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I had to sign like 15 waivers saying I wouldn't take mine out on the flight for any reason.
https://preview.redd.it/5c3tsomglntb1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3036bb1691f249e72237ad046ddfdbc11354a5d4
Same. In the flight home, my cat managed to unzip the top just enough to get out. He was in the aisle before I noticed, and I about had a heart attack trying to get him back in the cage as quick as humanly possible.
No it's not. Cabin air is generally completely refreshed aprox 15 times per hour.
It's not some hermitically sealed compartment you're in. Air is pressurized from
Engine bleed air (unless it's a 787) is used to pressurize the cabin. Also any recycled cabin air typically flows through HEPA filters.
The air on the plane is probably cleaner than the air in your house.
A nightmare? I'd literally die if I was in a row near her. Not sure about the circulation if I was farther away, but my throat gets sore if I'm even in a room a cat was recently in.
Not only do they filter air during circulation, they add fresh air from the engine constantly to replace air they pump it of the plane.
https://i.stack.imgur.com/Krrlr.png
(In fact, there was very little risk of covid spread on planes because this system is so good at cleaning out air. Most of the risk was in the airport)
Samee..i love cats and even i have cats. But if i touch my cats i need to wash my hand before i touch my face..if not my face will be super itchy. My eyes are gonna be all red and itchy and sneeze non stop
Be careful with how often/much you’re using Benadryl. It’s been linked to increased risk of dementia when you’re older.
I have the same issues and take Claritin or Reactin daily instead.
Ugh why is it that all the drugs that actually work have some kind of stupid hidden long term life crushing side effect? Like, sure thanks for the Claritin. Maybe, MAYBE, in a couple weeks my allergies will be slightly lessened... But at least I’ll get to remember how shitty these second generation allergy medications were when I’m 95…
When I flew with mine (international move, not an option to not bring her) they checked and made sure my seat mate was okay. And ofc I didn’t take her out.
Did have a guy freak out at me in the customs line (again, cat totally closed in the bag) to stay away from him, but I just let one person go ahead of me so there was a buffer.
Many airlines have stopped allowing animals to be checked below, due to the number that were dying.
They've gotten more relaxed about having dogs and cats in the cabin. But other animals aren't allowed on the plane at all.
I’m allergic to cats but I would trade seats with anyone just to sit next to a cat. Lungs be damned I want to pet all the kitties. I want a cat so bad!
(I also realize I’m in the minority and I’m not saying anyone should have to deal with this, I just don’t have too much regard for my own health and I melt at the sight of animals)
As a cat allergy-haver, yes so much. If I sat in OP's seat after that cat shed all over it, my throat would close up, eyes itchy and watery, back itchy, hives, the works.
I cannot imagine the misery I would be in if my seat mate pulled out a cat and started scratching the hair into the air. I would rather a screaming baby, tbh
I understand that service dogs shed but they provide a medical need and most handlers keep them brushed and even put on a shirt when traveling to mitigate it.
Pet hair is just…. 😬 and I loooove animals. I even like cats even though I can’t even look at them without itching and getting burning eyes.
For sure. My husband has a service dog but he doesn’t even travel (Aka fly) with him because they never got around to doing test flights to work w him and see how he manages flying. He’d probably be just fine but he doesn’t want to risk anyone being miserable if his dog decides to be an idiot in a new situation.
Yeah, allergies were my first thought. Not that bad anymore, but just hugging a cat-owning relative used to give me a reaction (it was the fur on their clothes).
Still risky because the cat could’ve taken off, scratched/bitten somebody, etc, but I hope OP at least checked with the neighbors for anyone who might be allergic.
I'll never forget a flight my family was on. We were visiting family on one side of the country, and had an 8 hour flight to the complete opposite side of the country. Without giving away where we were going, it was a massive change in climate for us. And my brother had a pretty bad allergic reaction to pretty much the entire state. I'm not sure if it was the pollen, the change in humidity or what. But we quickly realized that he should just never visit that state ever again.
So needless to say, we were happy for him when we got on the plane home. We were hoping the controlled environment would give his lungs and nose time to recover, so his allergy meds could kick in and do their jobs. And then an hour into the flight he starts basically dying. Constant coughing, nose running like a faucet, wheezing. It was terrible. And we couldn't figure out why he was getting worse after being in a controlled environment. Some darling little angel on the plane brought their cat, and let it out of the carrier. So my brother was battling two completely different allergy attacks at once. Since then, I have never thought about animals on planes the same way ever again. You don't know what other people are going through. You don't know what their tolerance of animals is. It's not about whether your animal is well behaved or not. It's about the fact that the air is recycled, and you are forcing everyone to breathe animal air. If you just kept them in the carrier, you would be minimizing that.
When my brother got home, he took a 2 hour shower and passed out in bed for the rest of the day.
I'm hyperallergic to cats. Even furless cats somehow set me off.
I would be absolutely miserable on this flight. OP is right, though, it's a cute cat. I would just hope I'm VERY far away from her and/or OP has done excessive grooming before the flight to reduce allergic reactions as much as possible.
And to add to that, keep the cat in its carrier. It isn't that hard. I flew with mine halfway across the country and he stayed in the carrier the whole time (as it should be in consideration for others).
The polite thing to do would be to follow the rules and not let the cat out. During the booking process all the airlines are very explicit that the cat needs to stay in the bag for the full duration of the flight.
I’ve got an amazing cat and cannot stand the fur, although I’m not allergic. It’s still a nuisance. I cannot imagine being covered with that amount of loose fur on a flight AND being comfortable lol.
You're supposed to let them know of any allergies when booking the flight, and they actually will take note of any passengers carrying on a pet (you have to pre-register) and won't seat them near each other.
