Conference misery::feline_v1

                Something that I have heard recommended (I have no
        direct experience, though); is to see your vet and get a mild
        tranquilizer prescribed to be given before the flight. The idea
        is to get the cat into a calm state so that the trip won't be so
        much of a potential problem. Even if you decide not to use this
        on the first flight, I would advise getting a prescription so
        that you could use it if necessary (either in flight? or on
        later flights). Good luck.
                
                /s/     Bob

    One note of caution on those tranquilizers...
    
    They have the opposite effect on some cats (about 35%) and cause
    hyperactivity.  Please be sure and try them before your trip.
    
    I've travelled without the tranquilizers with few problems, just
    try to avoid noise.
    
    Dave

    As always, it'll depend on the cat. My only in-cabin experience was
    with Gunslinger, an imperturbable gray tabby who was about six months
    old at the time. I actually let him out of his box for a little while
    while on the plane, and he entertained me and the folks in the next
    seat back; foolish thing to do under the circumstances, though, since
    if he'd panicked he might have caused a lot of unpleasantness. 
    
    He began to get a bit unhappy about his confinement by the time
    we got to New York (flight was from Denver), and I found that it
    was harder getting a ride with cat that it was flying. The limos
    didn't want to take pets, and it was only the driver feeling sorry
    for me that got me home that night. (If you're planning on taking
    a limo, check with them about pets.)
    
    But when we finally did make it, I opened the carrier and out popped
    Gunslinger, alert, curious, friendly, and not the least scared.
    I suppose I could have called him "Lindbergh" after that...
    
    -b

    I've flown with a kitten a couple of times and didn't experience
    any problems. 
    
    I would like to mention a couple of things that you sometimes aren't
    informed of.  First, if you make reservations to carry on your cat
    you will be charged in addition to your normal tickets approximately
    $25 (they set this up as excess baggage).  Also, be aware if you
    stay with the same airline and change planes there is no extra charge.
    However, if you change airlines then you will be charged the $25
    again.  Can be a real gotcha if you aren't careful.  Then be aware
    that Continental Airlines will take reservations for traveling with
    your cat but not in the cabin with you, the cat goes in baggage
    and still charges $24 for the service.  I traveled recently and
    emphasised that the cat was CARRY ON, to be in the cabin with me
    the airlines said fine, made the reservation, but wouldn't let me
    board with my cat, I was not a happy person.  Hard to make changes
    during the XMAS season.
    
    Would recommend that when you get your carry on kennel that you
    leave it out and let the cats climb in and out of it.  Maybe try
    a short trip in the car with the cat in it so see how they adjust.
    The carry on kennels are alot smaller than kennels your cat may
    be used to so try to make them feel as comfortable as possible 
    ahead of time.  One other thing I would recommend is to get a baby
    diaper and put it in the bottom of the kennel, that way if the trip
    
    is a long one there is something there that will help with absorbtion
    and odor should the cat decide it can't wait until it gets to
    a litter box.
    
    Good luck with your show.
    
    						Debbie
    

    
    Jan,
    
    For nearly 2 years I traveled extensivly with my then 10 year old
    "Missy".  I nearly always arranged for her to fly with me in the
    cabin.  After her first flight I did not give her any form of
    medication to calm her down.  I found that she was very well behaved
    and the only thing that seemed to upset her was the noise of the
    jet that you hear as you are boarding the aircraft.  I tried to
    keep her "cage time" to a minimum, so I would have her wear one
    of those little figure eight haulters and a leash.  I would let
    her out of the cage to sit on my lap until the last second before
    boarding.  While she was in the cage I would leave the leash on.
     I figured that if she ever did get out and was spooked, it would
    be much easier to catch her if she was trailing a leash.  Also I
    found that the haulter slowed her down a bit and she was less likely
    to try any acrobatic moves.  I never has a problem with limo drivers
    allowing her in the limmo.  I suspect that they didn't even know
    she was there.  Things may have changed since then, but I was under
    the impression that you are not allowed to take the cat out of the
    cage in-flight.
    
