Scottish Fold Cats Are Such Jetsetters They Even Get 'iPad Time' on the Plane

I used to make the mistake of taking my cats on road trips with me. I have pictures of a scrawny, half-grown kitten lounging in the sun on my dashboard. It was super cute. Far less cute was the time one of the cats spooked and somehow crawled into the hollow under the backseat, which necessitated an emergency stop in a rest stop parking lot and a traumatic cat-endectomy from the innards of my car that I’m not sure either of us are over.

I know I should have kept them in their carriers, but they hate the thing and yowl so much and so constantly every time I try to put them inside one, I can barely make it to the vet without a migraine, let alone any extended travel.

So I’m super impressed by this trio of cats, who not only seem to relish their carrier, but are chill travel companions in general.

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In this video, a world traveler shares tips for how they make it work with their trio of cats: Spongecake the Scottish Fold, as well as cat siblings Mocha and Donut. In the video, we see how much they enjoy plane travel, with relaxing times spent grooming each other in the carrier, snoozing, and even watching entertainment on their computer tablet.

Related: Rescuer's Story of Saving a Scottish Fold Cat Who 'Once Knew Love' Has People in Tears

Is a Scottish Fold Cat Right For You?

Scottish Fold cats are a relatively recent breed, having been established only in the 1960s, after cat breeders fell hard for a barn cat whose ears (and other cartilage) featured a mutation that made her look more like an owl, with folded down ears, and a round face and eyes. Scottish Fold cats are beautiful and unusual, but can suffer from health problems, as their unique look is actually due to a genetic abnormality known as osteochondrodysplasia, which can, in extreme cases, cause bone malformations all over the body, and commonly leads to joint disease.

For this reason, some governing bodies of cat breeders advise against the registering and breeding of these animals, though they continue to be quite popular for their adorable appearance.

Taking Cats on Airplanes

This video is actually a good example of the axiom, “social media is not real life.” Spongecake’s owner specifies in comments that although only one carrier is pictured here, there was actually a carrier for each cat, as mandated by law. Additionally, despite the video showing them having free rein in the cabin, the reality is quite different. Federal law states that pets (not service animals) are to be kept inside their carriers during plane flights, and even that the carriers are to be kept under the seats during take off and landing.

For many airlines and even in some countries (such as flights in and out of the UK), bringing your cats in the carrier with you is completely prohibited, and all animals must be kept in the cargo hold, which for many wary pet owners is a complete non-starter.

Spongecake and friends even ran into these restrictions on a recent trip to the UK, and decided to fly into France and drive over, just to avoid the cargo hold. Still, their tips on traveling with pets and finding cat-friendly airlines are a must for those who want to journey with their furry friends.

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