Cats, by air

Cat transport to and from Seattle

We move cats by air between Seattle and cities across the US, door to door. Your cat can fly on its own as cargo, or with you on your flight, and we take care of the crate, the paperwork and the rides.

Get your price

Cats on the move

Cats like routine, and a move breaks all of it. For a long move, a few hours on a flight is usually easier on a cat than days in a car with new smells and noise at every stop. Our job is to keep the trip short, simple and on time.

There are two ways for a cat to fly: in the cabin with you, in a soft carrier under the seat, or in the hold, in a rigid airline crate. In the hold, your cat can fly on its own as cargo, or as a checked pet on your flight. Most of our moves are cargo, because you do not have to fly the same day.

Two ways to fly

Cabin with you, or cargo on its own

In the cabin with you

Soft-sided carrier only, up to 17 x 11 x 9.5 inches, under the seat in front of you
One carrier can hold up to two pets of the same species and similar size
The carrier counts as your carry-on or personal item
Space is limited: book your cat with the airline before the day of travel
Kittens at least 8 weeks old, weaned and eating solid food
The only way snub-nosed cats can fly

You book your cat with the airline and pay the airline's pet fee. We can help with the vet visit and a ride to SEA for your cat. See the Alaska Airlines pet policy.

Get help with my flight

As cargo, on its own

Rigid airline crate in the hold of a passenger flight
You fly the same day, another day, or not at all
Health certificate within 10 days of the flight (14 days for Hawaii)
Pickup at home, check-in at cargo, delivery to your new home
Generally only when the forecast is between 45°F and 85°F at every airport on the trip
Not for Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair or Burmese cats

We book the cargo space, supply the crate if you need one and arrange both ends. See pet relocation from Seattle.

Price my cat's flight

Breed rules

Snub-nosed cats cannot fly as cargo

Since October 1, 2026, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air do not accept these cat breeds in the cargo hold: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian. The rule covers mixes of these breeds too, and the airline says there are no exceptions.

The airline goes by the breed written on the health certificate. A cat listed as a Himalayan mix is treated as a Himalayan.

These cats can still fly in the cabin with you, if they fit in a soft carrier under the seat. If that does not work for your cat, tell us in the quote form and we will talk through the options.

More in our guide to snub-nosed breeds and flying.

The crate

Crates for cats flying as cargo

The right size

Your cat must be able to stand, turn around and lie down naturally in the crate. Most cats fit the 100 series (pets up to about 15 lb) or the 200 series (up to about 30 lb). A large cat like a Maine Coon may need the 200 series or even the 300 series.

We suggest the minimum size from your cat's measurements and weight, and sell crates ready to fly. The size is always an estimate until your cat is measured in person. Try the crate size calculator.

Kittens

Kittens must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned. Two kittens between 8 weeks and 6 months, 20 lb or less each, may share a crate if they get along. A cat 6 months or older flies in its own crate.

What the airline checks

Rigid crate, held together with nuts and bolts, with a solid roof and no door on top
A securely fastened metal door
Food and water dishes clipped inside the door
Absorbent, non-toxic bedding
No wheels, and no soft, wire or folding crates
"Live Animal" labels and arrows showing which way is up

More about airline crates

Helping your cat travel calmly

Bring the crate or carrier home early and leave it open for a week or two, with a blanket or t-shirt that smells of home.
Feed treats or meals near the crate, then inside it, so it becomes a safe place.
Practice short car rides in the crate before moving day.
The airline asks that your cat is offered food and water within 4 hours before the flight. A light meal is easier on the stomach than a big one.
Ask your vet before giving any calming medicine. The airline does not give medicine while your cat is in its care.
Once you arrive, give your cat one quiet room with food, water, a litter box and the crate for the first days.

More tips: helping your pet settle in.

Cats moving to Hawaii

Hawaii's entry rules apply to cats as well as dogs: a microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a rabies blood test and a waiting period before your cat can be released at the airport. Plan at least 2 to 4 months ahead. The blood test result alone can take weeks, and arriving before the waiting period ends means quarantine. See our guide to moving pets to Hawaii.

Last checked against the official pages on October 6, 2026.

Airlines and states change their rules. Always check the official page before you book.

Cat transport: questions

Can a cat fly as cargo without its owner?

Yes. A cat can fly on its own as airline cargo, in an airline approved crate, on flights to and from Seattle. It must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned, with a health certificate from a licensed vet issued within 10 days of the flight (14 days for Hawaii). Persian, Himalayan, Exotic Shorthair and Burmese cats cannot fly as cargo.

Can my Persian cat fly?

Not in the cargo hold, and not checked in the hold on your flight. The airline does not accept snub-nosed cats there, mixes included, with no exceptions. A Persian can still fly in the cabin with you, if it fits in a soft carrier under the seat. See snub-nosed breeds and flying.

How much does cat transport cost?

It depends mostly on the weight of your cat and the crate together, which is how the airline charges, then on the distance from home to the airport at each end and the extras you choose. Fill in the quote form: on most routes you see your price on screen in about three minutes. When we price by hand, you hear from us within 24 hours. See what affects the cost.

Can two cats travel in one crate?

As cargo, only two kittens between 8 weeks and 6 months old, 20 lb or less each, that get along. A cat 6 months or older flies in its own crate. In the cabin, one soft carrier can hold up to two pets of the same species and similar size.

Does my cat need a health certificate to fly?

Yes, for the cargo hold or checked in the hold: from a licensed vet, within 10 days of the flight (14 days for Hawaii). In the cabin on a mainland route the airline does not ask for one, but your destination state may. See vet health certificate for flying.

Should I sedate my cat for the flight?

Ask your vet before giving any calming medicine. The airline does not give medicine of any kind while your cat is in its care, and a new medicine should never be tried for the first time on flight day.

Moving with a cat?

Tell us where your cat is going. On most routes you see your price on screen in about three minutes.

Get your price