What do you do when a cat poops on the airplane after you almost die in a plane crash?
Last night, I was flying from St. Louis to Minneapolis to participate in the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform. I was flying in a small jet (the kind that holds about 60 passengers).
As we approached the Minneapolis airport, we started going through storm clouds. Undeterred, the pilot started bringing the plane down for a landing. The runway was in sight. That’s when some huge storm clouds became apparent. Not only that, lightning surrounded the airplane-it looked like the lightning was only a couple yards outside the window. It was right after noticing the lightning that the plane went into a sustained stall. It was not the kind of controlled stall that planes enter just prior to touching down. Rather, this was the kind of stall where the nose of the plane goes way up (maybe 50° from horizontal) and the plane starts losing altitude, sliding backwards.
To make things worse, the plane started blowing sideways in the vicious wind. This condition lasted for about 10 seconds. The feeling of being blown around like a leaf was really disconcerting. No one on the plane reacted other than being extremely quiet. Nonetheless, I really truly thought that this was going to be the end for me.
Luckily (you knew the story would end well, since I’m writing this post), the pilot regained control of the plane, leveling out and fighting his way through five minutes of wicked winds. There were lots of bumps and jolts, and many of the passengers were doublechecking and triple checking their seatbelts.
During the excitement, I could’ve sworn that I heard a cat. As it turned out, the man sitting in front of me had a big black suitcase under his seat that was actually a carrier for a cat. During the severe turbulence, the cat not only made lots of noise, it apparently shat all over itself, causing a thick stench of cat poop to spread throughout the seating area. The other passengers (including me) had to endure that smell (which was so bad that it was nauseating) while the pilot made a 20-minute detour around the storm in order to try to land the plane a second time.
Worse yet, I am highly allergic to cats. My exposure triggered asthma, for which I needed to use an inhaler last night.
There’s no real point to this post, other than my need to rant. I had no idea that passengers could bring cats in the passenger compartment of airplanes. This especially surprises me, given the fact that numerous people (I’ve heard that it’s 10% of the population) are allergic to cats.
After the plane was safely on the ground (the passengers applauded when the plane safely touched down), I asked the flight attendant whether it was appropriate to have a cat in the passenger compartment of an airplane. She stated that it is done all the time, and that the passenger needs only to pay an extra $100 in order to bring a pet in the passenger compartment of the plane.
I would suggest one modification to the $100 rule. The next time a cat shits during a flight, the passenger bringing the cat should pay $100 to each passenger within 10 feet of the cat.
Last night my wife and I flew in a small Delta plane from Salt Lake City to Phoenix. I spotted a lady coming up the ailse with a cat in a carry-on. I protested since she was sitting right behind us and my wife is very allergic to cats. She gets quite ill. First they moved her to the back of the plane, then to first class where more people complained, then to the back again. She has now paraded her feline past my wife on the ailse three times. I am going to write a letter to Delta. I think this is a health hazard for humans. Perhaps we will see who is more important, people or animals. I will not be surprised that animals have preference…mo
Mo Russell: You’ve inspired me. I’m writing a complaint note to American Airlines tonight. Here’s a variation on the theme: if a passenger tries to wear stinky perfume or cologne, same issue. Rather than have me (and other passengers) choking, they should go wash it off.
If extreme air turbulence were to cause a *human* passenger to shit all over himself, or to vomit, would you also blame the airline for having to endure the smell? Would you demand monetary compensation?
Can you bring a cat on a plane? Here’s the official answer by American Airlines, which did respond to my letter of concern:
I was reading the posts an the stories on this web site and I’m amazed with all this, I just want to ask what about the babies when they are on the flight and they cry like crazy and poop them self and they bother the hole cockpit, they should be in cargo area not the animals
I’ve never heard of a human going into respiratory arrest because of exposure to a baby.
Why don’t you just sue the airline? That is the American way, right? You could sue them for not informing you that there would be turbulance. Have you ever flown on a plane before? Do you know the first thing about flight? I would have loved to be on that plane to experience a plane “flying” backwards! If you are allergic to cats, it should have been your due dilligence to check that none would be seated around you. Personal responsibilty…what a novel idea!
FromWA: For a homework assignment, try this. Please re-read your comment and check the tone. Then ask yourself whether you are the kind of person who you’d like to converse with. Then consider whether you’d ever be willing to step up and sign your REAL name to a comment like that.
I really don’t understand your hostility to the post. It never occurred to me to sue the airline. I never blamed the pilot or airline for the turbulence. I was just glad I ended up alive and surprised that the airlines let animals in the passenger compartment.