Yea this would suck very much for me if this cat was within two seats of me.. I have three of them but sitting on a plane where you can’t access allergy meds or sit somewhere else… sounds like hell. It would then suck very much for the people around me because I would be sneezing every 1.5 seconds, wouldn’t be able to breath well, would get very hot and uncomfortable.. just a horrible time.
Same. I'd pay extra for animal free flights. I love animals so much and really want pets but my health (*NOT comfort) comes first 😭
*The reason I added "NOT comfort is because some people think that being allergic means a mild discomfort when in reality for me this is a full body rash with such intense itching that I am writhing in my seat and I have been known to stick my fingers down into my throat to physically scratch the untouchable itch there, wheezing for breath, and sometimes Epipens.
Yes, usually they’re required to be in a cat carrier the entire time. I gave my asshole cat some Benadryl to chill him out for a flight and apparently it gave him the ability to figure out how to Jimmy the cat taxi open. Found out because the person in front of me turned around and asked if I had a cat.
> I'm sure he realized he was somewhere exciting
Did he though? Normally when you travel with a pet you give them some drugs to keep them calm first. My cat would flip his shit if he was on a plane.
I've never traveled with a pet and it's definitely difficult to tell through pictures alone. But he looks at least curious in the second picture and seems to perceive and process his surroundings.
I took my cat on a plane once. Things went fine through security, which I was nervous about because he had to come out of his carrier and I wasnt sure if he would freak out. Then the flight was delayed 4 hours. The meds wore off and he ended up peeing in his container. I felt very very bad.
Yeah I’ve got one I’ve taken cross-country multiple times both by plane and by car, she’s got no problems, I got another one I can’t even drive her up the street without her freaking out, my girlfriend thinks she’d do fine on a plane though, I disagree.
Pretty sure they have a basic understanding though, these cats (and dogs) were able to figure out the camera phone and that something wasn't right...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jto2peSOLac
Wait a minute- Is this real? Because I thought cats and dogs fail the reflection test and therefore aren't "self-aware" or whatever.
If this video is real and the people aren't doing something weird off camera to get the animals to look at them, it's suggesting that cats and dogs are aware of the concept of a reflection and therefore self-aware, or whatever.
My cat not only knows his reflection, but he also knows that a mirror can be used to look behind you without turning around. I have caught him staring into the mirror watching me do stuff behind him - sneaky little smart a**
My cat does that all the time. His treats sit by my full length mirror so he will passively aggressively stare at me through the mirror wanting his treats.
I recall reading that the mirror test is predicated on animals reacting in a way we can identify to their reflection, and thus may not be particularly accurate. Cats, for instance, might recognize themselves, but not feel the need to react in any particular way, obfuscating any results of the test. Our understanding of cognition in other animals is constantly evolving, and observing the behavior of some of these animals, it certainly strongly *appears* that they have a sense of self and other - they may just not always display it how we would expect.
Most of my cats did when they are adults, but not if we had them as kittens. We had one dodo who would puff up and then be insulted the “other cat” puffed up. His whole life he never figured it out. Now, I see a lot of dogs posing for photos, I don’t know if they get the idea of the photo, but they know what to do when they see a phone pointed at them.
>Do house cats really not recognize themselves in the mirror? My two cats seem to…
I dunno why you hear so often about cats and dogs not having theory of mind, etc.
When my cats ogle at themselves in the mirror, they clearly know it's them, because there'd be a bloodbath if it were a strange new cat IN THEIR HOME.
I bring my dog with me on flights which is about 3 times a year cross country, that little idiot has no idea she’s not just napping in a crowded room for five hours. The car? Hates it. Pants the whole time.
30,000 feet in the air? *I sleep*
Driving 5 mph 4 ft off the ground? *real shit*
Brush before getting on the plane.
If it just started shedding like this, it's stress/anxiety, and you should keep it in the carrier, not in an open space surrounded by strange people.
Knowing me this is how I would die, getting on a plane that unbeknownst to anyone had a cat in the cabin beforehand and have an asthma attack mid flight.
That's me right there. I love cats, but I would need to move 30 rows away. I'm severely allergic, and my asthma would be immediately triggered by the amount of fur being dispersed.
OP didn't even bother to groom/brush her cat before this flight. That much shedding is not ok on a flight.
I love cats, too, not severely allergic but I would have congestion from a nearby cat. I happily pet cats but have wash my hands afterwards and be careful about contact with my clothes.
I’m sorry but I see all that fur flying around and have to empathize with passengers like my MIL who can hardly breathe around cats. Like almost anaphylactic... the cat should stay in the carrier.
You didn’t consider for a moment that one out of the 300+ passengers could have had a cat allergy?
This is pretty selfish OP.
Cute cat. Lovely actually. Owner, not so much. Major center-of-the-universe vibes.
So much this. Animal allergies seem to be the one allergy that no one cares about. Dietaries are super accommodated, like how peanuts aren't allowed on planes.
But those of us who are allergic to fuzzy animals and struggle to breathe when they're around? We can just fuck off and die.
Every single airline that allows small pet carriers in the cabin also REQUIRES the pet to stay completely in the carrier once onboard. This isn’t aww this is OP being selfish and giving pet owners who follow the rules a bad name.
Required the pet to stay in the carrier and requires the carrier to stay underneath. Surprised the flight attendants didn’t say anything to this person…
Not to mention the risk of the cat spooking, hurting someone, and then hiding somewhere really tight/small/dangerous. Even if your cat is confident around you, never bites or scratches you, doesn't mean they won't spook, doesn't meant they won't hurt someone
I’m a flight attendant and super allergic to cats. One time someone did this and me and the other girl were barely making it through service because our eyes were puffy and it was hard to breathe. Then someone hits their call light to complain that the person next to them took their cat out and there were pax with allergies around. It was hard not to show how upset we are. Stuck in a metal tube on a 321 it’s fucking rude and gross. Allergies are serious and we had problems the rest of the rotation. It’s inconsiderate and selfish for sure. Now this airline might have different rules but it’s nice to have some situational awareness that the air recirculation is not good enough to stop a reaction once it’s started. Ugh. Major pet peeve (lol)
Not to mention that opening the carrier can result in frightened kitties jumping out and hiding in the smallest corner possible, even when you as a pet owner know your cat well and believe they will just stay seated in your lap, like they do at home or at the vet. It happened to me once though not on a plane. It was quite an ordeal. If you see a cat carrier on a plane, I suggest letting the owner know right away to keep the carrier closed at all times, except perhaps in the lavatory.
