The pet crate plays a crucial role in facilitating your pet’s international journey. Choosing the right crate is essential to ensure your pet’s safety and comfort in the cargo hold during air travel. The crate should meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines for transporting live animals, or your pet will not be allowed to board the aircraft. Airline guidelines might seem strict and excessive, but they are necessary for your pet’s safety and well-being.
Crate training is crucial for a pet travelling to a different country. Your pet’s comfort on the flight depends largely on how comfortable they are in the crate. It is best to get the crate early and acclimatise your pet.
If you plan to travel overseas with your pet dog or cat, here are some guidelines to help you choose the right crate and train your pet to feel comfortable in their crate.
IATA-approved crates come in standard sizes, so choose the right one for your pet’s height and length. Tall breeds can travel in custom crates that meet IATA requirements. Your pet should be able to stand up and turn around inside the crate, lay down comfortably with extended paws, and shouldn’t have to duck to see out of the crate.
Use a measuring tape to record four measurements of your pet to determine the correct size crate:
With these basic measurements, you can easily choose the correct-sized crate for international travel. The crate’s length must be not less than A+B, the width should equal C+1in x 2, and the height should be D+3in.
Your pet’s crate must be strong enough to withstand the rigours of air travel without compromising the safety and comfort of your pet. IATA guidelines suggest that the crates be made of fibreglass, metal, rigid plastic, or wood. Rigid plastic crates are most often recommended and widely used for air travel.
The crate must have ventilation on all three sides, and the inside must be smooth with no sharp edges. The door must be metal with an all-around locking system with pins extending at least 1.6 cm above and below the door. The door must be strong enough to keep the pet inside securely. It should not have jagged surfaces that can injure your pet. The floor of the crate must be solid and leakproof, and the crate should not be collapsible.
Collapsible crates and crates made from metal wire are not IATA-approved, and your pet will not be allowed to travel internationally in these crates. Crates with plastic doors and side clips should be avoided. Crates with wheels may seem convenient, but airline officials usually remove the wheels before boarding. Used dog crates are best avoided for hygiene reasons; unvaccinated pets may have used them before, putting your pet at risk for disease.
The pet crate must be clearly labelled with live animal stickers in the correct colours and include specific information in a globally recognised format. The crate must display the owner’s and the animal transport company’s contact information. All relevant permits, certificates and documentation must be attached to the crate.
An absorbent pet pad should be laid on the floor for your pet’s comfort. You can keep an unwashed t-shirt or an old blanket in the crate; your pet will be comforted by its familiar smell. Do not include hard toys or other accessories, as the airlines will remove them.
Petraveller ensures every pet travels in a brand new, IATA-approved crate that prioritises comfort and safety. It is a prominent red colour, easily identified by airline and customs staff and conforms to all international airline standards. The crate is manufactured from non-toxic, rigid plastic and is well-ventilated with a secure metal door and lock. Every crate comes with an ultra-absorbent and anti-slip Petraveller Sky Bed for your pet’s comfort during the flight.
Crate training is crucial for international pet travel. Your pet’s comfort on the international flight depends mainly on how comfortable your pet is in the crate. Getting the crate early and acclimatising your pet to the crate before the travel date will go a long way in making your pet comfortable during the flight.
If you are planning to move your pet to another country, there are several factors to be considered, and crate training is just one of them. Get expert advice by contacting a pet relocation agency to assist with your move.
Petraveller is Australia’s most caring and comprehensive international pet travel specialist. We believe your pet is an important part of your family, and we are committed to reuniting you with your pet safely and with great care. If you plan to travel with your pet, contact Petraveller for travel itineraries, crate training advice and a free pet travel quote.