The controversy surrounding the carriage of animals in airline cabins within the United States has quietened down lately. Arguably, with mask mandates and air rage, there are bigger fish to fry. But the vexed matter of pets traveling in airline cabins has reared its head again with news of a scratchy tabby cat breaking loose on a United Airlines flight and causing some consternation.

A bad-tempered cat goes for an inflight stroll

According to the airline blog Live and Let's Fly, a cat recently decided to stretch its legs on a United Airlines flight, escaped its owner, and got a bit scratchy and bitey as other passengers attempted to recapture it. Naturally, folks managed to find the time to whip out their phones and record the moment for posting on social media.

In a thoroughly silly moment, one passenger drapes a blanket over a woman's shoulders (the cat's owner?) before the cat breaks free again and bolts down towards the rear of the plane.

Anyway, it's just a cat, so no biggie in the scheme of things. But it does shine a spotlight (again) on the whole issue of pets traveling in aircraft cabins - a distinctly US phenomenon. After years of abuse, the Department of Transportation now allows airlines to ban so-called emotional support animals from their cabins. Most airlines moved swiftly to enforce the ban, ostensibly ending the animal free-for-all.

United allows pet owners plenty of wriggle room

But there is still room for bona fide service animals, and in United's case, they will fly domesticated cats and dogs that can fit in a travel carrier underneath the seat in front of the owner on certain domestic flights. The first question that springs to mind for this writer is why? My cute little four-legged mutt might be the light of my life, but I have enough self-awareness to know not everyone will share my opinion, especially when little Fido wants to stretch his legs, do a wee (or worse), bark/meow, and generally otherwise carry on.

"We know that pets are important members of your family," says United's website. But United also has rules around the carriage of pets in the cabin, including a requirement to leave the animal secured in its travel carrier/kennel.

"Your pet must stay in their kennel with the door closed at all times while in the airport, at the boarding area and while onboard the plane. Your pet’s kennel must stay at your feet, underneath the seat in front of you."

Pet Loaded Into United Airlines Cargo Hold
Pets belong in the cargo hold, not aircraft cabins. Photo: United Airlines

The scratchy tabby cat is probably not a well-trained service animal

Maybe this was one smart tabby cat. Maybe it managed to open the travel carrier's door and go for an inflight wander by itself? More likely, the cat's owner thought (incorrectly) it was appropriate to have the cat out.

Most reasonable people have no problem with well-trained bona fide service animals (i.e. guide dogs) curled up quietly on a flight. Well-trained service animals rarely cause a problem. It's the abuses that riles other passengers. Arguably, United brings this problem on itself. The Department of Transportation ruling gave it the room to ban all non-service animals from its plane's cabins, yet it only went halfway.

Source: Live and Let's Fly