Can You Fly Cats on a Plane? What Every Owner Needs to Know

Yes, you can fly cats on a plane. Most major airlines, including Delta, American, and United, allow a cat to travel in the cabin inside an airline-approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, for a fee typically between $150 and $200 each way. Larger cats or longer international routes may require cargo-hold transport instead, which is governed by stricter rules and, for some breeds, outright restrictions.

This guide walks through exactly how in-cabin and cargo travel work, what airport security requires, which paperwork you actually need (and when), and how flying domestically differs from flying internationally or into the European Union.

In-Cabin vs. Cargo: How Cats Actually Fly

Airlines split pet travel into two categories, and the rules are very different for each.

In-Cabin Travel

Small cats travel inside the passenger cabin in a soft-sided carrier stowed under the seat in front of the owner for the entire flight. According to Delta Air Lines' official pet travel policy, the carrier must be leak-proof, have ventilation on at least three sides for domestic trips (four for international), and fit fully under the seat, with a recommended maximum size of 18 x 11 x 11 inches (Delta Air Lines, 2026). American Airlines' policy states the combined weight of the cat and carrier must not exceed 20 lbs (9 kg) and allows hard-sided carriers up to 19 x 13 x 9 inches (American Airlines, 2026).

Cargo Hold Travel

Larger cats, or cats on routes/airlines that don't offer in-cabin pet service, travel as manifest cargo in a climate-controlled hold. This is governed globally by the International Air Transport Association's Live Animals Regulations (LAR), now in its 52nd edition as of January 1, 2026, which sets standards for crate construction, ventilation, and handling (International Air Transport Association, 2026). Critically, IATA notes that the LAR “mostly do[es] not apply to pets in the cabin” — cabin dimensions, weight limits, and pet counts per flight are set individually by each airline, not by IATA (International Air Transport Association, 2026).

The 2026 LAR edition places special emphasis on brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds — such as Persians, Himalayans, and Exotic Shorthairs — because of documented breathing risks during cargo transport; many carriers now restrict or refuse these breeds in the hold (International Air Transport Association, 2026). American Airlines, for example, lists Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian among its cabin-restricted cat breeds.

Comparing Major U.S. Airline Cat Policies

Airline pet rules change often, so always verify directly with the carrier before booking. As of September 2026, published policies are:

All three airlines require the carrier to remain fully closed and under the seat for the entire flight, and all cap the number of in-cabin pets allowed per flight, so reserve your cat's spot when you book your own ticket, not afterward.

Getting Through Airport Security With a Cat

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a specific, non-negotiable process for pets at the checkpoint. Per TSA's official guidance, travelers must “remove your pet from the carrying case and place the case through the X-ray machine,” then carry the cat through the walk-through metal detector — the pet itself must never go through the X-ray unit (Transportation Security Administration, 2026). TSA also notes that if a cat is prone to bolting or struggling, travelers can request private screening. The empty carrier is visually and/or physically inspected before being returned to you on the other side.

1. Arrive early; pet screening takes longer than standard screening.
2. Take the cat out of the carrier at the checkpoint (harness or leash recommended).
3. Send the empty carrier through the X-ray machine.
4. Carry your cat through the walk-through metal detector — never place it in the X-ray tunnel.
5. Collect your cat and carrier and re-crate away from the checkpoint flow.

Do You Need a Health Certificate?

This is where domestic and international travel diverge sharply, and it's a frequent source of confusion.

• Domestic U.S. flights: Airlines generally do not require a veterinary health certificate for cats flying in-cabin, though some ask for basic vaccination records — check with your specific airline.
• International flights: The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) advises that “almost all countries require” an international health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within a set window before departure, often followed by an APHIS endorsement, with endorsement fees starting at $38 (USDA APHIS, 2026). Requirements are set by the destination country, not by USDA or the airline, so APHIS directs travelers to check the entry rules for their specific destination.

