Disclaimer: Please don't hate me. I don't need criticisms or hatred or judgments. I need advice.
I am in Korea right now and have been away from my two 10 month old cats for over two months now. I was sent away in business trip with my current employer, and it was a very, very critical trip for me personally.
It killed me every single day not being with my boys, and I felt so bad and sorry to my family who had to take care of them in my absence. Of course, they love my boys to death so they did it gladly but it is no cakewalk taking care of these little balls of mischief and energy.
Initially, I wanted to take my boys with me to Korea, even if it cost me extra to take them on board. The only thing is they were (they still are) so young and I didn't want to put them through the stress of going on non-stop 14hour flight.
But the thing is, I might have to come back to Korea again. I am returning to Canada this week but I might have to go back again in March. This time, I would be going for another six months. That's half a freaking year.
I live with my family but these are my boys. The two and a half months I've been away this time around, it killed me and hurt me but I thought it was for the best interest of my cats. But now, I don't know what to do.
Six months is not a short-time. It's not a super long time, but it's not short time.. I want to be with my boys and I don't want my family to go through the trouble of taking care of them again, but this time for six months.
It goes without saying the stress would be immense for any animals to go through a long flight. We brought out first pet home to Canada from Korea 10 years ago. He was a little Maltese, and he was maybe four months old when we brought him home, 14 hour flight. He grew happy and old and is a good boy, but nothing went wrong during the flight, and all was good. The only difference being he didn't have to take another 14 hour flight back, and he is a dog. I just don't know how different it will be with cats, and two at that.
I posted this to ask for some advice from people who have experience traveling long air flights with their cats. I want to know:
- how was it for the cats? Any impact after?
- what kind of carrier is the best? Is there any one that allows the two to connect? It would be most ideal if there is a carrier that connects to make one big one so my boys can stay together..
- How did the cats manage to go pee and poo? With dogs, if they need to pee or poo, they just go in their little space (breaks my heart just thinking about it) but with cats, they need litter box. How do you manage that with the space constraints?? It's not like I can take a big-ass carrier that has space for cats to sleep and go to litter box. Do they just have to go pee and poo down the cage as well?
- When is the best time to feed them? What about water?
- Anything else I should prepare for pre-flight, during the flight, and post-flight?
- Would it be better to take a stop, instead of a non-stop flight? Would that cause even more stress for the cats to stop at another airport?
- Any other advice at all?
Last time I posted something like this, I didn't receive much help, but just criticisms about how I dare to even think about traveling with my cats over such long flights. I get it, I am terrible. But I don't want to leave my cats in the hands of random strangers for six months, or leave them to my family for another six months (yes they love my cats but they did suffer a lot of stress themselves, having to time their feeding and meet my demands to keep my cats happy and content. I am just the worst I know). Ultimately, I will have to do what is best for my cats, but being away from them these past two and half months was hard for me as well. I am missing out on such critical time for them when they are leaving kittenhood to adulthood, and I am not there to give them the attention that they need and deserve and take care of them as their owner. These two months I was in Korea was mentally and emotionally draining because I just cannot deal with Korea and its stupid laws and the arrogant people I've encountered here (I am Korean myself, and I am just too spoiled and used to the kind, humble Canadians). So it made it worse not being around my cats who give me unending joy.
So yes I understand this is not ideal for my cats and the stress they will have to go through because I want to be with them. I am not saying that I have made up my decision to do so plain and simple. I want to know and hear from real people who have gone through similar situations so I know what to expect, and whether it's worth it in the end or not. I want to know every bit of advice and help I can get to ensure the safest travel for these cats and the most comfortable experience I can bring to them.
So please, I do understand I am asking a lot for these cats but I want to explore my options. I ask for your honest and real input to help me deal with this. Sorry for such a long post that sounded too much like a rant. Thank you.
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/aixzpm/international_air_traveling_with_my_cats/
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