A delightful memory...bringing my cat home

United States
November 24, 2021 10:21am CST
I'm in a discussion about teaching your cat....and it brought to mind many years ago when I moved back to California from Montana. It was February and of course it was icy and cold. I was thrilled to be coming to someplace warm. I was traveling with my 5 year old daughter and my Siamese cat. Just a few days before we were to take off and fly home, I slipped and tore up my left leg. I ended up at the ER, and ended up with a cast from my hip to my ankle. OH JOY!!! I wasn't going to let that mess up the trip. I had packed enough toys to keep my daughter happy the whole trip, had taken the cat to the vet for clearance and tranquilizers...and she was riding in the cabin with the humans-I paid extra for that. We were set. The morning of the flight arrived and I followed the list to the letter. I tranquilized the cat, got our suit cases ready and we loaded into the cab. We got to the airport on time too. I checked us in at the desk, checked the luggage, and rolled through the airport in the wheel chair with a cat, 2 carry on bags, crutches, and a 5 year old in tow. I was loaded first since I was "Handicapped". Since I couldn't bend my leg because of the case I sat in front of the passenger section. Then they loaded first class (keep that in mind it's important). They finished loading passenger class and realized that they needed to put the cat somewhere. They couldn't get her under my seat because of safety equipment. I refused to let them put her in the luggage compartment. They were at a loss...then... they decided to put her under the last seat in First class. BINGO!!!! Problem solved. We took off, were airborne, and then the trouble began. My Siamese cat let out a howl that had everyone jumping. They couldn't bring her to me because of FAA regulations and all that cat would do is yell. I was accused of not giving her the tranquilizers and I showed them the package, I had been given 4 and she only was to have one. They were stuck. So, we were serenaded the whole four hour flight with breaks only when we landed. I'm sure the people in first class had a lot to say about the cat that wouldn't shut up...which was strange because I've flown with them before and they were fine...just this one had problems. We finally got to our destination, still being serenaded by a yowling cat, and I turned her loose. She jumped out of the carrier, climbed up on the couch and slept there for three solid days and nights not even getting up to use the litter box (I checked...I use scoopable litter). The stewardesses admitted to me that they expected my daughter to be the problem but she was good as gold. They took great delight in spoiling her, giving her things like wings and extra treats. They said she was the best child they EVER flew with, that everyone should pack a bag of new toys for their children. But, thankfully, I'm not flying with cats anymore. One trip with a power yeller was enough.
4 people like this
4 responses
@wolfgirl569 (93502)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Nov 21
I bet a lot of people went straight to bed after that flight.
@wolfgirl569 (93502)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Nov 21
@BearArtistLady A bored 5 year old could have been worse. It is a funny memory now
• United States
25 Nov 21
I sure wanted to. I was so embarrassed and I took extra time at the airport to apologize at the passengers for what happened. Thankfully they understood when they saw me in my "Travel Outfit" of a cast and split jeans and a 5 year old. They were happier with a yowling cat than the thought of a bored 5 year old causing problems. I was thanked many times for what I did to keep my daughter quiet.
1 person likes this
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
24 Nov 21
There was once a lady travelling with a cat in the bus. She cat was supposedly locked in a box but managed to escape. She had to run in the bus to get her cat back
• United States
25 Nov 21
With a cat they either are locked in the box or you've got mega problems on your hands!!! I learned long ago that I use the carriers provided by pet stores and Airlines or the animal doesn't travel. We had a dog that we put in a travel carrier (Large one), he sneezed and was loose!!! Fortunately we were in our own car when it happened, we had a good laugh over the incident and never tried a crate or carrier on a large dog again. I'm surprised that the bus driver didn't stop suddenly so the cat skidded to the front of the bus so the woman could catch it. That's what I would have done.
1 person likes this
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
25 Nov 21
@BearArtistLady in fact the bus was still at the bus station at that time and we had to wait for 15 minutes for it to leave
@RasmaSandra (72494)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Nov 21
WOW, I can imagine that some of the people got whopping headaches, I was so lucky that way, When I returned to the US with my cat Sid four years ago I had sprayed the inside of his carrier with a calming cat soothing spray and I had to go through three airports and two planes and he was good as gold and did not let out a sound,
@Courtlynn (67002)
• United States
25 Nov 21
Yikes! A cat on a flight.
• United States
25 Nov 21
I was tempted to dress her up as a stewardess or flight captain but decided against it, especially the way that cat yowled! But the problem was that the cargo hold isn't as fully pressurized as the passenger cabin, and I didn't want anything to happen to my kitty.
1 person likes this