Flying Cats to the European Union: The Pet Passport Is a Legal Document, Not a Product

If your trip involves the European Union, you'll encounter the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) and the EU pet passport — a specific, government-regulated legal travel document, not a general product name. According to the European Commission's official food safety guidance, a cat traveling within the EU must have an ISO-compliant microchip, a rabies vaccination administered after the microchip (with the vaccination's validity period starting no less than 21 days after completion), and an EU pet passport issued by an authorized veterinarian recording the microchip code and vaccination history (European Commission, 2026). Cats entering the EU from outside must instead present an EU animal health certificate issued no more than 10 days before travel. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705, each traveler may bring a maximum of five pets, and the EU pet passport itself is only issued to owners resident in the EU.

Important distinction: The EU pet passport described above is a specific government-issued legal document required for EU travel. It is entirely separate from Animal Passport's digital identification product, which uses phone-captured muzzle biometrics — a nose print, unique like a human fingerprint — to record an animal's owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photograph), body condition score, and vaccination history. Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document and does not replace the EU pet passport, a USDA health certificate, or any airline's required paperwork. It was built for livestock identification, notably helping farmers reclaim animals after paper ear tags washed away during flood rescue efforts in Pakistan in August 2025. Read more on the Animal Passport blog.

Costs at a Glance

Step-by-Step: Booking a Flight With Your Cat

1. Confirm your airline allows in-cabin cats on your specific route (some routes, like Delta's restricted destinations of Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, ban in-cabin pets entirely).
2. Buy an airline-compliant carrier that meets the exact dimensions your airline publishes — sizes differ slightly between carriers.
3. Reserve the pet spot when you book your own ticket, since airlines cap pets per flight.
4. If flying internationally, contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you book to determine your destination country's entry requirements and certificate timing.
5. If your destination is in the EU, confirm microchip and rabies vaccination timing meets the 21-day minimum validity window before departure.
6. Arrive early for TSA screening and be ready to carry your cat through the metal detector by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you fly cats on a plane in the cabin?

Yes. Most major U.S. airlines, including Delta, American, and United, allow cats to fly in the cabin inside an approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, for a fee generally between $150 and $200 each way.

How much does it cost to fly with a cat?

In-cabin pet fees on major U.S. airlines are typically $150 for domestic flights and up to $200 for international flights, according to Delta Air Lines' and American Airlines' 2026 published pet policies. International trips may add veterinary and health certificate costs, which USDA APHIS says start at $38 for endorsement.

Does my cat need a health certificate to fly?

Not usually for domestic U.S. flights, but almost always for international flights. USDA APHIS states that most destination countries require an international health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, endorsed by APHIS before departure.

Do cats have to come out of the carrier at airport security?

Yes. TSA requires you to remove your cat from its carrier and carry it through the walk-through metal detector while the empty carrier goes through the X-ray machine. Pets must never be sent through the X-ray unit itself.

Can all cat breeds fly in the cargo hold?

No. Many airlines restrict or refuse brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds — such as Persians, Himalayans, and Exotic Shorthairs — from cargo hold transport because of elevated breathing risks, a concern the IATA Live Animals Regulations specifically address in their 2026 edition.

Is the EU pet passport the same as a biometric pet ID app?

No. The EU pet passport is a government-issued legal document required under the EU's Pet Travel Scheme, recording a cat's microchip and rabies vaccination status. It is different from digital identification products like Animal Passport, which use muzzle biometrics for owner, breed, age, and health record-keeping but are not government travel documents.

How old does a cat need to be to fly?

Minimum ages vary by airline and destination. Delta requires cats to be at least 8 weeks old for domestic travel, 16 weeks old for international travel into the U.S., and 15 weeks old for travel into the European Union, per its 2026 pet travel policy.

Can I bring more than one cat on a flight?

It depends on the airline and destination. Under the EU's pet travel rules, a traveler may bring a maximum of five pets (dogs, cats, or ferrets combined) for non-commercial travel, per European Commission regulations. U.S. airlines separately cap the number of in-cabin pet carriers allowed per flight, so check availability before booking additional cats.