Flying with a Cat: The Sh*t No One Talks About
How does your cat go to the washroom while on the plane?
I’m often asked this question when I discuss flying on a plane with a cat, and honestly the reality behind of it isn’t great. I’ll share my process down below, but keep in mind that some airlines won’t even let you remove your cat from under the seat in front of you. Some airlines may not even allow pets in the cabin! If you’re looking for more info on flying with a pet and what to consider, take a look at my post How to Fly with a Cat.
Before you even get to the airport, you need to consider what to pack. It can be hard to know what you need if you’ve never flown, so here’s a little checklist to get your started:
Litter scoop
Ziploc bag of cat litter
Disposable poop bags
Pet-friendly wipes
Sanitizing wipes
Gloves (optional)
Make sure that these are packed in your carry-on and are placed together so that you’re not rummaging around in your bag looking for everything. Once you get through the airport security, you can prep your litter box ahead of time. I usually go to the washroom to do this and will bring the cat to see if they need to go before even getting on the plane (huge win if they do go!)
Once you’re on the plane itself, the ideal situation would be that your cat doesn’t need to use the washroom. You won’t always know if your cat even needs to go as some cats will stay silent while others might meow to alert you that they’re feeling discomfort. Most cats will be able to hold it in for shorter flights that are around 1-4 hours while some cats may even hold it for longer flights that extend to 8-10 hours. In our situation, Reinhardt wanted to go at least once per flight whereas Perseus was fine to hold it until we landed. For our 10 hour flight from Vancouver to Paris, I opted to take both cats to the washroom every four hours just to be safe. If your cat is sleeping, I would avoid waking them for a washroom break as you might just stress them out or lead them to think that it’s time to walk/play.
The actual process of taking your cat to the washroom is quite awkward because the carrier is bulky, people will most certainly being watching you once you stand up, and you’ll likely bump into other passengers due to the narrow aisles. If possible, it’s best to go when there is no line up. It’s also recommended that you only take one cat at a time because airplane washrooms are very cramped and it’s difficult to carry everything in one trip. Also, keep a lookout for the snack trolley that is usually placed near the washrooms and consider taking a few (they should be free) to get the most value out of your flight.
Once inside the washroom, make sure you put the toilet seat down in case your cat suddenly freaks out and tries to escape. You’ll also want to pull down the baby changing table, and it should have just enough room for the carrier and litter box to fit on top. If you haven’t already set up your litter box, you’ll want to make sure there’s a liner inside and then scatter the litter on top. If you have no litter or it got confiscated at security (happened to us once), you can try using shredded toilet paper.
Once the litter box is ready to go, you can open up your carrier and let your cat come out. Avoid letting them jump down to the floor as it’s definitely not clean down there! Your cat may be distracted by the new surroundings or hide, so you can wait a bit and then pick them up and place them in the litter to help them realize they have washroom access. Most likely your cat will stretch and groom a bit before actually doing their business. Some cats may refuse to use the toilet in foreign spaces or may feel too stressed by the plane to go. Just give your cat some time to decide if they actually want to go once they’re in the litter box.
If your cat does use the box, you’ll want to scoop everything as best as you can. You might want to have gloves for this part, especially if you’re having to use shredded paper. Scoop everything into the poop bags you hopefully packed and do not try to flush anything in the toilet! While it may be a relief if your cat uses the washroom, having to clean up the mess afterwards is not particularly enjoyable and is more challenging than scooping at home.
After you’ve finished scooping what you can, you can pack your cat back up and then clean the scoop a bit with a sanitizer wipe. You’ll want to seal the litter liner as best as you can and then zip up your litter box. You can try to fold it back up, but most likely you’ll just have to deal with it being like a squishy suitcase for a bit. Before leaving the washroom, I also like to use a second wipe to clean the baby table area and then, of course, wash my hands.
In the event that the airline staff tell you that you’re not allowed to bring your cat to the washroom, it would be a good idea to line the carrier with some pee pads. These can help to absorb any liquid mess, although your pet may complain due to the smell.
A final word from Perseus: 9io0-
