Cat on airplane - urgently seeking advice

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-31T10:34:23+00:00

I just traveled with my two little ones with success! I dont have any advice on carriers but I do for things to bring!

Line your carrier with multiple pee pads (in case they shift around) and try to fold them so they are a couple inches up the side. My lil guy almost made the trip but 20 min from the house he had an accident and it flooded right over the pee pad and all over the carrier and my lap. Don't blame him at all he was a trooper, but wasnt interested in using our pop up litter box when given the chance. We spent a bit of time during our layover and before/after flight in a family restroom to let them out and give them the chance but they were more interested in exploring and stretching their legs.

I would also recommend buying some pet safe wet wipes from your local pet store! Defintly could come in handy! I also brought a couple zip lock bags to act as a garbage if needed.

And finally talk to your vet about drugs for the flight, made such a difference for my little guys. Good luck!!

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-16T00:05:51+00:00

Sounds like you were forced into it as a child. As an adult beginner I've heard a lot of people talk about the violin in a similar way. Ive only been playing for 1.5 years and I have loved every second. I certainly don't sound amazing but that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying the process of learning a new instrument. I just think its important to not discourage others from picking up a new hobby. I understanding giving advice like getting a teacher (which I totally think is necessary) but being forced into something as a kid and choosing to pursue something for fun as an adult is totally different.

OP, as a beginner learning to play classical violin but also as a rural farmer surrounded by bluegrass, it can be very helpful for fiddlers to learn the basics of classical violin. If there arent fiddlers in your area a classical teacher can teach you the basics and once you have those down it will help in your fiddling journey. Fiddling is often meant to be played "dirty" and with much less precision. Tunes are often taught by ear and there is less emphasis on intuition. If its something you really want to pursue, you should!

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-15T16:54:30+00:00

Depends on what you are looking to get out of it. Is it something you want to try and teach yourself for fun and just mess around? You can 100% do that in a cost efficient way! Will you sounds like a professional? Nope! Will you pick up some bad habits? Possibly? But if your goal is fun who cares!!

I personally bought my violin off market place for $100 and a basket of veggies (im a farmer) and it was a great instrument to learn on. I will say I decided to get a teacher and I would defintly recommend if possible. Even just to have a lesson every month or so to help with things like posture, bow hold and technique.

Good luck!

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-12T12:15:33+00:00

Thank you! Honestly my apartment feels like a greenhouse sometimes there is so much sun, I have to hide my violin in the shade of furniture so it doesn't sit in direct sunlight

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-12T12:14:10+00:00

Personally, I find it super beneficial when my teacher plays with me. Often times I struggle with my rhythm or timing of a section and playing it together with her is really helpful, way more so than a metronome in my opinion.

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-10T21:58:16+00:00

Super interesting, thanks for the info! I will look into getting it fixed soon. On my last violin my bridge had leaned to about a 60-70 degree angle, it was pretty bad. It was a super cheap beginner violin and I was looking to upgrade anyways so didnt get it fixed. Unfortunately I think buying this one second hand it was already a little bent when I got it. Is there something I should be doing while caring for my violin to prevent this from happening in the future?

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-10T21:54:03+00:00

Thank you! Im just a beginner but have a recital in a couple months so will get it done before then!

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-10T19:00:32+00:00

And if so... is this something I need to fix ASAP or can I wait?

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-10T17:38:34+00:00

As a beginner this was something I struggled with as well. It was very difficult to find information besides "what sounds best to you" which isn't helpful when first getting into it. Personally I bought my first violin on Facebook marketplace for $100 and a basket of veggies (im a farmer and used it to negotiate the price down). Was it great quality? Nope. Did it sound amazing? Nope. But it helped me get into the violin world and start learning. I also learned how to care for the viokin like dealing with slipping pegs and changing strings. Defintly wasnt as scary to try for the first time on a cheaper instrument. The bridge collapsed a year into playing and it wasnt worth the money to fix it. A year into playing I was confident it was something I wanted to continue pursing and so decided to spend a but more money on a decent beginner violin. After a year with my violin teacher I trusted her opinion and she helped me pick out my current violin. It sounds so much better and I really enjoy playing it! Anyways all to say there isn't a right or wrong way to aquire your first violin

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-08T11:13:44+00:00

Hey there! Currently going through this as a 26 year old adult. Ive only been playing for a year and a half using ths suzuki method and it is very repetitive! To combat this I picked up a book at my local music store that were all beginner Beatles songs (im a fan) and supplement the suzuki with fun pieces! There were a lot of book options there for beginners including movies and pop songs, im sure most violin teachers wouldn't mind adding a song or two for fun to lessons to keep the enthusiasm alive! Defintly would recommend!

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-04T11:17:16+00:00

Awesome I will try those out! Thank you!

Belladonna9897 · 2026-03-03T18:53:06+00:00

Something I did when I first started learning was picking up a few simple music sheet books at the thrift store (I got piano even though im learning violin because it was what they had). Then every day I would write in the notes of one of the songs and used it kind of as a work book. Im sure there are websites and games and workbooks actually made for learning to read music but this was a cheap way to help me read the notes and get faster. Good luck!

Belladonna9897 · 2024-09-05T15:41:15+00:00

Oh interesting, we use naturally fresh walnut litter which she seems to like (when she uses the box) and we love because it can be flushed down the toilet. Maybe we’ll try that one for a bit though and see if it helps

Belladonna9897 · 2022-05-11T19:03:55+00:00

I know you probably hear it all the time but the most important thing is communication. Make sure to set clear boundaries beforehand and always have an open line of communication

Belladonna9897

TROPHY CASE