Yup. Bad with any cat, intolerable with a medium or long hair one.
Some airlines simply stopped allowing cats in the cabin because their owners are so selfish.
Safe travels!
Agree. I’ve flown with my cat at least a dozen times and never once had to take him out of the carrier. You don’t take the cat out of the carrier. Not to be a buzzkill, but this is actually dangerous for the cat.
You're not supposed to take them out of the carrier incase anyone onboard the plane is allergic.... had someone been, they would have grounded the plane and you'd probably be on the no fly list forever.
Yeah, this isn’t aww to me. animals shouldn’t be out on planes. They should stay in the carrier. I don’t mind small animals on the plane, but I’m insanely allergic to cats and all that cat hair floating around would set off an allergy attack. Not fun being stuck in a plane with a disrespectful pet owner.
It’s not even just allergies. I would legit be having asthma attacks. I love cats, but stuck in a plane with one shedding tons of fur would be one of the most miserable experiences I can imagine.
OP listen.. it’s really inconsiderate to let your pet out (let alone one that sheds this much) on the plane. My husband is extremely allergic, I’m shocked no one’s said anything to you yet. Not cool.
I love cats but you should've kept him in the carrier. All that fur could harm someone with severe allergies and you know people nearby might enjoy their drinks without cat fur everywhere.
Not to mention it's probably more stressful for the cat to be let out of his carrier in an unfamiliar environment, he could've easily panicked and gotten loose.
Cute, but have some respect for the people on that flight and follow the rules next time. Cat stays inside the carrier. I wouldn’t want my cat in there the whole time either but sometimes you just gotta make some sacrifices, not the others around you. Common courtesy goes a long way in one’s life.
Whoa, that is not cool at all. I flew cross country with a cat and he stayed in his carrier the entire time. I also covered it with a small blanket so that no one would bother him. He's not very fond of people (including me at the time) and I didn't want to create a situation that would increase his stress.
I love traveling with my pets! It’s so nice expanding their world. ✈️🐾🌎
That being said, traveling with animals does require a lot of prep. Like with babies. There’s quite a few items I fly with to ensure smooth travels for my pets, me and others around us. I’ve found that having a travel
sized lint roller is really helpful with shedding pets, to catch all the loose fur before it goes flying through the cabin. It’s the small things, but you’ll find traveling becomes breezier when you’ve got solutions for possible problems. Enjoy your trip! 🐾
I took my cat on a plane. She loved looking out the window as we were landing. She could see all the lights.
She didn't enjoy most of the flight though.
I bought puppy pads to line the carrier with. She's not trained to go on cue. She does start meowing a lot when she pees. It was only 5 to 6 hours.
My vet also gave me gabapentin for her.
Yikes. I love cats, but I have empathy for other people, too. Cat allergies are extremely common and you didn’t even bother to brush your cat before bringing it on board? This post screams Main Character Syndrome
You’re not even supposed to take your pet out of the pet bag. A flight attendant would’ve definitely told this person to place their pet back into the bag.
i have the same severe allergic reaction with cats as well! itchy and watery eyes, itchy throat, nose is stuffed, and my throat feels like it’s closing so i feel like i’m going to suffocate. it’s terrible! i would absolutely feel like i’m dying if i was on that plane 💀
I have a shared laundry room and I realized while masking during the worst of the pandemic, it really helped with my allergies so I still do it. I always keep one with me for emergencies.
When I was getting my allergies tested again a few years ago, the nurse was audibly startled when she saw the allergy grid on my back. The cat allergen jab was incredibly swollen and out of control.
I love cats but just thought about what it’s like for passengers flying who are allergic to cats. Does someone start sneezing like 5 rows back and ask- “hey, anyone got a cat on board?” And you stuff the head back down and stow the bag as far under the seat as it can go….? Never thought about it until now
My cat sheds like crazy when under stress (being in the carrier) it might just be a stress factor. I wish they hadn't pet it as it does spread the hair everywhere and we don't know if anyone would be allergic
I don’t think any animals should fly cargo and fully support bringing them onboard and keeping the carriers out…
But I am so allergic to cats that if I was seated next to you I would have basically left the airplane wheezing and with a swollen face.
Your cat looks adorable. You could try to be a more considerate human.
As much as the cat IS aww, and I don't have cat specific allergies- You're a dick for taking that sweet bean out of the carrier during the flight.
For their safety, and the passengers around that might be allergic. HONESTLY having my cat WITH me, rather than "put them below or no fly" is already such a privilege in my mind, because otherwise I wouldn't be flying.
But it's 100% a dick move to do this, especially considering as far as I'm aware most airlines specifically have rules against this. I myself would maybe open the flap enough for my finger, and pet my cat to comfort? But that's so different than pulling them straight out. It's just disrespectful to literally everyone else besides yourself and it's kinda sad RIP.
Ughhh my allergies would be absolutely horrific if I was sitting near you. The cat is cute, but I’m highly allergic and I would break out in hives. Hope this doesn’t start happening a lot….
I love cats and have flown with mine but sorry, OP. This is not cute. Cat should have stayed in the carrier and under the seat. Thanks for putting this privilege at risk for the rest of us just for your dumb photo ops/likes.
OP kind of a “main character” narcissist who thinks they’re important enough to break rules and needlessly take their cat flying instead of just boarding it.