    As I mentioned above, Missy and I traveled ten months a year for
    2 years.  It was great to have the company.  If you have any need
    for suggestions about kitty and the hotel room - just ask.  Must
    go now.
    
    bye

    But what ever you do, make sure that you make "reservations" for
    the kitty, because the airlines will allow only 1 cat in each cabin
    of the plane (one in first, one in coach usually).  They will charge
    an extra $25, and will also sell you a carrier if you don't have
    one.
    
    Once you get to your destination, don't feed her right away; give
    her tummy time to settle down, or she might "toss lunch"!
    
    Good luck!
    Mary

    Thank you for all the advice.  I've been experimenting with a harness
    and leash for the last couple of days.  Thought it would be a good
    idea even before I saw the replies here.  Now its confirmed.  Amelia
    is pretty good with it already.  She only fights it for the first
    ten minutes and then relaxes.  Bailey loves to pounce on the trailing
    leash as Amelia runs down the hall (talk about sudden stops).
    
    I haven't been out looking for a carrier yet (lack of funds till
    the ticket is paid for) but its good to know the airlines will sell
    them.  As for the $25 charge...when is that paid?  My agent hasn't
    mentioned it and I've been quizzing her constantly on the ins and
    outs of taking the cat.  She is supposed to have made sure that
    my cat is "the" cat for all of my flights, but I'll verify that
    again today when I call about the $25 charge.
          

    Joann,
    
    They get you for the $25 when you get your boarding pass at the
    airport.  
    
    I traveled with 2 cats in cabin on Piedmont...imagine that insanity,
    2 cats under the seat!!!  Anyway, I did this leaving Massachusetts,
    to Chicago, then change planes and onto Nashville!!!  It was something
    to see, this crazy lady carrying two cat carriers plus all her stuff
    running from one end of O'Hare Airport to the other.  I only had
    15 minutes between flights and was pretty nervous about making it.
    
    I paid for my 2 cats going out to Nashville, but coming back, I
    walked up to the reservation desk, gave her my tickets to get my
    boarding pass, checked my luggage and told her I was carrying the
    cats on.  Never got charged for the cats going back, and did the
    same thing with the change in Chicago.  
    
    I did the same thing with the pamper in the carrier....great idea,
    considering Fire didn't wait!!!   I suggest 2 pampers though, one
    on top of the other, so if they scratch up one, which is what Fire
    did, there is still another one there!!  Also, it gives them a chance
    to make 2 mistakes or more depending on how many you put in there!!
    I didn't take the cats out of the carrier on the plane, but then
    I didn't have leashes or harnesses on them either, and didn't want
    to take any chances.  
    
    You might want to consider making the investment in one of those
    "Kit-n-caboodles" type carriers.  They will let you carry them on
    and put them under the seat or you can sneak them on and maybe get
    out of paying to carry them on.  They look like regular carry-on
    luggage and I think cost about $40 - $50.  If your planning on doing
    alot of flying to shows, it could be a very valuable investment.
     
    
    I got one, and it's also great for bringing kittens to the vets!!
    
    Good luck
    cin
    

    Hi Cin,
    This is Jo Ann writing now, the person who wrote the original topic
    is my sister Jan.  I know that this is confusing but we are two
    different people.  (it is all my dad's fault-he had to give all
    three of his daughters names with his initials, Jan Alyce, Jo Ann,
    and Jaclyn Arleen)  Jan and I work together at Dec in Santa Clara.
    
    Jan will be taking Amelia to the Morris Competition in D.C.  I will
    either go to the one in Seattle or Cincinatti.  I am not sure yet.
    She and I didn't want to compete directly with one another at this
    stage of the Morris Comp.  Also-we never would have been able to
    agree on who's cat had to ride cargo and who's got to go under the
    seat.  You know how sisters are!
    
   _____Jo Ann
    
    P.S.- what happens if you get caught with the two cats on board?
    
