Cat

[motoko]

I am taking 5 hours flight with my cat from Montreal to Vancouver and staying over at a hotel for 7 hours. At the hotel, there will be a cat litter provided, so my cat should be okay, although the flight is for the first time for my cat.
However, 7 hours later staying at the hotel,
we are taking anoter flight for 2 hours from Vancouer to Sanfransisco and 11 hours from Sanfransisco to Narita.
Waiting time between the first flifht and th last flight will be 3 hours at the airport.
Should I bring a litter and sand for my cat?
Do you know if I could take him out of the cage at the airport?
During the all the flights, he will be in the cabin with me.
Some people say to give him a sleeping pill(?) or something, but some say NEVER. I don't want to give him any pill. Should I?
Could you give me some advice what I can do to make his flights easier?

By the way, this cat is one who got an electic shock 5 months ago, and I posted about it here at that time. He is doing very well and I prepared all the paper needed at the airport for pet export and import.

Thank you.

[meezermom]

Whatever you do, do NOT let her out at the airport! The noise and such will terrify her and she will take off running and be lost...To be very honest, she will be fine until you are at the hotel...I would not even feed her the morning you leave as the motion of the plane and all the strangeness may upset her tummy. When you get to the hotel, offer her a small amount of food and water and set up the litter in the bathroom....and for the most part, you may want to restrict her to the bathroom! That way there is absolutely no chance of escape. She will be fine really. Most cats do just fine even on a trip this long. It is much harder on dogs...

Have a wonderful and safe trip and we hope to continue hearing from you!!

[motoko]

Thank you for the advise. I changed all the flights. And now we are fliying from Montreal to Chicage (2hrs and 20)then Narita(12hrs and 55).
Fourtunately the waiting time is 2hours, that is not too long.
By the way, for the food, as a rule, U.A. and U.S.D.A. say that all the pets need to be fed within 4 hours before the check-in, and I will have to sign the paper what time I feed my pet.
You say I had better stop feeding him 12 hours before the flight to avoid the sickness. I understand it, but the airline and the government for animal inspection say I need to feed him before the flight.
I'm confused. Do you know about this?
I know I'm porbably worried too much. My brain will be stuck with the toilet and food for my cat during the trip for six months.

[meezermom]

Then I would feed him at the very beginning of the 4 hours.......probably best time would be about 3 1/2 hours from check in... As he is traveling in the cabin with you, he will do better I would think. My son flew with his kitten and they had a great time! The kitten got tons of attention and he was like a seasoned traveler even though it was his first time on a plane!! My bet is your cat will do great too.....