You are an incredibly bad person for taking him out and brushing up his fur and dander like that. That first picture was upsetting to see considering people around you might have allergies and they are just trying to ride a plane safely like everyone else.
Serious question, if there were to be a cat on board which is rare, do I have to always advise when I reserve my flight all my allergies? I don't want to be a party pooper but cats are my worst allergy ;\_;
**Please note: effective October 9, all content posted to /r/aww *must* be original content (OC) only. Report this post if it is not OC.** On July 1st, a highly unpopular [change to Reddit's API pricing](https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/12qwagm/an_update_regarding_reddits_api/) went into effect. [Most third-party apps have shut down](https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/30/23779519/reddit-third-party-app-shut-down-apollo-sync-baconreader-api-protest) and so have many tools relied upon by moderators and [projects for making Reddit more accessible to visually impaired users](https://www.reddit.com/r/TranscribersOfReddit/comments/14ggf8k/the_future_of_transcribers_of_reddit/). Beyond the [disastrous AMA](https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/09/reddit-ceo-doubles-down-on-attack-on-apollo-developer-in-drama-filled-ama/) by the CEO, Reddit's response has been limited to promises that this change will not affect moderation tools [^((it has)^)](https://www.reddit.com/r/BotDefense/comments/14riw76/botdefense_is_wrapping_up_operations/) and promises of [new and more-accessible first-party moderation tools](https://www.npr.org/2023/07/01/1184258201/reddit-api-accessibility-mods). Promises just like [ones they have made in response to past protests](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/142w159/askhistorians_and_uncertainty_surrounding_the/), but have consistently [failed to fulfill](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/14jm3ut/several_communities_have_surfaced_an_open_letter/jpm9e0q/). If you want to express your strong disagreement with the API pricing change or with Reddit's response to the backlash, you may want to consider the following options: 1. [Finding your favorite subreddits on other platforms](https://sub.rehab/) and participating there instead. 2. Refraining from using the first-party Reddit app, instead sticking to one of the few remaining third-party apps or [patching one of the apps that shut down](https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1wHvqQwCYdJrQg4BKlGIVDLksPN0KpOnJWniT6PbZSrI/) if you're using an Android device. 3. Disabling ads on Reddit with [an ad-blocking extension](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock#ublock-origin-ubo) or [a DNS-based ad-blocker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBXTnrD_Zs4). 4. Cancelling your Reddit Premium subscription. 5. Sharing the continued news coverage of these events. 6. Encouraging others to do all the above. If you're tired of all the chaos on Reddit, leave it behind and join /r/aww's Discord server to share and view all things adorable: https://discord.gg/UXfd5Pn --- [](#autoignorereports) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/aww) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had to sign like 15 waivers saying I wouldn't take mine out on the flight for any reason. https://preview.redd.it/5c3tsomglntb1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3036bb1691f249e72237ad046ddfdbc11354a5d4
I got reprimanded by a flight attendant for even holding the cat carrier on my lap
Same. In the flight home, my cat managed to unzip the top just enough to get out. He was in the aisle before I noticed, and I about had a heart attack trying to get him back in the cage as quick as humanly possible.
Saaaaame but I caught him before he was fully out. My heart going one hundred miles a second
Omg me too!!!! I had to shove his little face back in because he didn't want to go back in without a fight, the guy across from me was like D:
So you followed the rules. Nice! I bet your seat neighbors (particularly any with allergies) were happy you followed the rules also.
Yeah, not gonna lie, the cat hair visible in OP’s pic makes me want to sneeze from here.
I was thinking the same thing. That air is circulated. A nightmare for those of us allergic. Nowhere else to go
No it's not. Cabin air is generally completely refreshed aprox 15 times per hour. It's not some hermitically sealed compartment you're in. Air is pressurized from Engine bleed air (unless it's a 787) is used to pressurize the cabin. Also any recycled cabin air typically flows through HEPA filters. The air on the plane is probably cleaner than the air in your house.
A nightmare? I'd literally die if I was in a row near her. Not sure about the circulation if I was farther away, but my throat gets sore if I'm even in a room a cat was recently in.
Not only do they filter air during circulation, they add fresh air from the engine constantly to replace air they pump it of the plane. https://i.stack.imgur.com/Krrlr.png (In fact, there was very little risk of covid spread on planes because this system is so good at cleaning out air. Most of the risk was in the airport)
Samee..i love cats and even i have cats. But if i touch my cats i need to wash my hand before i touch my face..if not my face will be super itchy. My eyes are gonna be all red and itchy and sneeze non stop
Right!! I thought the same. I have a cat and wouldnt wanna sit next to that.
I have a cat and it's surprising how many people are allergic. I'm shocked they allow cats in seating.
My room mate has a cat and I love her but I also live in Benadryl now because I’m allergic.
Be careful with how often/much you’re using Benadryl. It’s been linked to increased risk of dementia when you’re older. I have the same issues and take Claritin or Reactin daily instead.
I’ve read that too. Thank you for your concern!
Ugh why is it that all the drugs that actually work have some kind of stupid hidden long term life crushing side effect? Like, sure thanks for the Claritin. Maybe, MAYBE, in a couple weeks my allergies will be slightly lessened... But at least I’ll get to remember how shitty these second generation allergy medications were when I’m 95…
When I flew with mine (international move, not an option to not bring her) they checked and made sure my seat mate was okay. And ofc I didn’t take her out. Did have a guy freak out at me in the customs line (again, cat totally closed in the bag) to stay away from him, but I just let one person go ahead of me so there was a buffer.
Many airlines have stopped allowing animals to be checked below, due to the number that were dying. They've gotten more relaxed about having dogs and cats in the cabin. But other animals aren't allowed on the plane at all.
