Here's one: http://airpetsamerica.com/services-page/ I don't know anything about them but it might be worth looking into. If a pet travels on a commercial airline they have to be with a passenger in order to ride in the cabin in a carrier. I would not ship a pet in cargo - too much can go wrong, and it is probably a frightening experience for the animal.

Good luck - hope everything works out for you and your cat.

But this sure isn't a worry you should have in addition to your health.

I don't know for sure. I know there used to be an airline just for pets. I am pretty sure cats and little bitty dogs can fly in the main cabin with people on most airlines. I know never send an animal in the cargo hold. Too many die.

I wish I had better information for you.

Good luck. Take care of you.

it was a long time ago now, but i had no problems, really.
the dog flew united and the pups flew delta.
i think delta is one of the bigger shippers in this area. they used to call it delta dash.
you can probably get quotes for travel sites. iirc, it was about half the price of a seat on the plane.

lots of rescues to transports, and maybe one in your area could help you with that.
also they are companies that line up people to drive/deliver cars. perhaps your kitty would be allowed on one of these rides? just thinkin here.


one thing you can do for kitty now is make sure she is comfortable with being in a crate. usually airlines require the plastic ones. you can rent them on delta, iirc.

feed her in the crate, attach fave toys to the crate, stuff like that.
i do that with my birds. it is very helpful at any stressful time for them to have a comfy hideout.

I used Royal Paws. http://www.royalpaws.com/
They were courteous, professional (and arrived a bit earlier than planned - 5:30 a.m.) - (of course a lot depends on traffic LOL) The cats were kept in carriers and driven up in a station wagon. It was pricey though.

never used one but I think I would prefer shipping a cat by ground rather than by air because cats can be more skittish than
dogs. Here is one service (and I'm not recommending any since I've never used any of them) but it's WE MOVE PETS and their phone # is 1-866-269-5099. Good luck!

At that time, Delta was the best for travelling with pets, and they flew fine several times cross-country in a large dog crate sprinkled liberally with cat-nip where they could be together. Nowdays, though - I wouldn't want them to fly checked as live baggage. I've heard pretty near all the air carriers have problems. Seems to be primarily with a breakdown in the airport handling procedures for live animals, but still, problems happen too often across all the carriers.

If you can save up a couple hundred, a vet will be able to provide the flight documents and your sister can come up and fly back with the cat with her in the cabin, that might actually be cheaper and easier on kitty than either a ground shipper (which can take several days and further stress kitty) or an live animal air shipping company. Perhaps if you can go half with her?
The Vet inspection and paperwork should cost between $75 and $150, depending on vet costs and state requirements in both your state and Florida. If your cat is under 9 pounds, it should fit in a small cabin carrier and perhaps you'd only have to pay for an extra carry-on. Kitty would also only be dealing with a 3 - 4 hour flight and the drives to and from the airport, rather than having to deal with a shipping company or a three or four day road trip.

Good luck, and sad to hear of your health problems.

Haele

I worked as a Ramp Supervisor for several years. I saw ramp workers teasing and tormenting dogs and cats in carriers.

Of course, when I was there I put a stop to it in no uncertain terms.

But I'm sure it goes on all the time... HATED seeing critters being transported in this way.

I've seen good and bad things.

I would advise having a trusted friend drive the pet.

Don't put them on a plane. Just don't.