Air travel is pretty stressful. Not only do you have to worry about long security lines and making it to your gate on time, but there are also the inevitable delays that happen, too. Airports aren’t exactly calming.

Now imagine you’re a dog or a cat and you’re being taken through an airport. You have to go through security with a ton of strangers checking you out, and there are a lot of other people around. It can be SCARY. That’s why your human needs to know the #1 rule about traveling with pets, especially when dealing with TSA security.

We’re going to give you an example of what not to do with your pet when going through security. So here’s the thing: you have to take your pet out of its carrier and place the case on the conveyor belt to go through the X-ray machine.

So that seems easy, right? But you’ve probably got a freaked-out animal, and, in one instance (at least), one kitty managed to escape in the TSA security area. This isn’t really surprising because most cat owners know they’re notoriously good escape artists (yep, I’ve been there, done that). We do give this cat some credit, though, because it at least put itself in a bin. Don’t worry, though, TSA agents helped get the kitty back to its owner.

Here’s the thing: if you are traveling with a pet, bring a leash. Your pet should already be wearing a harness or collar inside its carrier. Before you take it out, make sure the leash is attached to said collar or harness. If you’re worried about your pet escaping, you can get pet carriers that have a place to attach a leash inside the carrier so they can’t make a break for it when the door opens (yep, been there and done that, too).

This is actually a TSA rule: “You should maintain control of your pet with a leash and remember to remove the leash when carrying your pet through the metal detector.” Granted, anyone who’s ever owned a cat is laughing at this point, because, well, CAT. So you might want to have a towel handy to wrap said animal in because they will inevitably try to claw their way out of your arms when they’re scared. You can also ask your vet for meds to keep your animal calm during their trip to the airport.

Of course, you have another easier option. You can ask to speak with a supervisor at TSA security for an alternative screening option. A private security screening will be less stressful on you and your furry little friend.

Stay tuned to DFB for more.

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Do you often travel with your pet? Share your tips in the comments!

The post The TSA Rule You NEED To Know When Flying with a Pet first appeared on the disney food blog.