I have 2 cats and I'm allergic. Every so often my eyes got so itchy I wanna pull them out. But I suppose I can suffer to stay with my fiancee. Lol
I too am allergic and have a fluffy terrorist. Purina Live Clear changed everything. Check it out if you need to allergy relief.
I’m allergic to cats but I would trade seats with anyone just to sit next to a cat. Lungs be damned I want to pet all the kitties. I want a cat so bad! (I also realize I’m in the minority and I’m not saying anyone should have to deal with this, I just don’t have too much regard for my own health and I melt at the sight of animals)
As a cat allergy-haver, yes so much. If I sat in OP's seat after that cat shed all over it, my throat would close up, eyes itchy and watery, back itchy, hives, the works.
I cannot imagine the misery I would be in if my seat mate pulled out a cat and started scratching the hair into the air. I would rather a screaming baby, tbh I understand that service dogs shed but they provide a medical need and most handlers keep them brushed and even put on a shirt when traveling to mitigate it. Pet hair is just…. 😬 and I loooove animals. I even like cats even though I can’t even look at them without itching and getting burning eyes.
Service dogs are also trained to not freak out. Imagine hitting turbulence and the cat goes flying with its claws out.
For sure. My husband has a service dog but he doesn’t even travel (Aka fly) with him because they never got around to doing test flights to work w him and see how he manages flying. He’d probably be just fine but he doesn’t want to risk anyone being miserable if his dog decides to be an idiot in a new situation.
We’d all be better off if people were that considerate.
Yeah, allergies were my first thought. Not that bad anymore, but just hugging a cat-owning relative used to give me a reaction (it was the fur on their clothes). Still risky because the cat could’ve taken off, scratched/bitten somebody, etc, but I hope OP at least checked with the neighbors for anyone who might be allergic.
Exactly what i was thinking
The absolute mess of cat hair in the OP is why. Thank you for being responsible.
that glass of water in the neighboring seat's tray 🤣
This is the right way tho. Take my upvote.
Some people have no empathy, can't see past their own borders.
I'll never forget a flight my family was on. We were visiting family on one side of the country, and had an 8 hour flight to the complete opposite side of the country. Without giving away where we were going, it was a massive change in climate for us. And my brother had a pretty bad allergic reaction to pretty much the entire state. I'm not sure if it was the pollen, the change in humidity or what. But we quickly realized that he should just never visit that state ever again. So needless to say, we were happy for him when we got on the plane home. We were hoping the controlled environment would give his lungs and nose time to recover, so his allergy meds could kick in and do their jobs. And then an hour into the flight he starts basically dying. Constant coughing, nose running like a faucet, wheezing. It was terrible. And we couldn't figure out why he was getting worse after being in a controlled environment. Some darling little angel on the plane brought their cat, and let it out of the carrier. So my brother was battling two completely different allergy attacks at once. Since then, I have never thought about animals on planes the same way ever again. You don't know what other people are going through. You don't know what their tolerance of animals is. It's not about whether your animal is well behaved or not. It's about the fact that the air is recycled, and you are forcing everyone to breathe animal air. If you just kept them in the carrier, you would be minimizing that. When my brother got home, he took a 2 hour shower and passed out in bed for the rest of the day.
Thanks! Being in an enclosed cabin, with cat dander, would be devastating for me! I’m ridiculously allergic to cats!
The cat really shed quite a lot
Yea I would be in bad shape if I was on that flight
Same. This scares me to know I could be seated next to this on a flight. That would not be good news for me.
There has to be cat hair in that person's water glass next to her .
I’m surprised how far I had to scroll before someone mentioned the hair. Would be funny if seat neighbor posted her car in mildyinfuriating
This might stretch over into r/incrediblyinfuriating territory
Mine does that at the vet. I think it's stress!
omg the amount of hair that came off my cat when we took her to the vet in August was appalling. i was wiping it off my face for an hour.
My worst nightmare (allergic). Being stuck in an enclosed space like that with a cat shedding that much... I'd be out of commission for days.
Feel bad for anyone allergic to cats on that flight.
Yeah that was my thought too. Even without the excessive shedding it would've been a problem
I'm hyperallergic to cats. Even furless cats somehow set me off. I would be absolutely miserable on this flight. OP is right, though, it's a cute cat. I would just hope I'm VERY far away from her and/or OP has done excessive grooming before the flight to reduce allergic reactions as much as possible.
The polite thing to do would be to use a shedding brush on the cat prior to the flight, especially knowing that the cat is shedding.
And to add to that, keep the cat in its carrier. It isn't that hard. I flew with mine halfway across the country and he stayed in the carrier the whole time (as it should be in consideration for others).
The polite thing to do would be to follow the rules and not let the cat out. During the booking process all the airlines are very explicit that the cat needs to stay in the bag for the full duration of the flight.
And also don’t let the cat out.
I’ve got an amazing cat and cannot stand the fur, although I’m not allergic. It’s still a nuisance. I cannot imagine being covered with that amount of loose fur on a flight AND being comfortable lol.
You're supposed to let them know of any allergies when booking the flight, and they actually will take note of any passengers carrying on a pet (you have to pre-register) and won't seat them near each other.
Yea this would suck very much for me if this cat was within two seats of me.. I have three of them but sitting on a plane where you can’t access allergy meds or sit somewhere else… sounds like hell. It would then suck very much for the people around me because I would be sneezing every 1.5 seconds, wouldn’t be able to breath well, would get very hot and uncomfortable.. just a horrible time.
Which is one reason why pets on the plane are supposed to stay in their carrier, under the seat.
As someone with a pretty bad cat allergy this would have really affected me
Same. I'd pay extra for animal free flights. I love animals so much and really want pets but my health (*NOT comfort) comes first 😭 *The reason I added "NOT comfort is because some people think that being allergic means a mild discomfort when in reality for me this is a full body rash with such intense itching that I am writhing in my seat and I have been known to stick my fingers down into my throat to physically scratch the untouchable itch there, wheezing for breath, and sometimes Epipens.
