Start with whether your cat can fly at all
Not every airline carries cats, not every route on a cat-friendly airline allows them, and not every aircraft on an approved route has space for a carrier. Ask first whether cats are accepted in the cabin on your specific flights, and whether hold travel exists on that route if cabin places are full. Some airlines ban animal travel on long routes, on certain aircraft types, or during very hot or cold periods.
Ask how many animal places each flight carries. Those places are limited and often allocated in booking order, so your own seat being available says nothing about your cat's. The safe sequence is to confirm the animal place first, or book both together, rather than buying your ticket and discovering the cabin is already full of other people's pets.
Carrier, weight, and your cat's measurements
Ask for the maximum carrier dimensions for your aircraft, whether the carrier must be soft-sided, and the combined weight limit for cat plus carrier. Measure your cat sitting and lying down, and weigh her in the carrier you plan to use, because a cat who fits the measurements at home can still be refused if the carrier bulges beyond the stated size at the gate.
Confirm that the carrier counts as part of your baggage allowance or replaces your usual cabin bag, so you pack accordingly. Ask whether your cat must stay inside the closed carrier for the whole journey, including in the departure lounge, and whether feeding or comforting stops are permitted on long layovers.
Documents, fees, and the fine print
Ask exactly which health documents the airline wants to see, how recently any certificate must be issued, and whether staff will check paperwork at booking, check-in, or the gate. Airline requirements sit on top of the destination country's rules, not instead of them, so you may need to satisfy both lists.
Get the full cost in writing: the animal fee each way, whether it is charged per flight or per journey, and any taxes or handling charges on top. Ask about transfers, because a journey split across two airlines can fail in the middle if the second carrier does not accept cats or will not honour the first carrier's booking. Ask, too, what happens if the flight is cancelled or the aircraft changes to one that cannot take your cat.
Questions specific to your cat
If your cat is a kitten, a senior, a flat-faced breed, or nervous, say so and ask whether any restriction applies. Some airlines set a minimum age for kittens, and some advise against or refuse certain breeds in the hold because breathing can be harder at altitude and temperature extremes. Ask whether medication or calming products are restricted, and discuss any such plan with your vet rather than the airline alone.
Ask what you should do at check-in: where to report, how early to arrive with an animal, and whether you pass through security holding your cat while the carrier is screened. Knowing that sequence in advance keeps a stressful moment orderly.
Get it in writing, then prepare
Verbal reassurance at a call centre can evaporate at a busy check-in desk, so ask for the animal booking to appear on your reservation and keep the confirmation email. Reconfirm the animal place shortly before travel, especially if the airline changes the aircraft or departure time.
Once the airline answers are settled, assemble your side early: carrier training at home, a vet visit timed to the paperwork, and copies of every document in your hand luggage. Keeping that set together in a KinsLe Pet Passport means the records the airline and border officials ask for are in one packet, not scattered across email threads and kitchen drawers.