Can I Take My Cat In A Taxi or Uber? What You Need to Know

Can I take my cat in a taxi? This is a common question that cat owners find themselves asking when they’re traveling with their cat. There are several modes of transportation that you’ll need to take and today, we’re looking at riding in a taxi.

Not all cab drivers will allow pets. However, as long as you mention that you’ll have a cat in a carrier when you book, they will send a driver that is okay with animals.

Can You Take A Cat In A Taxi?

If you’re a dog or cat owner, it’s nice to know that you can take a cab when you’re traveling and need to get from one location to another.

Traveling with cats will prohibit you from riding in every taxi in every city. But it’s not possible as long as you follow these guidelines.

Make sure that you call ahead and let them know that you have a cat that will be riding with you. This will ensure that they’ll send an animal lover that doesn’t suffer from cat allergies.

However, before you call that cab to pick you up, there are some things that you need to know before your four-legged friend can ride.

As long as they meet the criteria below, they can enjoy the ride:

Well-Behaved: Make sure that your cat is well-behaved and isn’t aggressive. If your cat looks well-behaved, drivers will be more comfortable picking up you and your cat.

No one will stop if your cat is acting up on the corner. They will just drive right on by and you can’t blame them. It’s best to have your four-legged friend sitting on your lap while wearing their cat harness.

Bring A Carrier: Most drivers will be more comfortable driving you to your destination if your cat is secured inside of a carrier. Some may allow you to use a cat harness as long as your cat sits quietly in your lap.

When you call to request a ride, make sure you let them know that your cat will be on a cat harness. They will tell you whether your cat needs to be in a carrier or not.

Bring A Towel: The towel will help protect the seat that your carrier will be sitting on. You don’t want to leave behind a mess for the cab driver to clean up.

Tip Nicely: If you get a driver that is pet-friendly and makes it as comfortable for you then don’t forget to tip them nicely.

I had a friend who was traveling in New York and the driver had cat treats and dog treats for every pet that rode in their cab.

This criterion pertains to whether you’re riding with your pet in a taxi, Uber, or Lyft.

Are All Taxis Pet-Friendly?

Not everyone loves animals, which means that not every taxi driver is going to allow four-legged riders. Several cab companies will be happy to transport your four-legged friend as long as they are well-behaved and safely secured.

Reasons Cab Drivers Don’t Allow Pets

There are several reasons that some cab drivers choose not to allow cats to ride in their cab. Here are some of the reasons that your four-legged friend may not be welcome in a cab.

Messy: Animals shed and some drivers just don’t want to deal with having to clean up cat hair. If your animal has dark hair, it will be all over their interior and other customers will complain about the excessive pet hair on their seats.

Accidents: If you have a cat that doesn’t like riding in cars, then accidents can happen. If your cat pees in the car, it can be costly to clean up the upholstery.

Yes, they could probably charge people with pets higher fees, but instead, they’d rather just not allow pets to ride.

Allergies: Some people are allergic to cats and allergies can consist of watery-eyes, sneezing, and coughing. The driver doesn’t want to have a coughing fit just to get you to your destination.

Loud Animals: Some pets can be loud and the driver doesn’t want to ride in a vehicle where a cat is screaming or whining throughout the entire ride.

They Prefer Dogs: Some people just prefer dogs and can’t stand cats. They love that dogs can do tricks and believe that cats are mean.

Their Claws: Maybe they have been scratched before by a cat and are scared of their nails. They may not feel comfortable having a cat in the back because they might tear up the interior.

Does Uber Allow Cats?

Uber’s pet policy specifically states that it’s 100% the drivers’ decision to accept or decline to pick up drivers with pets.

This means that some drivers will decline while others will be happy to have your cat ride along.

Does Lyft Allow Cats?

Like Uber, the Lyft pet policy clearly states that the driver has the right to decline or accept a passenger with a pet. Service animals are always welcome to ride on Lyft.

When you call to request a ride, make sure that you confirm that you’ll be bringing a cat.

Use A Pet Taxi

If you are traveling and can’t seem to find a pet-friendly taxi or rideshare service. Maybe it’s time that you find a pet-friendly taxi service.

Pet taxis are climate-controlled vehicles that already equipped with safety devices, crates, water dishes and crates for animals. It’s easy to find these types of services in larger cities like New York, and they are not hard to find if you’re traveling by plane with your cat.

The downside is that they are more expensive. Some pet taxis will charge by the mile and some will charge a flat fee. Make sure that you find out in advance how you’ll be charged, so you’re not surprised with the fee.

Bottom Line

Regardless of where you and your cat are traveling, it’s nice to know that you can find your way around to new destinations without having to rent a car.

Of course, it won’t be as easy as getting a cab if you’re traveling alone. But it’s nice to know that there are some cab drivers, Uber drivers, and Lyft drivers that will accept your four-legged friend.

If all else fails you can find a pet taxi near you.