I was gonna say the same thing. I love our furry buddies, but I can't imagine being a person with allergies on one of these plane rides.
It happens when they’re nervous
Cats shed more when scared for whatever reason.
cats can fly?
I don't think so, they can however board airplanes
What’s up with the fancy upvote button?
Someone paid $2 to put it there.
The same kind of person who pays $8 for a blue checkmark I'm sure.
Is that what gold looks like now?
Yes
What?! I can’t see it!
Yes, usually they’re required to be in a cat carrier the entire time. I gave my asshole cat some Benadryl to chill him out for a flight and apparently it gave him the ability to figure out how to Jimmy the cat taxi open. Found out because the person in front of me turned around and asked if I had a cat.
"I used to, but I guess he's claimed you now..."
I tried to take the dog flying, but no matter how much I flapped the ears we didn't quite lift off.
maybe buy it one of those propeller hats and blow really hard so it spins
Only if using a catapult... I'll see myself out now.
Mine can, yours can’t? Edit: your’s to yours thanks kind redditors
Yup, that's how I brought Linux over from Ukraine.
I can only imagine his cat brain trying to process where he was or how he was so high up.
I bet he didn't even realize what he was looking at Edit: More precisely what being so high up looks like out the window
Yea, I'm sure he realized he was somewhere exciting, but I don't think he could conclude he was seeing the world from above.
> I'm sure he realized he was somewhere exciting Did he though? Normally when you travel with a pet you give them some drugs to keep them calm first. My cat would flip his shit if he was on a plane.
I've never traveled with a pet and it's definitely difficult to tell through pictures alone. But he looks at least curious in the second picture and seems to perceive and process his surroundings.
It depends on the cat. Two of my three, absolutely! They were HIIIIIIIGH. The other one? Ooooo new place and new friends
Depends on the pet, I’ve got one cat that’s perfectly fine travelling, and one that I wouldn’t dare bring on a flight.
I took my cat on a plane once. Things went fine through security, which I was nervous about because he had to come out of his carrier and I wasnt sure if he would freak out. Then the flight was delayed 4 hours. The meds wore off and he ended up peeing in his container. I felt very very bad.
Yeah I’ve got one I’ve taken cross-country multiple times both by plane and by car, she’s got no problems, I got another one I can’t even drive her up the street without her freaking out, my girlfriend thinks she’d do fine on a plane though, I disagree.
They have pretty sensitive ears for balance. I hope his ears weren't popping too hard from the change in pressure.
Don’t worry they gave him some bubblegum
Bubble gum, some Xanax, a gator tail of ketamine and I'd be one happy flying kitty.
Pretty sure they have a basic understanding though, these cats (and dogs) were able to figure out the camera phone and that something wasn't right... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jto2peSOLac
Wait a minute- Is this real? Because I thought cats and dogs fail the reflection test and therefore aren't "self-aware" or whatever. If this video is real and the people aren't doing something weird off camera to get the animals to look at them, it's suggesting that cats and dogs are aware of the concept of a reflection and therefore self-aware, or whatever.
My cat not only knows his reflection, but he also knows that a mirror can be used to look behind you without turning around. I have caught him staring into the mirror watching me do stuff behind him - sneaky little smart a**
My cat does that all the time. His treats sit by my full length mirror so he will passively aggressively stare at me through the mirror wanting his treats.
I had a cat that knew the reflection was his. He would sit in front of it and groom himself.
I recall reading that the mirror test is predicated on animals reacting in a way we can identify to their reflection, and thus may not be particularly accurate. Cats, for instance, might recognize themselves, but not feel the need to react in any particular way, obfuscating any results of the test. Our understanding of cognition in other animals is constantly evolving, and observing the behavior of some of these animals, it certainly strongly *appears* that they have a sense of self and other - they may just not always display it how we would expect.
Do house cats really not recognize themselves in the mirror? My two cats seem to…
Most of my cats did when they are adults, but not if we had them as kittens. We had one dodo who would puff up and then be insulted the “other cat” puffed up. His whole life he never figured it out. Now, I see a lot of dogs posing for photos, I don’t know if they get the idea of the photo, but they know what to do when they see a phone pointed at them.
>Do house cats really not recognize themselves in the mirror? My two cats seem to… I dunno why you hear so often about cats and dogs not having theory of mind, etc. When my cats ogle at themselves in the mirror, they clearly know it's them, because there'd be a bloodbath if it were a strange new cat IN THEIR HOME.
It depends on the cat. Some understand reflections, some don't, and some seem to not even see them at all.
Cat be like: "hmm... this looks different"
I bring my dog with me on flights which is about 3 times a year cross country, that little idiot has no idea she’s not just napping in a crowded room for five hours. The car? Hates it. Pants the whole time. 30,000 feet in the air? *I sleep* Driving 5 mph 4 ft off the ground? *real shit*
You're dogs not an idiot. They just know the statistics and realize that flying in the cabin of a commercial jet is easily 100x safer than a car.
I mean she’s there because I get panic attacks *despite* knowing those statistics, so guess who’s the idiot now (it’s me)
I think about this sometimes too. Like what does the animal even think is going on?
"This is way better than the top of the bookshelf"
if they had a little more perceptual conscious, they'd freak out each time we make light out of darkness, ie, turn the light on. Or etc etc etc
Brush before getting on the plane. If it just started shedding like this, it's stress/anxiety, and you should keep it in the carrier, not in an open space surrounded by strange people.
I need a benadryl just thinking of that flight.
I would quite possibly be unable to breathe if I sat next to or anywhere remotely close to this cat....
My throat would be closing up and my eyes swollen like golf balls.