     

    I told the airline that I was carrying two cats and they didn't
    seem to have a problem with it.  Like I said, I paid for two going
    down, but didn't pay at all coming back.
    
    cin
    

    Hi JoAnn, and Jan!
    	Good thing somebody straightened out about which of you is going,
    I was getting a little confused, and thought I was getting stood
    up in San Jose that weekend!!!  
    Thought I'd add my two cents.  I have traveled many times with my
    kitties, both in cabin and in cargo (the cats were in cargo, not
    me...).  I haven't had any trouble with the cats.  I took Echo to
    a show and carried him on (not tranquilized), and moved Baby Dee
    to california with me in the cabin, tranquilized.  I would recommend
    NOT tranquilizing a cat that you plan on showing, as the effects
    of the drug (usually acepromezine) can last many hours (depending
    on the cat).  If your cat doesn't get upset about showing, it's
    not really likely to get upset about a plane ride - show cats seem
    to learn to take this peculiarities of life in stride.....
    	When Echo traveled with me (to the show where he granded), the
    flight attendents asked me to take him out, and I did.  He purred,
    and kneaded through the entire trip.  Everyone on the plane came
    by to see him!  It was a lot of fun.
    
    Re: carriers.  My favorite style of 'carry-on' carrier is not the
    type the airlines sell.  It is made of thin metal, and has a front
    of small mesh chickenwire.  It has a fake woodgrain look to it,
    and opens at the top, with the fron of it swinging out.  It is the
    appropriate dimensions, but must be set on its side to fit under
    the seat.  In this position, the cat has the open mesh mostly above
    their head, and a bit on one side.  I use these carriers for regular
    show travel as well.  Many of the show vendors carry them - about
    $25.
    
    Good Luck!
    
    Molly

    Hi Molly,
    
    I thought you might be wondering how we were going to meet in San
    Jose if it appeared it was me going to D.C.  Jan introduced me to
    notes but hasn't had time to participate herself until today.
    
    We are still planning a big shindig in S.J. on the 24th.  A few
    birman breeders are coming from out of state for this show and 
    had expressed an interest in getting a group together for a dinner
    Saturday night after the show, are you interested?  Haven't made
    any formal plans yet so let me know if you have any ideas.
    
    I talked to Nancy Mitchell and she is going to take care of everything,
    and make sure that we are all benched together.  Is there anything
    that you would like to contribute to our feast?  I know it will
    be difficult since you will be traveling, so if you would rather
    not, I understand.  As far as lunch and munchies on Sunday... I
    am not sure what we will do (leftovers maybe?).
    
    That cat carrier that you mentioned...is it the kind that looks
    kinda like a lunchbox?  I saw one at a show once and wasn't sure
    what it was used for.  What airlines was it that let you take two
    cats?  I would like to take my birman with Winston and I when we
    go to the Morris Comp. in Seattle or Cincinatti, but I would like
    both of them with me.
    
    JoAnn

    Didn't mean to confuse anyone.  We have been wondering when this
    was going to happen.  Took a long time because I never get to use
    the file (much too busy of course).
    
    Jo Ann and I are going to look into splitting a carry-on carrier.
    Neither of us will be doing extensive flying to shows unless we
    keep winning Morris awards.  Its much easier to afford 1/2 a carrier.
    
    As for tranquilizing/not tranquilizing Amelia.  I don't think that
    I will.  She's a "star" on the judges stand and is quite mellow
    most of the time.  Maybe I should take the tranquilizer, I usually
    love to fly but in light of all the accidents and the fact that
    I'm traveling with a kitty who is named after someone that didn't
    complete a flight, seems a good time to start calling her something
    else...considering her breath--Mealy Mouth fits.
    
    Jan Cordes
    

    Wait a minute!
    
