In recent years, the friendly skies have become even friendlier for our animal companions. More and more airlines are offering in-cabin travel for cats and small dogs. There are, of course, a variety of rules and prices and each airline sets their own. A couple of rules are universal – there is a limit to the amount of animals that are allowed to fly in-cabin per flight, so it is important to make reservations as soon as possible and all airlines state that animals must stay in their carriers at all times while on the airplane.

Preparation is the key to making any trip as stress free as possible for both you and your furry kid. Here are some tips:

1. Stop all food and water at least seven hours before travel. Once you are in the air, a little water or a couple of treats will be accepted by some animals. Of course, others will have no interest at all.

2. Make your animal companion’s carrier as comfortable as possible. I recommend using one or two puppy training pads at the bottom (in case of an in-flight accident). If this is not cushiony enough, you may also want to place a towel inside.

3. Familiarize yourself with your airline’s rules and regulations regarding in-cabin pet travel. They do vary. For instance, JetBlue Airways will only allow cats and dogs weighing no more than 20 pounds (including the weight of the carrier).  Imagine trying to check in and being turned away because your pooch is too heavy!

4. When going through the security checkpoint in the airport, you will be asked to remove your pet from the carrier. You must walk your cat or dog through the metal detector while the carrier goes through the x-ray machine. From personal experience, I can tell you this is not a pleasant experience. If you would like assistance, ask a TSA agent. They can be very kind and helpful. Be aware that if you need to take your dog outside of the airport to relieve himself, you will both need to repeat the security process.

5. Never sedate an animal companion for airplane travel. Reactions to sedatives range from increased heart rate to vomiting to disorientation. If your cat or dog is especially high strung, you may want to consider a couple of drops of Rescue Remedy by Bach Flowers. This can be placed in the mouth, on the tips of the ears, paw pads or even on the towel inside of the carrier.

6. Your animal companion can pick up on your stress level and will react accordingly. Remain calm and continue to reassure him or her every step of the way.

Utilize these tips and the travel experience can be tolerable or even quite pleasant for all.

Jodi Ziskin, our Traveling with Pets Editor, is a Holistic Wellness Consultant for Animal Companions, specializing in nutrition and proactive health. She is a Certified Pet Nutrition Consultant who also holds a Master of Science degree in Holistic Nutrition. Through her company Holistic Jodi, LLC, Jodi makes house calls throughout South Florida, helping cats, dogs, birds and rabbits be as healthy and happy as possible.

She and her husband Zach live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with their two cats – Kayla (age 20) and Obi (age 5). Please feel free to contact Jodi at holisticjodi[at]gmail.com or visit http://www.healthypetcoach.com/