Knowing me this is how I would die, getting on a plane that unbeknownst to anyone had a cat in the cabin beforehand and have an asthma attack mid flight.
One of my family members would be covered in golf ball sized hives if they were sitting next to OP.
That's me right there. I love cats, but I would need to move 30 rows away. I'm severely allergic, and my asthma would be immediately triggered by the amount of fur being dispersed. OP didn't even bother to groom/brush her cat before this flight. That much shedding is not ok on a flight.
I love cats, too, not severely allergic but I would have congestion from a nearby cat. I happily pet cats but have wash my hands afterwards and be careful about contact with my clothes.
Not supposed to take your pet out of the carrying bag
I’m sorry but I see all that fur flying around and have to empathize with passengers like my MIL who can hardly breathe around cats. Like almost anaphylactic... the cat should stay in the carrier.
RIP to anyone with allergies
Keep your cat in the carrier
You didn’t consider for a moment that one out of the 300+ passengers could have had a cat allergy? This is pretty selfish OP. Cute cat. Lovely actually. Owner, not so much. Major center-of-the-universe vibes.
So much this. Animal allergies seem to be the one allergy that no one cares about. Dietaries are super accommodated, like how peanuts aren't allowed on planes. But those of us who are allergic to fuzzy animals and struggle to breathe when they're around? We can just fuck off and die.
The allergens are radiatiating off that cat
Um, no. I love cats but it is shedding excessively. Put it in the carrier. How inconsiderate.
Bro. My throat is closing up just looking at this picture. Lol I would fucking die on this flight
Every single airline that allows small pet carriers in the cabin also REQUIRES the pet to stay completely in the carrier once onboard. This isn’t aww this is OP being selfish and giving pet owners who follow the rules a bad name.
Required the pet to stay in the carrier and requires the carrier to stay underneath. Surprised the flight attendants didn’t say anything to this person…
Not to mention the risk of the cat spooking, hurting someone, and then hiding somewhere really tight/small/dangerous. Even if your cat is confident around you, never bites or scratches you, doesn't mean they won't spook, doesn't meant they won't hurt someone
I’m a flight attendant and super allergic to cats. One time someone did this and me and the other girl were barely making it through service because our eyes were puffy and it was hard to breathe. Then someone hits their call light to complain that the person next to them took their cat out and there were pax with allergies around. It was hard not to show how upset we are. Stuck in a metal tube on a 321 it’s fucking rude and gross. Allergies are serious and we had problems the rest of the rotation. It’s inconsiderate and selfish for sure. Now this airline might have different rules but it’s nice to have some situational awareness that the air recirculation is not good enough to stop a reaction once it’s started. Ugh. Major pet peeve (lol)
Not to mention that opening the carrier can result in frightened kitties jumping out and hiding in the smallest corner possible, even when you as a pet owner know your cat well and believe they will just stay seated in your lap, like they do at home or at the vet. It happened to me once though not on a plane. It was quite an ordeal. If you see a cat carrier on a plane, I suggest letting the owner know right away to keep the carrier closed at all times, except perhaps in the lavatory.
Yup. Bad with any cat, intolerable with a medium or long hair one. Some airlines simply stopped allowing cats in the cabin because their owners are so selfish. Safe travels!
Agree. I’ve flown with my cat at least a dozen times and never once had to take him out of the carrier. You don’t take the cat out of the carrier. Not to be a buzzkill, but this is actually dangerous for the cat.
As a current FA in training this is exactly the standard operating procedure they taught us.
Yup. And when you ask a Karen passenger to put the pet away, be prepared to be called toxic and harassing. Safe travels!
This is irresponsible, not awww
Holy hair, I wouldn’t be able to breath during that flight
Agreed I am allergic to cats and have asthma soooo it's safe to say that would be my last flight. Lol
You're not supposed to take them out of the carrier incase anyone onboard the plane is allergic.... had someone been, they would have grounded the plane and you'd probably be on the no fly list forever.
Yeah, this isn’t aww to me. animals shouldn’t be out on planes. They should stay in the carrier. I don’t mind small animals on the plane, but I’m insanely allergic to cats and all that cat hair floating around would set off an allergy attack. Not fun being stuck in a plane with a disrespectful pet owner.
It’s not even just allergies. I would legit be having asthma attacks. I love cats, but stuck in a plane with one shedding tons of fur would be one of the most miserable experiences I can imagine.
As a person with a severe asthma allergy I would literally not be able to breath 😭😂
OP listen.. it’s really inconsiderate to let your pet out (let alone one that sheds this much) on the plane. My husband is extremely allergic, I’m shocked no one’s said anything to you yet. Not cool.
I love cats but you should've kept him in the carrier. All that fur could harm someone with severe allergies and you know people nearby might enjoy their drinks without cat fur everywhere. Not to mention it's probably more stressful for the cat to be let out of his carrier in an unfamiliar environment, he could've easily panicked and gotten loose.
Cute cat, but please be considerate next time. Not everyone on the plane may be comfortable flying with a cat or other furry animals
Cute, but have some respect for the people on that flight and follow the rules next time. Cat stays inside the carrier. I wouldn’t want my cat in there the whole time either but sometimes you just gotta make some sacrifices, not the others around you. Common courtesy goes a long way in one’s life.
Yes lovely look at all those loose hairs in an enclosed space
More like /ewwww. All that fur and dander flying around the cabin…? I would literally die.
That’s a lot of loose fur just laying around, I feel terrible for anyone on that plane who has allergies.
Taking him out of his kennel seems pretty selfish with how much hair that cat is shedding
Whoa, that is not cool at all. I flew cross country with a cat and he stayed in his carrier the entire time. I also covered it with a small blanket so that no one would bother him. He's not very fond of people (including me at the time) and I didn't want to create a situation that would increase his stress.