    I might have to do some extensive flying around for the BIRMAN too!
    Winston is not the only star in the family you know!  Its a good
    thing for you and Amelia that cats aren't judged on their breath,
    Amelia's would knock Kim Everett right out of the ring and then
    where would you be?  A little teasing is allowed by your little
    sister isn't it?  One point for Winston and his sweet breath.
    
    See you in New York at the finals!!!  (don't we wish!)
    
    Jo Ann Cordes Brown (the married sister)
    
    
    

    Hey!!  Amelia's breath may be bad but it didn't stop her from winning
    the Morris Award and all the 1st place ribbons that lead to the
    Morris Award.  I've got her trained not to open her mouth while
    being judged.
    
    Besides, if the plane gets hijacked, all I have to do is let her
    yawn on the hijackers and they'll fall right over...no problem!
    
    Hey, if I keep feeding her garlic till the show date maybe the judges
    will think I have a new breed, "Italian Shorthair".  Garlic breath
    has got to be better than what she has.
    
    I've got to figure out a way she can win that semi-final while sporting
    her bald belly.
    
    BTW, I noticed you manager to get an age notation in there, thanks,
    at least people see us still have to ask who the oldest is.

    Hi Jan, JoAnn, Molly, and whoever else is here!!!
    
    When I took two cats in cabin the airline I used was either Piedmont
    or Republic....I don't remember which, but it was probably Republic.
    I used one of the mesh front carriers that Molly described and one
    of the "sneaky" bags that I mentioned earlier.  I did not sneak
    the cats on!!!  The airline was well aware that I had two cats in
    cabin...at least going down!!  That particular airline allows two
    cats in cabin...I made sure that I let them know very early that
    I was planning on traveling with twocats.
    
    Good luck to both of you.  
    
    cin
    

    I just got off the phone with my travel agent about plans to go
    to Seattle in March with two cats.  The only airline on the west
    coast that will allow two cats in the cabin is Alaskan.  Only problem
    is that one has to be in coach and the other in first class.  I
    can't be in both of those places at once!  What is the matter with
    these people?  I really wanted to take Joui, my birman, along with
    us to the seattle show.  What to do, what to do.  When a cat travels
    as excess baggage do you have the same two hour wait after the flight
    for the cat to be unloaded as you do when they are shipped alone?
    Any suggestions?
    
    jo

    On certain airlines, you can, for a small extra few, have your cat
    make "people" connections. On Delta, it's the DELTA DASH service.
    
    Some nice airlines will provide this for free, if you are travellinmg
    at the same time
    
    Dave

    Dave- I am not sure I understand what you mean about "people"
    connections.  Does that mean that they will get him off the plane
    early for me?
    Jo
    

    I think he means that a person will "hand carry" the cat on and
    off.  This is the method I used when traveling with cats that had
    to go in cargo.  The cats were carried off the plane by a person
    and actually arrived before the luggage.
    
    cin
    

    I figured I ought to explain my last remark.  I prefered sending
    Fire by cargo rather than under the seat if I was going non-stop.
    The reason I prefered it was that he is a large cat and the under
    the seat carrier were snug for him.  Going cargo, he was allowed
    a regular airline carrier and I was also able to put a litter box
    in it.  He was far less stressed than traveling under the seat.
    
    I carried him the only time I went non-stop, I was just afraid that
    he wouldn't make the plane switch and I'ld end up in Tennessee for
    a cat show with no cat!!!
    
    cin
    

    Aircraft frequently have mechanical failures which are invisible
    to the airline passenger. Usually it's not a big deal and nothing
    to worry about. However ...
    
    I was waiting for my luggage in San Diego, having arrived on PSA.
    The only evidence we (passengers) saw of the cargo compartment heating
    failure was the frozen puppy in its travelling cage. It was actually
    off-loaded along with all the other baggage. That was back around
    1970. 
    
    There is nothing you can do to prevent such accidents, but you might
    want to consider insurance.
    
    Dick
    

    That is horrible.  I hope that things have improved since then.
    That is the first disaster story I have heard.  Except for the lady's
    cat who was lost in chicago.
    
