Wow, I feel for you. If it were me I would take my kitties with me where they would be by my side. My 2 dogs went cross country in a moving van 2x (welll not in the van) but they are dogs and like the car. Have you taken your cats for rides in your truck? I would think if they could be slightly sedated (would need to be on the plane too) they would be fine. You can take them for short "practice " rides. They would get plenty of excercise scoping out the hotel room when you stoped at night. You will be there on the drive to talk to them, you are a comfort to them....who knows what else will be on the plane. The first 50 -60 miles may be hard on them but I bet they would sleep the rest of the way. Would be much easier on you knowing they were safe. I don't want to cause you worry, but I have just heard too many horror stories of pets on planes. I have never put a pet on a plane, maybe some here can tell you if it went well for them.

When we moved to a new city I found the cats (two of them) took to the flight very well. The major problem I had was confirming with the airline and finding out our plane wasn't equipped for this. Apparently some luggage compartments aren't heated so well so it's freezing. It was much, much worse for our uptight dog but overall I didn't find the cats terribly stressed.

I suggest using Delta Dash, or it may be called Delta Pet First.
I would not recommend using cargo.

With the Delta Dash your pet will be hand carried to the plane and will be the last to board and the first to be unloaded. While the plane is being loaded they will sit in an office (usually with the staff fawning over them). When they arrive at their destination there will be a specific office/area for you to pick them up.

Check and double-check, for the fastest, non-stop route. Also ask what vaccination records are required. Some airlines require an up-to-date veterinary report on the cats.

Make a reservation for the pets and check it again a few days before departure.

Below is the type of carrier I've used. With animals that are nervous I sometimes tape cardboard over one side of the wire panels to give them a more secure feeling. I make sure all the bolts/nuts are tight and then I place tape over them. If the door doesn't have some type of secure lock, I've been known to drill a hole in the carrier and run a zip tie thru it and the wire door.
Doors can open and screws come loose, sometimes accidentally...sometimes not, and I can't stress enough the importance of making it as secure as possible.

There's not much you can do to prepare them. I wouldn't put them thru the trauma of sitting on a washing machine since it's nothing like a plane ride! They'll be scared, and quiet, once they hear the noise of the airport. If you stay calm and act like nothing unusual is happening, then the trip will be much easier for them.

The carriers usually come with 2 clip-on bowls. They attach to the doors. Since it usually gets spilled, I usually put a small amount of dry food on the floor of the kennel. They'll be offered water at the Dash counter if you place a note on the carrier that you want water offered. I also place a pad on the floor of the kennel so they're comfortable lying down. You should find some pads that fit perfectly where you buy the kennel.
Don't expect them to eat or drink during this trip. The bowls are really to allow personnel to care for them should an animal end up stranded at the airport.

Here is a link that might be useful: kennels

Having just assisted my friend with moving her cats from Northern California to Alberquerque New Mexico, I would opt for having the cats in the car. There are plenty of motels (Motel 6 for one) which take animals. The cats did great, they were both in their crates, just enjoying the ride. They were let out around 5pm when we checked into the motel, had their kitty litter box there to use and food available.
I would hesitate to take my animal on a plane for a number of reasons, cargo holds are not climately controlled, or pressurized. Given those issues, you need to contact the airlines you are chosing to put the cats on, some require papers indicationg the animal has had all of its shots, YOu will need to provide water. I dont suggest any type of medication, your cat can have a reaction while in flight. It is best ust to let them ride it out. If I had to have my cats fly I would provide a towel for them since it might get very cold. You need to check with the airlines to see if they have any resrtictions or preferences for crates. Good luck

Having sat on a plane and watching the airplane crew throw suitcases and kennels carrying pets both into the cargo hold and then back onto the cart that carries the cargo, I would never subject my cats to that kind of treatment. My boss just recently drove to Seattle fron St. Louis - his wife flew and my boss drove the car with the dog and 2 cats. His animals were much safer in his care than at the mercy of underpaid airport personnel tossing them around. It was worth their peace of mind to know that their beloved pets were taken care of properly. He said he read the billboard signs to them ;>)

I wouldn't put the cats in cargo. But if you absolutely MUST, make sure it's a non-stop flight. I have heard horror stories of connecting flights where the cats don't make the connection, or the planes sitting on a runway for hours in the heat or cold with the cats suffering all those hours.

