Flying for Felines: How Volunteer Pilots Gave 26 Cats a Second Chance

What does it take to fly a clowder of cats in a small aircraft? This summer, two of our volunteer pilots found out!

This summer, Canadian Wings of Rescue completed two back-to-back missions from northern B.C., transporting an incredible 26 cats to shelters in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. Nineteen cats flew in one mission, and seven in the other. Each journey a lifeline for animals waiting on a second chance and for shelters stretched to their limits.

Three CWoR pilots take to the skies
One of those flights was piloted by first-time CWoR volunteer pilot, Jonathan M., a Victoria-based volunteer. For Jonathan, this mission carried special meaning.

“When I was about 12 years old, I used to rescue stray cats in rural Nova Scotia and re-home them from a trailer in my parents’ backyard,” Jonathan shared.

“This flight brought everything full circle for me. It combined three things I care deeply about: aviation, giving back, and new adventures.”

The second transport was a team effort: volunteer pilots Brad R. and Walter C. worked in tandem to cover the distance, with one flying the cats from northern B.C. to Kelowna and the other completing the journey to the Lower Mainland.

Thanks to their collaboration, seven more cats arrived safely into the hands of shelters ready to help them find adoptive families.
Together, these two missions meant 26 lives saved, shelter space freed, and renewed hope for adoption.

For our rescue partners, large-scale transports can be the difference between having to turn animals away and being able to say yes to the next one in need.

Felines taking flight
Flying animals, especially dozens of them at once, isn’t as simple as hopping in a plane. Each transport requires careful planning, from weather checks and fuel stops to ensuring every animal is safely and comfortably secured in carriers. With safety for both pilots and animals as our top priority, every detail matters.

Some of the considerations include:

• Weight and balance: Every carrier adds pounds that must be distributed for stability. Each aircraft has a strict weight limit.
• Comfort and animal welfare: Cats are sensitive to noise and vibration, so crates must be secure and proper airflow maintained.
• Space management: With so many passengers, pilots must balance animal welfare with safe flight operations.

It’s a unique puzzle—and one our volunteers embrace with skill and compassion.

A community that makes it possible
Behind every mission are volunteer pilots donating their time, fuel, and aircraft; operations volunteers coordinating logistics; and rescue partners welcoming animals into care. Without this teamwork, flights like these wouldn’t be possible.

Whether it’s one cat or nineteen, every flight tells the same story: people coming together to give animals a second chance. And that’s what keeps us flying.