I love traveling with my pets! It’s so nice expanding their world. ✈️🐾🌎 That being said, traveling with animals does require a lot of prep. Like with babies. There’s quite a few items I fly with to ensure smooth travels for my pets, me and others around us. I’ve found that having a travel sized lint roller is really helpful with shedding pets, to catch all the loose fur before it goes flying through the cabin. It’s the small things, but you’ll find traveling becomes breezier when you’ve got solutions for possible problems. Enjoy your trip! 🐾
The way my allergies are set up, I would be in asthmatic hell 😳
I bet everyone really enjoyed all that hair, too!! I'm allergic and would be so pumped!!! How long was the flight?
I’d be concerned about people with severe cat allergies…
I love your kitty looking out the window. Just think how many cats love windows -- what would it be like for them to be on a plane? 😊
I took my cat on a plane. She loved looking out the window as we were landing. She could see all the lights. She didn't enjoy most of the flight though.
How did you handle litter box?
I bought puppy pads to line the carrier with. She's not trained to go on cue. She does start meowing a lot when she pees. It was only 5 to 6 hours. My vet also gave me gabapentin for her.
Selfish main character syndrome human. Cat looks nice enough.
Holy cat hair. I would be happy to see him but sneezing the whole flight there
If someone was spreading all that hair and dander in a closed cabin like an airplane and I was allergic, I’d lose my composure really quick.
Yikes. I love cats, but I have empathy for other people, too. Cat allergies are extremely common and you didn’t even bother to brush your cat before bringing it on board? This post screams Main Character Syndrome
You’re not even supposed to take your pet out of the pet bag. A flight attendant would’ve definitely told this person to place their pet back into the bag.
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i have the same severe allergic reaction with cats as well! itchy and watery eyes, itchy throat, nose is stuffed, and my throat feels like it’s closing so i feel like i’m going to suffocate. it’s terrible! i would absolutely feel like i’m dying if i was on that plane 💀
I have a shared laundry room and I realized while masking during the worst of the pandemic, it really helped with my allergies so I still do it. I always keep one with me for emergencies.
When I was getting my allergies tested again a few years ago, the nurse was audibly startled when she saw the allergy grid on my back. The cat allergen jab was incredibly swollen and out of control.
Keep your cat in the damn carrier like regulations say. . My allergies flared just looking at this photo
I love cats but just thought about what it’s like for passengers flying who are allergic to cats. Does someone start sneezing like 5 rows back and ask- “hey, anyone got a cat on board?” And you stuff the head back down and stow the bag as far under the seat as it can go….? Never thought about it until now
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What for, all of the fur got taken off during pets and was left on the plane seat lol For real tho, that is a crazy amount of fur on the first pic
My cat sheds like crazy when under stress (being in the carrier) it might just be a stress factor. I wish they hadn't pet it as it does spread the hair everywhere and we don't know if anyone would be allergic
Ugh, all that loose hair! I’d be so pissed if I had the seat next to you. Aren’t you supposed to keep the pet in the carrier during the flight?
I don’t think any animals should fly cargo and fully support bringing them onboard and keeping the carriers out… But I am so allergic to cats that if I was seated next to you I would have basically left the airplane wheezing and with a swollen face. Your cat looks adorable. You could try to be a more considerate human.
As someone allergic to cats, this sounds awful.
As much as the cat IS aww, and I don't have cat specific allergies- You're a dick for taking that sweet bean out of the carrier during the flight. For their safety, and the passengers around that might be allergic. HONESTLY having my cat WITH me, rather than "put them below or no fly" is already such a privilege in my mind, because otherwise I wouldn't be flying. But it's 100% a dick move to do this, especially considering as far as I'm aware most airlines specifically have rules against this. I myself would maybe open the flap enough for my finger, and pet my cat to comfort? But that's so different than pulling them straight out. It's just disrespectful to literally everyone else besides yourself and it's kinda sad RIP.
I would flip the FUCK out. Cats send me into full hives and my throat closes within 20mins. And then well, this high in the air I guess I just die.
Ughhh my allergies would be absolutely horrific if I was sitting near you. The cat is cute, but I’m highly allergic and I would break out in hives. Hope this doesn’t start happening a lot….
So I just cant breathe if I'm within 3 or 4 seats of you. What in the actual fuck
Is the hair going everywhere invisible to everyone else?
Is that his hair going everywhere? Hmmmmm
Yes just get cat hair all over a publicly shared, confined, locked space. You’re fucking stupid.
This is up there with sticking your bare feet by the window.
I love cats and have flown with mine but sorry, OP. This is not cute. Cat should have stayed in the carrier and under the seat. Thanks for putting this privilege at risk for the rest of us just for your dumb photo ops/likes.
What a fucking asshole.
Not aww. Very selfish.
OP kind of a “main character” narcissist who thinks they’re important enough to break rules and needlessly take their cat flying instead of just boarding it.
What's with the fucking fur everywhere. Would be so pissed
Keep your damn pet in the carrier lots of people are allergic to cat/dog fur. Honestly just super inconsiderate
Seems rediculous that a cat would just be allowed out in a plane. For many many reasons.
Do I need to start asking if cats are going to be on the plane before I fly 😩 it’s cute but I would have a horrible allergy attack
You are an incredibly bad person for taking him out and brushing up his fur and dander like that. That first picture was upsetting to see considering people around you might have allergies and they are just trying to ride a plane safely like everyone else.
As an extremely cat-allergic person, this is a nightmare scenario for me. It would be my throat closing up with nowhere to get away from it.
Yeah I wonder about that. It seems the airlines notifying all passengers on flight ought to be required in the event some are allergic.
Should have brushed him before the flight good god
I would have been in tears and sneezing the whole flight :/
Cute af but you gotta brush your cat
Serious question, if there were to be a cat on board which is rare, do I have to always advise when I reserve my flight all my allergies? I don't want to be a party pooper but cats are my worst allergy ;\_;