Passenger cabin
Usually your cat can travel with you in the passenger cabin if you follow certain rules. Cats in the passenger cabin must remain in a safe kennel (carrier) that's placed under the seat in front of you. If you want your cat to fly in the passenger cabin with you, make your reservations as early as possible because airlines restrict the number of pets allowed in the passenger cabin of each flight. In addition, if you're traveling with your cat, the clerk needs to assign you a seat with enough room for your cat. The space under the aisle seats can be narrower than the space under the center and window seats. Some airlines don't allow passengers with pets to sit in an exit row. Therefore, if you don't register early, the flight may be either closed to additional pets, or they may not have a seat left with enough room for your cat.

Check the airline for the maximum dimensions for a kennel in the passenger cabin. Usually these are about 21 inches long, 13 to 16 inches wide and 8 or 9 inches high. Zippered soft kennels, sometimes called bags, work well in the passenger cabin because they're flexible. Make sure soft kennels have lots of cushioning and a secure zipper.

Kennels must be ventilated on at least two side. Label your cat's kennel with your name, address, and telephone number. Make sure your cat is wearing a collar, leash, and ID tag. Most airlines insist that there be enough room in the carrier for the cat to stand up, turn around, and lie down. Very large cats usually can't travel in the passenger cabin.

Once you call and reserve your cat's space, you may pick up its ticket when you pick up yours. A ticket for your cat in the passenger cabin usually costs about $50 for a one-way trip.

Checked baggage
You can also put your cat in a large kennel and fly it as checked baggage for about the same price as a ticket in the passenger cabin. When you fly your cat as checked baggage, the cat is placed with your luggage instead of with you.

To fly your cat as checked baggage, you need to put your cat in a hard, plastic kennel that's airline approved. Buy the strongest kennel you can find, and make sure that you label the kennel with your name, address, and telephone number and that your cat is wearing its collar and ID tag. Ask the airline to confirm your checked baggage space when you make your reservations. This way you can be certain space will be available. A few airlines have a policy that prohibits them from confirming space, but this doesn't mean they won't have a space for your cat; it just means that they can't guarantee it.