If you are planning to travel with your pet soon, you're probably wondering how they might go to the bathroom on a plane. Just like humans, if you gotta go, you gotta go. Unless you have a certified service dog, your cat or dog will need to stay inside some sort of airline-approved travel carrier at the airport and for the duration of their flight. Unfortunately, pets do not have their own restrooms on a plane, so it's possible that they relieve themselves inside their travel kennel.
When do pets get bathroom breaks?
If you are taking your pet in-cabin with you, then you will have some opportunities to provide them with a bathroom break. More and more airports have pet relief areas where you can bring your dog to relieve themselves. You can also bring them outside before you check in and once you've arrived outside the destination airport.
Cats can be a little big tricky since they are more prone to escape if they are not safely contained inside the travel kennel. Some airports with pet relief areas may have a private room where you can "freshen them up." However, if there is not a secure, closed room where it is safe to let your cat out, we recommend keeping them inside the travel carrier.
If your dog is traveling as accompanied baggage or as cargo, then they would need to be walked outside prior to check in and once they have been released to you at the destination airport. If you are working with a pet transport company, they will typically provide a nice walk prior to check in and once they are ready to go home at the destination.
If your pet will be transiting somewhere that has an onsite pet facility, then the staff there will provide a potty break for dogs and a secure room with a litter box for cats.
Can a litter box be inside the kennel?
Unfortunately, no, the airlines will not allow cats to have a litter box inside the kennel during air travel. Litter boxes would take up way too much room, so your cat wouldn't have adequate space inside their carrier. Also, as you know, cat litter can be quite messy, so it would not be able to be contained during the trip.
What if my pet soils the travel carrier?
Depending on the length of the flight, some pets may be able to "hold it" until they have arrived to a safe place to go to the bathroom. However, it is possible and quite common that they need to relieve themselves during their travels inside the kennel.
If you have your pet in-cabin with you, then it's a good idea to come prepared with items you can use to clean them up in a safe place. Otherwise, you may need to wait until you get to a location that will allow you to clean out the kennel.
If pets are flying as excess baggage or cargo, then sometimes the person picking them up will be able to clean out the kennel in a safe and secure room before bringing them home.
How can I prepare them for the trip?
There are some ways you can prepare the kennel and your pet for a flight, to potentially limit too much of a mess if they do need to go to the bathroom. For starters, you can place an absorbent pad (no more than 3 inches thick) inside the carrier. This also serves as a bed so that your pet will be more comfortable. You can also place pee-pee pads either underneath or on top of the soft pad for some extra help with absorbing any accidents.
To prepare your pet, we recommend bringing dogs for a bathroom break at the last possible moment before they are fully checked in for their flight. It is also recommended not to feed your pet less than 4 hours prior to flight departure. Pets tend to travel better on a relatively empty stomach, and this also helps prevent belly aches that could result in an accident.
Consider working with a professional
Many pet shipping companies will provide walks for dogs before and after the flight and will clean out the travel kennel when it is possible prior to home delivery. Some companies (like Starwood) even offer grooming reimbursements if your pet arrives home a little stinky and you want to get them groomed right away.
Starwood Animal Transport has rebranded to Starwood Pet Travel. We are still the same great company with the best team, just now with a slightly different name.