It’s always lovely to have pleasant seatmates when you’re travelling by aeroplane.
You’re in a cramped space at 35,000 feet in the air, so someone courteous, perhaps even charming, is the perfect scenario – particularly if you’ve drawn the short straw and you’re sitting in the middle seat.
But one man asked, “What would you do” if you were flying and your seatmates were his three adorable cats.
“Sponge Cake, Donut, and Buttercream all love chin scratches!” he wrote as the caption to the delightful video, which had people desperately wanting to meet the trio.
“What would you do if you were stuck with three furbabies on a flight to Paris?” he penned over the top of the clip, which amassed almost 20,000 likes.
Then, the camera panned to Sponge Cake, Donut, and Buttercream, who were all wearing the most adorable French costumes, complete with berets and striped shirts.
One of the cats was gazing out of the window, probably wondering when their next meal was, and then the next shot saw two of the cats grooming each other, politely sitting in their seat.
In the comments, the cats were showered with praise.
One woman wrote: “These sweet guys on planes are always so cute. People who get to ride with them are blessed. What fun that would be. I love them”.
Another wrote: “They are so beautiful and well-behaved. They need their own private jet”.
“I’d pay extra to sit next to them,” a cat lover admitted, and many others likely feel the same. Someone pointed out that they’re all “dressed beautifully,” with one Instagram user saying: “That’s the best thing ever! I’d be happy to sit next to them!”.
Different carriers have varying regulations regarding whether passengers can travel with dogs or cats in the cabin.
According to the Flight Centre UK website, felines and canines are typically the sole types of creatures permitted to fly with airlines, whilst most other animals must be transported or shipped by road.
Generally, they caution that your pet will be positioned in the cargo compartment beneath the main passenger seating or occasionally at the front or back of the aircraft, depending on the plane type.
Nevertheless, if you possess a small animal, you might be able to bring it aboard as hand luggage.
They state: “While there are currently no airlines from the UK that offer this service, it is possible on some flights in the United States and Europe, depending on the airline”.
They also highlight that pets are meant to remain in their carrier throughout the journey, but it’s crucial that you consult with a travel adviser beforehand so you can determine the optimal approach for you and your animals.