Once I saw a TV show where they had a hidden camera where dogs were being transported on the plane. It was pressurized and heated thank goodness. But, the crates were not tied down at all, and went sliding and slamming all over the place. The poor dogs were terrified, truly terrified, crying and howling, although unharmed.

An alternative is you can take the cats on the plane with YOU. There is a limit of two animals per plane, so call ahead and reserve your spots. You will need a carrier for each that is the EXACT size that particular airline requires (the airlines differ). They will charge you about $100 per cat.

Otherwise, drive with them. By far the best option. I have a friend with relatives in New Mexico and he makes the drive from Chicago (and back) with his dog and his cat several times a year. He says it's quite nice actually, and he very much enjoys travelling with his pets.

By car is my vote.

In thinking over my prior message, I am not sure that one person is allowed to take two pets inside the plane with them. You'll need to check with the airlines, but it could be one pet/person. Perhaps you can convince your wife to do the round trip with you, just so that you can easily transport the 2 cats with you in the passenger section, rather than putting them in cargo.

Also, when I mentioned my friend who drives to New Mexico with his pets frequently, he does do it in 2 days, not 5. I think 5 might be a little tough, although still preferable to cargo on the plane.

So now my top choice is to convince your wife to fly with you, and each of you bring a cat with you on the plane. Also, definitely get a non-stop flight, no connections. You'll need to buy carriers that will fit under the plane seat. The airlines' websites tell you their size requirements.

If your only choice is to put the cats in cargo, then I'd definitely pick driving over that.

When my husband and I moved from Michigan to California, we drove with our two cats over 4 days. It really wasn't that awful -- they just sat in their two carriers, looking a little sad and meowing occasionally, but mostly they slept. We did not feed them in the morning (only in the evening), and gave them only a little water, so there was no need for them to use the litter box or remove them from their carriers during the day (too much risk of them getting loose!!). Cats can definitely hold it for that long. Find motels that will take cats, and just be careful that they don't get out the door, and you should be fine.

Okay, I'm now leaning towards taking them with me in the truck. I'll probably still purchase better crates for them, new dishes, etc. I definitely like the idea of being able to watch over them. No one is more protective than I am, after all! :-)

Thanks for all of your suggestions and tips.

You are right...you will give them MUCH better care than the airlines will. Riding along in the cab of your truck with you can not possibly be as awful as the belly of a plane! I am glad you are thinking of going with the truck!

With airlines cutting costs so much there is no way I would put a defenseless pet on an airline cross country. I travel with my cat all the time and she does fine. She stays in the carrier most of the time but I keep a harness on her with a leash clipped to the carrier just so she won't crawl into the driving area. Now she either sits between us, cuddling up against my shoulder or sleeps in her carrier. I would be in agony not knowing what was happening to her and there are many motels that are pet friendly, some without extra charge, just plan ahead. We also make sure she doesn't get left in a hot car if we stop for meals, most restaurants don't permit pets.

Larger dog crates would give them some room to move around and a litterbox, and still be safe.

Good luck!

I would also not ship animals by cargo. If you can take them on board and stow them under the seat, that is one thing, but in the cargo hold is just too traumatic for animals IMO.

My mom took a cat cross country by plane, years back. She made him an on-board reservation, and bought the under seat kennel from the airline. He was sedated and it was still pretty rough for him. Her first flight was on a puddle-jumper from a small town airport to a big INT airport; on that short flight he had to go in the cargo hold because there is no door on the crew compartment and they can't risk having an animal get loose somehow and distract the pilot. The small airline crew were so good with him, loading him last, and since it was a small plane he was unloaded on the tarmac when she got off the plane and immediately handed to her. The crew was very cautious with him and verified that he did belong to her as well. Even so, mom said he was so very cold from his very short time in that cargo hold, and she felt so badly for him.

I would opt for taking them on the drive. Get a big crate and stuff it with familiar blankets and such; they will be comfortable and hopefully settle in for the long haul after a short time. Good luck.