How To Travel Internationally With A Cat

Introduction

Moving house is stressful enough. Moving country is worse. Moving countries with a cat in tow? That’s the stuff of nightmares! But if you’re an expat, moving abroad with your pet isn’t always a choice. Many of us have no choice but to travel internationally with our feline family members. So how can you do it without losing your mind (or your cat)? Here are my top tips for getting through this potentially stressful process:

Consider whether flying is the best option.

Before you decide to fly with your cat, it’s important to understand that flying isn’t a fun or easy experience for cats. In fact, in some cases it can be downright dangerous! Cats are extremely sensitive and emotional creatures. They’re used to being in one place where they have their own safe space and routine, so when they’re suddenly plopped into an unfamiliar environment with tons of people and noise, it’s no surprise that they get stressed out easily.

The stress of flying is especially problematic for senior cats—they’ve already lived long enough without any major health problems or accidents (knock on wood), so why worry them now? Their immune systems are already taxed from living so long; the last thing they need is additional stress caused by travel. If you have questions about whether flying with your senior cat is right for him/her/it (yes, pets should be referred to as “them”), check out this article on how vets can help keep older pets happy during travel: [Link].

Familiarize yourself with your destination.

Familiarize yourself with your destination. It’s important to know the local laws, regulations and customs of the place where you are going. In addition, it is vital that you understand any differences between your home country and the country you’re visiting.

If traveling internationally with a cat is new territory for you, there are many resources available online that can help prepare you for the experience. A good starting point would be researching websites such as [insert URL here]

Check quarantine laws.

Before you start booking your trip, it’s important to check the quarantine laws of each country you’ll be visiting. Many countries have no quarantine laws for cats at all, but (as with everything else in life) some do. Quarantine times vary depending on the country and what animal is being imported. In general, dogs are easier to import than cats because they’re more frequent travelers and people know how to handle them better than they know how to handle cats—but this doesn’t mean that other animals don’t have special requirements as well!

If you’re planning a longer trip and will be staying abroad for some time before returning home, consider checking into whether or not there are specific health certificates or other documents required by law when traveling internationally with your pet cat.

Research your airline’s pet policy.

Make sure you know your airline’s pet policy before you book your flight and arrive at the airport. You can do this by checking the airline’s website, but if you would rather talk to a human, try calling the number on their site or look for one on their website’s FAQs.

If you are planning on traveling with a cat or other small animal, make sure that anyone who will be picking up your pet from the baggage claim area is over 18 years old. The person who collects your cat in baggage claim must show photo identification when picking up the animal from customs (or wherever it goes after it gets off of its flight).

If you are traveling internationally with an emotional support animal (ESAs), check with both international and domestic airlines about their policies regarding service animals in general and ESAs specifically. Some airlines allow ESAs to fly free of charge; some require that they have their own ticket purchased ahead of time; others require additional documentation beyond those needed for regular pets’ transportation through customs channels.

Book a direct flight.

When you’re booking a flight, look for direct flights. The shorter the flight time, the less stress your cat will experience. Also, direct flights tend to be cheaper and more convenient than connecting flights.

Direct Flights Are Usually Less Stressful For Cats
Direct Flights Are Usually Cheaper
Direct Flights Are Usually Less Crowded
Direct Flights Are Usually More Convenient

Arrange for travel insurance.

Travel insurance is an essential part of any international trip, and it’s especially important for traveling with a pet. If your cat gets injured or dies during the trip, travel insurance can help cover some of the costs. The same can be true if your cat is lost or stolen.

To find out more about getting the right type of travel insurance for your cat (and for you), talk to an expert at Allianz Global Assistance.

Get a health certificate from your vet.

You’ll need to get a health certificate from your vet. This document should be issued within 10 days of travel, and it should state that your cat is healthy and free of parasites. The certificate should also be signed by a licensed veterinarian and include your cat’s name, age, breed, sex, color and markings.

Look into pet passports if you’ll be traveling to the European Union.

If you’re planning to take your cat with you on a trip to Europe, it’s important to know that pet passports are not required for travel within the European Union. However, if you want to make sure that your cat’s paperwork is in order and won’t be held up at customs (or worse: turned away), it may be worth investing in one. Pet passports are available from your vet, who can help ensure that all of their necessary details are entered correctly. The documents can be renewed every five years so long as they remain valid; however, if they expire before then it will require a new application process.

Pet passports can also be purchased for multiple cats traveling together or separately (as long as they all have unique microchips), and unlike other forms of identification such as driver’s licenses or birth certificates this one doesn’t expire!

It should also be noted that while pet passports aren’t required by law when traveling through the EU zone—and even though many countries don’t even require them at all—it could still cause some problems if you arrive without one.

Bring food and treats from home, as well as an extra two-week supply of medication (if applicable).

Bring food and treats from home, as well as an extra two-week supply of medication (if applicable).
Bring a litter box or cat litter, scoop and scooch.
Bring a carrier that can withstand the trip. A hard-sided carrier is best for traveling internationally because it’s more durable than fabric carriers. It also provides more room for your cat to move around in comfort.
Consider bringing along an old blanket or towel that your cat is used to sleeping on at home; its familiar scent can be comforting during stressful times like air travel and moving through unfamiliar places.
Make sure your pet has been vaccinated against rabies before traveling abroad; this usually involves two separate vaccines given two months apart, with one being administered by injection and another by nose drops or oral tablets. If you plan on staying in Europe longer than three months, consider having your pet vaccinated every year instead of every three years so that he doesn’t have unnecessary exposure during those extra six months spent abroad!

Bring a favorite toy or something that smells like home (a blanket or towel, for example) to make your cat more comfortable on the flight.

A cat carrier is a must-have when traveling with a cat since it helps keep your pet safe and secure during travel. A good tip is to choose a carrier that’s small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. You should also consider purchasing a high-quality carrier if possible because these tend to be sturdier than many others on the market and will last longer over time.

Try placing kitty’s carrier on something soft and familiar in the car, like a blanket or towel, during transport to the airport.

To help your cat get used to the carrier, try placing it on something soft and familiar in the car, like a blanket or towel. Place the blanket or towel on your lap, place the carrier on top of it, then place your kitty inside before closing the door. This will make them more comfortable with their traveling space before they have to sit there for any extended period of time during air travel.

International travel with cats can be done successfully with proper planning.

When it comes to traveling with a cat, you have to be prepared for the unexpected. If you’re unfamiliar with international travel and cats, here are some things you should know:

Your destination’s laws and regulations regarding pets can help you determine what type of paperwork your pet will require.
The airline’s pet policy can help you determine if your cat is allowed on the plane. Some airlines only allow certain breeds or sizes of animals, while others don’t allow any animals at all. You should also check whether they charge a fee for in-cabin pets or cargo animals before booking your flight, as this could add up quickly!
Your vet will need to provide you with an official health certificate prior to traveling so that customs agents know that it’s safe for Fido (or Fluffy) to come along on vacation with us humans!