    The worst part of it is that the owner probably had to find out
    about it right there at baggage claim with all those people looking
    on.
    Jo

    I agree, that is terrible.  
    
    I have shipped cats lots and have never had a serious problem. 
    I did have one instance where I shipped a cat (American, I think)
    and when she arrived in Boston she was left outside on the baggage
    cart for almost an hour.  This was in mid winter.  She ended up
    with a pretty bad cold, but that was about it.  She was returning
    from Ohio after being bred, luckily she wasn't pregnant.
    
    If you are able to arrive early to look for the cat/dog or call
    ahead, sometimes they will give you better service.  
    
    cin
    

    The owner's scream attracted a lot of attention.
    

    There is a related story in the January edition of cat world.  This
    cat did not end up like the puppy previously mentioned, but it was
    left unattended in a busy airport luggage terminal where anyone
    could have picked it up and walked off with it.
    Jo

    Just saw another traveling with cat horror story in CATS magazine.
    This one about a man and several cats traveling to a big show in
    New York.  The kitten was stolen from the man's van which was parked
    outside a friends apartment building.  The kitten was only left alone
    in the van for 20 minutes.  The thief took the kitten to a pet store
    and sold it to the proprietor for $10.00.  The owner of the kitten
    had already notified the pet store owner of the theft and was able
    to reclaim the kitten.
    
    I think the moral of the story is that we will have to be careful
    when traveling with our cats.  There are people out there that are
    so desperate that they would steal our beloved pets and sell them
    for a fast buck.
    Jo

    I happen to be a friend of the man in .-1 (and I think Cin knows
    him too) and saw him at that show.  The man who stole the kitten
    was a junkie who needed some money to get some drugs or something.
    Wayne and his friends spent the entire evening after the theft making
    up posters and plastering the surrounding neighborhoods with the
    notices (reward $300).  Then they started calling all the pet shops
    in the area, whereupon they found nothing.  The following day (first
    day of show - kitten missed it.) A pet store owner called, and had
    the kitten - said he'd be happy to bring it up.  The junkie then
    also called and said he had it.  Presumeably he thought he could
    go back to the pet store - buy back the kitten - and pick up the
    $300 reward.  Well, he didn't.  The pet store owner brought the
    kitten back safe and sound, and the kitten went on to get the BEST
    KITTEN wins in ALL the remaining rings + Best of the Best.  A nice
    happy ending. 
    Molly

    I read about the Wayne and Casual Affair in Cats magazine.  I know
    Wayne very well.  I bought a Blue Point himalayan from him a number
    of years ago, Khazar's Double Talk, a CFA Grand Champion.  I was
    so glad to read that he got his cat back in the end of the article.
     
    Wayne has some of the nicest himalayans currently being produced
    and it's also nice to see that he can do it by only owning 5 cats.
    
    Goes to show, it's not quantity, but quality that counts.
    
    cin
    

    Wow, I didn't know you had "Double Talk"!  What a beautiful cat!
    I've seen pictures.  I think Wayne had "Double Talk" and "Sweet
    City Woman" pictured together in a CFA yearbook ad 3 or 4 years
    back.  I believe that "Sweet City Woman" is the mother of "Affair".
    The dad, "Tommy Be Good" (I wonder who that was named after?!) is
    pictured on the front cover of Jan. 87 CFA Almanac.  He was CFA's
    12th best cat nationally last year.  "Affair" is even better!
    
    What's "Double Talk" doing now?  Happy and healthy, I hope!
    Molly

    Well, Molly, unfortunately, Double Talk is now a Happy Household
    Pet!!!  Yes, believe it or not!!  Double Talk had urinary track
    blockages about 6 months after we got him.  We tried for months
    bringing him back and forth to Angel Memorial trying to correct
    the problem with catherization and a change in diet, all to no avail.
    Double Talk had to have a complete Urethrotomy (not sure of the
    spelling of that).  Basically, what the surgery does is remove the
    penis and creates a hole that he can urinate from, kinda like changing
    him into a girl.  
    
