Cat at 'high' altitude?
Posted by natdm@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 26 comments
We do an XC every 6 months that's about 7 hours long. Flying a turbo, in the summer, we would love to do what we normally do and go as high as is practical. Unfortunately we also take a cat with us. Talking to the vet, they said to do our best to treat him as a human. So, follow the same regs.
There's not much made for cats to travel at high altitudes. My wife asked if I'd be able to hook this up to free-flowing oxygen (https://a.co/d/0euWC2Yt). Has anyone done anything like this? Would I need to make other vents in the case, or anything?
Ok-Jury8596@reddit
Old DVM/ PP here...
Some years ago I had a similar request from a gentleman with a big dog who flew over the Rockies frequently. The dog would pass out over 15k agl, and recover when he got lower. We made a mask system for him and solved the problem, and now the dog could do the radio work while he flew. Well...
Anyway, your wife's idea would work. Couple of things to consider: Cat may go crazy in the box. Acclimation at home may help, or pheromones, or last resort sedatives, which I don't like due to respiratory depression.
Put a thermometer in there and watch for overheating.
You'll go through a lot of O2 with this. Not in the mood to do the calculations but 1-2 liters/min is not unreasonable. O2 sensor would be ideal but expensive, just increase the flow as needed to keep kitty happy and angry.
I wouldn't feed for a few hrs before flight but water ok.
Noise and vibration may be a problem for kitty. No simple solution comes to mind, but watch for panic symptoms.
And I'm assuming kitty is generally healthy...
Good luck!
natdm@reddit (OP)
Thanks a ton. I've emailed MH Oxygen and bought a stick-on thermometer for the box, and brought the box in with some treats and catnip in it.
Ok-Jury8596@reddit
If it doesn't work the only solution will be to buy a Gulfstream. Best of luck.
karantza@reddit
Also, I've had good luck with using Feliway spray when taking my cat in the car, which she normally would panic over. Chills her right out, definitely reduces anxiety, and medically speaking it should be harmless. It doesn't work on every cat, but it might be worth trying!
CluelessPilot1971@reddit
Might be missing something, but wouldn't the dog physiology be affected by pressure altitude rather than elevation AGL? Why would it matter if there's a mountaintop just (say) 3,000' below you, if the pressure altitude is much higher?
Ok-Jury8596@reddit
Sure. But I just used 15k as an approximate altitude. Mountain made no difference, but that's why he flew that high. Should have said MSL...
CluelessPilot1971@reddit
Ah, MSL makes all the difference.
Ok-Jury8596@reddit
Well, I live in Florida where MSL and AGL are almost the same. My oops.
rightpattern_g@reddit
Are you flying high to save time or fuel ? Since you have the cat with you, would it be too much of an inconvenience to stay below say 15k ?
natdm@reddit (OP)
14.5 or so would be fine but he seems to get affected at about 12
MEINSHNAKE@reddit
This is all pretty ridiculous, then stay below 12 and the cat will be fine.
It sounds like there’s no operational reason for you to go higher than that anyhow.
No-Relationship-2169@reddit
Can’t possibly imagine going through all this to 2500 extra ft for one single round trip. Makes no sense.
natdm@reddit (OP)
GA makes no sense 95% of the time. It's all just a hobby. And it's one round trip a year, if that counts. "all this" is a box and an extra canister of O2, not really breaking the bank or anything.
False_Researcher_565@reddit
Is that your cat i hear on the guard freq 😄
TravelerMSY@reddit
For this mission, wouldn’t it be simpler to fly commercial?
lassombra@reddit
Having worked for the airlines, I will never trust them with my pets. NEVER.
Speedymcspeeder@reddit
I also work for an Airline. I would never put my animal underneath. Dude is getting a ticket or we are driving. It's like putting a child who doesn't understand what's going on down there.
TravelerMSY@reddit
I wouldn’t either, but a cat can go under the seat in an approved carrier as cabin baggage. I wouldn’t trust them as cargo either.
TravelerMSY@reddit
I wouldn’t either, but a cat can go under the seat in an approved carrier as cabin baggage. I wouldn’t trust them as cargo either.
WhenWillIBeAPilot@reddit
I’m going to vote “go by land or airline with your cat” and have the other fly
Rangeexpert3@reddit
seconded. or dont take cat
g0-0se@reddit
Man why would you subject your cat to such a tough time. Either take it in a pressurized cabin or leave it home.
natdm@reddit (OP)
It’s a 6 month trip. So leaving it home isn’t an option. When we’re at lower altitudes, he roams around the cabin and falls asleep on our lap or on the floor. He’s not exactly miserable.
fvpv@reddit
One of you flies, the other drives with the cat.
Student_Whole@reddit
I’ll get hate for this but we have a very athletic but older greyhound mutt, and she’s been up to 17,500, no o2. Took 3 hours of slow climbing to get forced up there from sea level due to turbulence. She got a little sleepy about the same time the bumps were getting out of hand and it was time to get fuel anyway. Might have lost a brain cell or two but she’s just as sharp as she was before.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
We do an XC every 6 months that's about 7 hours long. Flying a turbo, in the summer, we would love to do what we normally do and go as high as is practical. Unfortunately we also take a cat with us. Talking to the vet, they said to do our best to treat him as a human. So, follow the same regs.
There's not much made for cats to travel at high altitudes. My wife asked if I'd be able to hook this up to free-flowing oxygen (https://a.co/d/0euWC2Yt). Has anyone done anything like this? Would I need to make other vents in the case, or anything?
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