Katyrna S. is a 23-year-old ballerina from Lviv, Ukraine, who I met via the group ENGin, which connects Ukrainians with those who can help them learn English. Kate and I spoke by zoom from April to June, and she told me how it was like to live in a war zone. There were constant rockets and sirens, sleep was difficult and performing was impossible.

Luckily, she and her boyfriend Andrew found a sponsor, and with their two cats, Grey and Berlin, they were able to leave Ukraine on June 10 for Chicago. I wondered how she and Andrew could get their two cats through that two-day trip. Kate will tell you the rest…

“Flying with a pet is a difficult and troublesome event that requires good planning. It is necessary to take into account many nuances – from the preparation of documents to the selection of the appropriate container size, and even the time that needs to be invested in traveling to the airport. And in order for the trip with the pet to pass with minimal stress for him and the owner, you should study the rules at each stage of the trip.

“Pet owners are primarily concerned with the question, is it possible to take a pet with them? You can do this, but on the condition that together with the carrier it will weigh no more than 8 kg (17 lbs). There are very rare exceptions and it is allowed to take a weight of up to 10 kg (22lbs).

“For dogs and cats traveling as hand luggage, not only rigid but also soft carriers are allowed in the cabin. Animals go as an addition to hand luggage, not instead. Therefore, it is reasonable to choose a container made of lightweight materials, since animals are weighed at the airport together with the container (to determine the amount of the surcharge).

“If the airline allows you to take your pet with you, then it's time to find out under what conditions this is possible. Let's get acquainted with a few rules:

“We now know it is strictly forbidden to let the pet out of the carrier. Even if it's a cute kitty and she got scared. Talk to your pet in a calm voice and praise him. You should not feed your pet before the flight, but every couple of hours you can treat it with goodies. His favorite toy and your old T-shirt will help calm the animal during the flight. You need to wear the T-shirt a little and then put it with your pet so that the familiar smell soothes him.

“You need to collect several references for the pet. The list may differ depending on the rules of the particular airline and the flight distance. Among the most necessary: A certificate from a veterinarian showing all vaccinations and the results of worm tests (issued 3 days before the flight). This certificate is required for domestic flights, and you may need an international certificate, along with a permit to import a pet.”