    Because of the type of surgery that was done, he isn't even eligible
    for competition in the Premiership class in CFA, and CFF doesn't
    like him much because he's so extreme.  But, at least he is happy
    and healthy.  
    
    I haven't seen Talker in a while.  When my ex and I split up, he
    got the himalayans and I got the persians, so he got Talker and
    I got Fire.  Talker produced a few kittens before he was neutered
    none of the exceptional, but something to work with anyway.
    
    I hadn't thought about Talker in a while, thanks for bringing back
    his wonderful memory.
    
    purrs
    cin
    

    Well we're down to the wire on this traveling thing.  Flight leaves
    Thursday night at 11:00.  I'll be on it with cat in hand.  I have
    my "cabin kennel" ($12.95 at An-Jan Pet Supply in San Jose), it
    looks sort of like a large lunch box.  I have my reservations. 
    The airlines are charging $30 for the cat these days.  I already
    have boarding passes for one of my flights so maybe I'll be able
    to slip by on the charge for that one.  We're traveling with harness
    and diapers for the kennel and without tranquilizers...we'll see
    what happens.
    
    As a footnote, at the last minute the show organizers let me know
    I needed fireproof cage curtains.  After much scrounging around
    I was able to find a spray "Flame Ort" that can be sprayed on to
    make material fire retardant, decided it was cheaper to go buy 
    flame retardant flannel (used for kids pajamas) and make new curtains.
    At the same time I bought a piece of Robe Velour to wrap around
    the outside of the cabin kennel for plane-to-terminal, airport-to-
    limo times.  We're probably going to look awfully strange walking
    through the airport.  Me and my carry-on bag, and this blue material
    thing with a handle and meows coming from it and dragging a large
    rolling suitcase.

WARNING:  This is long.

The trip is over...what a character building experience.

3:00pm Thurs. 1/22, hearing rumors the airports in DC are closed, call
the agent to check and discover an error that was made in my reservations.
I'm schedule to go out Friday night at 11:00 not Thursday.  This is not
acceptable.  Manager gets involved with straightening this out.  Tickets
have 25% penalty attached (not to mention addition cost for different flights).
Manager calls she's rearranged the flights and waived all penalties and extra
costs.  Tells me to call her at home any time if I run in to a problem.

6:30pm 1/22, take food away from Amelia, rush to finish packing so I can
slip in a promised Italian dinner before catching the plane.  Running late.
Get to the restaurant and tell the waitress we're rushed.  In and out of 
DiCiccos's in 1/2 hour.

Arrive at airport and stand in line forever to check luggage.  Rush to gate,
beg security not to x-ray Amelia (they wouldn't have anyway).  Get to gate,
everyone else has boarded.  Get on plane, realize no one charged me the $30 
for Amelia, flight attendants think she's adorable.

Flight to Chicago uneventful.  Get to sleep 1-1/2 hrs.  Wake up to meowing
cat, seems she woke up and couldn't figure out where I was.  Put foot on 
carrier so she'd know I was there and that was fine with her.

Arrive Chicago 4:40am, temperature outside 1 degree.  Make trip to ladies 
room and offer Amelia a chance at the kitchen garbage bag full of litter
I brought.  She was too interested in the new surroundings so she blew 
her chance.  (Bath room in O'hare has sinks with sensors, they turn on when
you approach them and off when you walk away -- I couldn't get over this.)
Tried to buy an empty cup so I could give Amelia some water and the consession
person yelled at me (but I got the cup--free).  There was someone asleep on 
the floor in front of the water fountain.  Strange people kept coming up to
talk to me.  Everyone thinks Amelia is adorable.

