Cats, by air and by road
Cat transport and cat courier service
We move cats between Toronto and Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Regina, Saskatoon, St. John's, Montreal, Ottawa, Kelowna, Victoria, Quebec City, Thunder Bay, Charlottetown, Deer Lake and Fort McMurray by air, drive them door to door to cities like Ottawa, Montreal and Kingston, and take them to the vet, the groomer or the airport in Toronto and the GTA.
Cats on the move
Cats like routine, and a move breaks all of it. For a move across the country, a few hours on a flight is usually easier on a cat than days in a car with new smells and noise at every stop. Our job is to keep the trip short, simple and on time.
We look after three kinds of cat transport: air moves between Toronto and another Canadian city, where your cat flies as cargo; trips by road, door to door to cities within a day's drive; and local rides in Toronto and the GTA, for vet visits, grooming, boarding or the airport.
Air moves
Flying your cat within Canada
The crate
In the air, every cat travels in a rigid airline crate. The rules are the same as for dogs, with one difference: the air holes must be no bigger than 19 x 19 mm. The crate needs a solid roof, a metal door, metal nuts and bolts, absorbent bedding, and a water dish you can fill from outside.
Most cats fit a 100 series crate (21 inch), but a large cat like a Maine Coon may need the next size up. We work out the minimum size from your cat's measurements. We sell airline crates in every size, and the crate is added to your quote if you need one. More about crates.
Two cats, one crate
Two cats can share if each weighs 14 kg or less and they live together. Up to three kittens under six months can share too. The crate must be wider, and we size it for you.
Kittens
Kittens must be at least 8 weeks old on WestJet and 10 weeks old on Air Canada. On WestJet, kittens 8 to 12 weeks old need a vet health certificate.
Snub-nosed cat breeds
WestJet treats these cat breeds, and mixes of them, as snub-nosed: British Shorthair, Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian, Selkirk Rex and Scottish Fold.
They can still fly as cargo on WestJet, but they need a vet health certificate, they pay a higher airline rate, and WestJet may decline them in hot weather. Air Canada's snub-nosed list does not include any cat breeds. We price these moves by hand and send the price within 24 hours.
Hairless cats in winter
WestJet does not carry hairless breeds as cargo from December 1 to March 31. That includes the Sphynx. If your hairless cat is moving in winter, tell us early so we can look at the options.
Holidays and heat
WestJet does not carry pets as cargo on its 737 and Q400 aircraft from December 18 to January 4. Only 787 flights can carry pets as cargo in that window. Air Canada's cargo page says it does not carry cats or dogs as cargo within Canada from December 15 to January 12.
Neither airline has a dated summer embargo within Canada. Air Canada rebooks pets when it is 29.5°C or hotter at the origin, the destination or along the way, and WestJet may decline snub-nosed breeds in hot weather.
Local rides
Cat courier rides in Toronto and the GTA
Need your cat at the vet while you are at work? Taking them to boarding before a trip? We pick up your cat at home, drive them there, and bring them back if you need a return trip. Pets only in our vehicles: owners do not ride along.
Cats ride in a closed carrier. Use your own, or borrow one of ours. If your cat is hard to get into a carrier, we can help with that too.
For a vet visit, we wait at the clinic and bring your cat home. If you add it to your booking, the driver stays in the exam room with your cat while you join by phone.
How cat ride prices work
The price depends on:
- The distance between your addresses
- One-way or return
- Waiting time at the vet (45, 60 or 90 minutes)
- How many cats ride from the same home
- Extras such as borrowing a carrier or help getting your cat in
Fill in the form. For most rides you see your price on screen right after you enter your contact details, and we email you a copy.
Helping your cat travel calmly
- Leave the crate or carrier open at home for a week or two, with a blanket that smells of home.
- Use absorbent bedding in the crate. The airlines do not accept wood chips or shavings.
- Ask your vet before giving any calming medicine. On WestJet, a sedated pet needs a vet health certificate.
- Once you arrive, give your cat one quiet room with food, water and a litter box for the first days.
More tips: helping your pet settle in.
Last checked against the airlines' own pages on October 1, 2026.
Airlines change their rules. Always check the official page before you book.
Cat transport: questions
Can a cat fly as cargo in Canada?
How much does cat transport cost?
Can two cats travel in one crate?
Does my cat need a health certificate to fly?
Can you take my cat to the vet in Toronto?
Moving with a cat?
Tell us where your cat is going. On most routes you see the price right away.