100 (small cats) to 300 (large cats).
Do not use a soft-sided carrier for cargo hold travel.
Airlines That Handle Cats Particularly Well
- Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian (Lufthansa Group): Known for well-maintained live animal facilities at Frankfurt
- KLM: Good live animal handling at Amsterdam Schiphol
- Air New Zealand: Good reputation for trans-Pacific cat cargo
- Japan Airlines: Excellent live animal standards on routes into Japan
What Happens on Arrival
The cat is held in the cargo facility until the owner (or agent) presents documentation and collects it. For quarantine countries (Australia, NZ), the cat is transferred directly from cargo to the quarantine facility.
Sources: IATA Live Animals Regulations 2024; AVMA guidance on animal transport; Feliway/Ceva scientific literature on feline travel stress. Data current as of June 2026.