Tried to get on the 6:30 flight I was wait listed on and discovered several 
other people who'd been delayed by weather trying to do the same thing so 
I decided to leave them the space and take the 7:30 flight I was confirmed
on.  6:30 people boarded the plane and shortly afterwards got back off 
the plane.  Hydraulic problems.  United shuffled all of us from one gate
to another while they figured out that they were going to give the 6:30
people the 7:30 people's plane.  8:00 the 6:30 people leave for National
airport in DC.  8:45 the 7:30 people leave for DC.  11:20am we arrive in
DC and head for the luggage claim.  There are tons of suitcases everywhere
but none of them are ours.  We wait and wait while all kinds of luggage
comes by then hear rumors that the 7:30 people's luggage was on the 6:30
flight which was diverted to Baltimore.  We fill out delayed luggage forms
and wait some more because they tell us the flight is on its way to DC.
Finally luggage arrives.  Out we go into a "winter wonderland".  Snow and
ice everwhere the eye could see and boy was it cold.  My friend and I
take a very scenic route to the Sheraton Washington.  There are cars
off the road everywhere and they've been buried by the snow plows.

Get to the hotel and discover zillions of teenagers are staying there
for a United Nations youth conference.  Of course they all think Amelia
is adorable too (this is a very unbiased note).  Get some food, fall 
asleep for a while.  Wake up and try to bath a very uncooperative cat
in the hotel sink.  Tried to dry her but she wasn't having anything
to do with the dryer.  Did what I could and let her do the rest.  Spent
the rest of the night waking up to see what she was into and worrying
that she was going to catch cold (I kept trying to get her to sleep 
under the covers like she does at home...no way.)  Kept waking up to
strange sounds and security guard radios in the hallway.  Probably the
teenagers running amuck.  Hear Sunday that someone had kicked in a door
across the hall from his room and there were 19 teens in there having
a party.

Saturday morning's wakeup call consisted of two rings on the phone.
I require dynamite.  (I forgot to pack my clock, radio alarm and light-
on-a-timer that I usually wake up to).  Get up late, go to take and
shower and UGH!!! COLD WATER!! BRRRRRRR  Inhale my french toast (the
best part of the morning so far.  Head down to the show.  The show
was uneventful on Saturday.  Amelia only won one ribbon.  3rd Best
Household pet.  Discovered that she's an individual on the West Coast
but just one of the crowd in the East.  There were 4-5 other cats
that looked almost exactly like her.  She was also the only 9 month
old in the household pet category.  Most of the cats were quite a bit
older with some in the 16-18 year range.

Saturday night stayed with friends in Columbia, Maryland.  Amelia was
confined to the bottom level of the 3 level townhouse.  She spent alot
of time glued to her mom till she got used to her surroundings.

Sunday Jackie (my friend) and I head back to the cat show on Metro.
This was fun.  Show organizers decided to rush the show and try to get
done by 2:00 due to major snow storm pending.  Sometime in the afternoon
my friend asks me if I smell smoke.  We start looking arround to see if
somethings burning.  Sure enough there is smoke coming from one of the 
fire doors 15-20 feet from our cage.  Jackie wants to leave, I agree.

  Hotel + fire + no alarms + no sprinklers in hall = hasty exit

At this time one of the show organizers goes to the fire door, looks, 
determines their is a fire and opens the fire door (I guess she had to
be real sure).  Smoke billows in and it smells like burning plastic.
We rush back to cage and start pulling everything down and packing it 
up.  Stuff Amelia into her carrier and are heading for the door when the
announcer comes on and tells everyone there's a small fire and everyone
should stay where they are (no way!).  On the way to the door Amelia's
carrier pops open and she lands running.  I snag her, stuff her back in
and keep going.  Announcer now says, don't panic, stay where you are but 
do put your cat in the carrier.  By this time Jackie and I are in the hall
way on our way to the lobby level and front door.  Jackie and I find a 
place 2 feet from the front door and camp out/we were avoiding going 
outside in the snow till we really had to.  Someone finally evacuates
the rest of the show people and some of the start making their way to
where we are.  The hotel fire alarms (they have them on the upper levels)
start going off and we hear that the fire department has arrived.  We
spend quite a while upstairs and rumor has it that they're blowing the
smoke out of the hall and the show will go on.