I found this thread when I googled \’cats on airplanes\’ because I am trying to get my pet and myself back to my dying mother across country. I live far away in the middle of nowhere because of my chemical sensitivities. While I feel bad for those with asthma and cat allergies, I am regularly forced into panic attacks and migraines and fits of diarhea from people\’s scented products–including the residue they leave behind on the upholstery I have to sit in for an 11 hour day to get from the NW to the NE. I am always amazed that airline personel are permitted to wear cologne or perfume, and that the soap is scented in public restrooms…and that people with asthma are wearing perfume while complaining about pet dander! Rose oil is an allergen for something like 60% of people, and is included to some degree in a majority of fragrances…I found when I eliminate my exposure to petrochemicals (like sitting near someone who had their suit dry cleaned) and strong natural things like cedar (which contains natural poisons, which is why bugs and fungus don\’t eat it…arsenic is 100% organic, but that doesn\’t make it good for you) I have no reaction to things like dander. I was concerned, though, about the whole \’how does a cat potty in a little carrier I can\’t open most of the day\’ issue, though, even before I read Erich\’s post. Trust me, a baby diaper or my own cat pooping within 10 feet of me in an airplane would make me want to puke and scream, too. :-/
Here is a link to an spca site that explains how many animals perish each year in cargo holds– explaining why small animals should be on board.
I’m bringing my buddy cat with me for our holiday trip tomorrow afternoon. It’s been a bit stressful to try and sort this out, as I’ve been considering others allergies and toleration of noise (he’s a bit of a talkative fellow), but at the same time if I encounter someone trying to give me or my little friend a hard time… they’ll catch some hard times as well.
As an animal lover, I may be a bit biased. However, I think that if you have such an extreme allergy to cats, or any other type of small animal, you should be proactive in taking the necessary approaches that you will avoid such situations.
I tend to agree with the airline — you SHOULD call ahead. People with severe allergies call restaurants, as well as avoid foods and places where they could have an intense allergic reaction. They take these necessary precautions. They also carry EpiPens and the like in the chance that an unfortunate encounter may occur.
So though I sympathize with you having to smell cat poop, (which, I love my cats, but is not one of my favorite of their qualities) it is a fact of life. If I was a cat that almost died, I would be scared sh*tless too.
For an animal owner/lover, these pets are a part of their family. You would not ask a person to put a baby in another part of the plane. You also should not ask a person to put their small pet in another (dangerous!) part of the plane either. If you are that DEATHLY allergic, then take the necessary precautions!
[...] just a few of the opposing groups thrown into the sealed jar of air travel (and sometimes literally shaken up). Whether airlines have the duty of limiting allergens in their cabins, or whether passenger choice [...]
English is not my native languages so be patiance with me.
I travel with my cat on planes all the time, I have only had the cat in the cabin 1 time, and that did suprice me, I have lots of friends that are alergic and couldent understand how they alowd the cat onbord.
After that time i make sure that the cat travels under the cabin, they have a special ventilated room for animals(Europe), and I think it is better for my cat because she is alone and dont need to get stresst with all the sound and noise that is in the cabin
oh! and you dont feed your cat before traveling so a poop situation wont happen, that was my vets orders
You only had a reaction after realizing there was a cat there. i was gonna say you’re a whimp but then i saw miss cedar shaving panic attack up there, so i apologize.
OK, trust me I am the last to want anymore issues while being stuck on a plane. Yet, my husband is in the Army and when we have to pick up and move, we have to pick up and move. When we move the cat goes too. The only way to get her to Germany is by plane and they do not allow pets under the plane if it is hotter than 85 degrees outside. Trust me I would love to check my cat as cargo but, when I have to move in the middle of summer I have no choice. So before you get upset with people for doing things that they have to do stop and think, no one get’s on the plane just to make you mad or purposely make you have a bad flight. Life puts you in weird situations and you should always be prepared and informed.
Rachel: I guess I get no empathy from you, eh?
Wow are you a selfish person. The cat was probably more afraid than anyone else on the plane. The poor thing didn’t know what was happening. And if you are “deathly” allergic to cats, then how come you didn’t notice the cat was on the plane the moment you boarded.
Lady: I don’t stick my face under the seats of everyone around me when I board a plane.
I suspect from your tone that you care more about the cat than you do about me. Fair enough. I understand where you’re coming from.
I suppose I have empathy on you. But, it’s hard to when someone practically demands such sympathy. We should all universally care for one another, and care for cats when in presence isn’t too much to ask. If a cat is put down in cargo it possible that the cat can die. So, I’m sure that you could handle being uncomfortable for only a short while. The cat was probably experiencing on going anxiety attacks throughout the whole flight . . . they have a hard time with change. It really shouldn’t be a war between the cat and you-have sympathy on both.