We go back in and finish the last two rings.  Amelia still doesn't do well.
Then its time for Morris judging.  Morris makes an appearance.  He's 
amazingly cool.  Just sits in his directors chair like a star.  Judge
says some wonderful things about Amelia but doesn't final her.  Show
over, we go home.  Maybe will try Seattles semi-finals.  Blizzard is raging.

We get invite to go to a place called Lucky Neds' for the super bowl and 
take full advantage of it after taking Amelia home.  The game ends and
we stay to dance while the blizzard rages around us.  There were 18 inches
on the ground when I arrived in DC and they were expecting 10-12 more.
We end up having several people camped out in the living room.  Too far
to drive with the lousy roads.  We spend the next two days eating and 
planning our next meal and playing trivia games.  Walking to the store
is the closest I cared to get to the snow and I had to bundle up for
that.  I'm just not cut out for that weather any more, too spoiled in
California.  I get woken up several times because Amelia has found
her way to the upper levels (how she got that door open I'll never
know) and is crying for me.

Tuesday 1/27 time to leave.  Jackie and I allow 2-1/2 hours to get to 
the airport.  We take Metro.  Our first mistake, six million people on
metro, us with luggage and a cat, snow delays, etc.  We get to the 
American terminal at National as my plane is taxiing down the runway.
Luckily American can get me on the next flight with no change of fare.
The send me to United for the second leg because they can't confirm it.
My luggage is going whether or not I do.  United confirms, sigh of 
relief.

American flight goes okay.  Arrive in Chicago.  United agent in DC had
told me to check the tv monitors for my flight time in Chicago.  Small
catch.  I was miles from the nearest United monitor in the American
terminal.  I walked for what seemed like forever before finding United.
Had a whole five minutes to spare when I arrived in Uniteds terminal.
I was dying.  The weight of the cat and carryon luggage and the length of
ther airport was killing me and the first place I found to rent a cart
was only a short distance from my final destination.  Boarded Uniteds
flight, discovered it was a dinner flight.  I'd had dinner on the 
American flight but I took full advantage since I'd worked up an appetite.
BTW  American's roast and noodles and United's lasagne were both wonderful.

Arrive home in San Jose, it was raining, San Jose airport doesn't have
covered areas for getting on/off the plane.  Cat and I get wet on the
way to terminal (but not too badly).  Roommate is waiting (and has been
for a while since I missed the first flight).  We get to ride home in 
his pickup.  Roommate, me, Amelia, large suitcase and carryon bag all
cram into the cab of his pickup (since it was raining).  Boy was it 
good to be home but, I really miss DC in spite of everything.

Next...on to Seattle. 

    I forgot to mention in the other note that Amelia traveled very
    well.  She slept alot on the planes and only got upset when we
    had to be out in the cold.  I had taken some flannel material and
    some robe velour and pinned them arround her carrier to try and
    keep her warm.  Seemed to work okay.

         
         Two year ago  I  was  flying from New York (JFK) to San Juan,
         Puerto Rico on a  very  cold and windy February morning.  One
         of the passengers was traveling  with his dear poodle, and he
         sent it as regular luggage just minutes before departure.

         Once  on the plane, something happened  and  the  flight  was
         delayed.  I guess there was no  rush  to  load  the  luggage,
         therefore luggage and dog waited on the tarmac  for  over two
         hours.  I think the wind-chill factor was about -30F.
         
         Just before departure,  someone  noticed  that all our things
         were laying down there,  and  he started making funny remarks
         about frozen personal belongins.   By take-off these comments
         have reached the dog owner.  He jumped and started  screaming
         and yelling, MY DOG, MY DOG!!!  He was assured  with standard
         airline talk,  "Don't  worry  everything will be all right...
         (besides we are now at 30,000 feet)"  
         
         Three and a half hours later, we arrived at SJU...


         
         The dog was frozen solid, and dead.