If you’re a cat lover, you might want or need to take your cat abroad with you at some point in the future. But travelling with pets can be stressful, particularly if they’re not used to it. You’ve got to take them out of their comfort zone and put them in strange, unusual places.
Whilst some pets might thrive, cats tend to find the experience stressful at first. To keep your animals calm and ensure you both have a hassle-free trip, we’ve gathered six great tips. Check them out:
- Prioritise their comfort
How is your cat used to travelling? Hopefully you’ve used a carrier in the past as this is the easiest way to transport cats. Once you’ve got them used to the carrier, be sure to pack a few creature comforts to make them feel at home – blanket with familiar smells, for instance.
What’s more, Compare Travel Insurance adds, that it’s important to travel at the right times of the day. During the summer, avoid travelling during the middle of the day and, in the winter, stay clear of early or late flights if it’s going to be cold. Your pets comfort should be top priority, not whether you get a cheaper fare.
- Get the documents sorted early
Typically, to travel with your cat, you’ll need export and import papers, transit health certificates, permits and quarantine provisions. Do your research and get the correct documentation sorted way before you travel.
- Get a check-up for your cat
To minimise the risk of any health scares whilst you’re abroad, book a check-up with your vet at home to be sure your pets’ health and fitness is in good condition before you leave. If your cat is on any medication, it’s also a good idea to be stocked up with what you need.
Although we hope you have a healthy trip, it’s worth researching the veterinary facilities where you’re travelling to in case of emergencies.
- Research accommodation
Not every hotel or rental will accept cats. As Lets With Pets says, don’t leave your search until the last minute and be prepared to be flexible when it comes to finding a pet-friendly property. They’re talking about finding a long-term rental property, but the same rules apply for a short-term break. You might have to search a wider area, for instance, to be able to keep your cat with you.
- Get them used to the travel experience
Not all animals are born nomads. In fact, most cats prefer the comfort of your home and can easily get stressed in strange, new places. The early you start planning and getting your cat used to travel, the better. Spend time getting them used to going in and out of a crate without it being a big deal – you can find a guide from Conscious Cat, including suggestions on picking the right carrier for your car.
- Don’t over-fuss them
Similarly, don’t give your pet too much fuss and attention when they’re behaving. Just stay calm and consistent. Animals are good at picking up on your nerves, so when it comes around to travelling for real, you don’t want them to take your anxiety on board.
After all, it can be more nerve-wracking for you when travelling with your precious pet. But try and act as normal as possible, so they don’t know anything is different.
Have you travelled abroad with your cat? Share your recommendations with us.
Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom.
Thank you 🙂
My friend Deborah took her three cats to Paris a few years ago. Your readers might enjoy the heroic efforts she went through to travel with pets. This wasn’t the first time she took her cats abroad or on trans-continental in the USA.
https://phainopepla95.com/2016/04/28/post-1022-in-which-the-heroine-flies-her-three-bombay-cats-to-paris/
If you don’t mind I’ll re post that! 🙂
Yes, that’d be fine!
Added to line up!
Reblogged this on UKRescueConnect.
Thanks so much for sharing this. ^^
A sincere pleasure my friend. X
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Thanks 🙂
I traveled to Kuwait with our calico cat, Scheherazade, when she was 14. She was a good traveler, and I was a good planner. An entire chapter of the travelogue I wrote abut that trip, An American Woman in Kuwait, is devoted to the logistics of bringing her with me:
https://www.amazon.com/American-Woman-Kuwait-Stephanie-Fox/dp/131220513X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Thank you 🙂
We are travelling far in April, moving entirely to another country. I’m curious how Roxy will like the flight in the cabin with us, and Diego.
Good luck! And we’d love if you’d write a piece about this maybe about the prep and how it went afterwards? xx
Thanks. Of course, stories will come…
Reblogged this on COUNTRY LIVING and commented:
A very interesting and informative post/article. I liked it so much, I shared on LinkedIn. Thanks for sharing.????
Thanks so much <3
Good tips! My cats were Spanish strays and they now live in England with me. My cats already have passports (EU!) so it will be interesting to see how the UK coming out of the EU will affect their ability to travel and whether their passports will even be valid anymore.
Ah that’s a good question… I didn’t even think about that change when we posted this.
It will be interesting to see what happens. I hope that it will still be easy to travel with pets, like it is now. Otherwise the charity that I adopted my Spanish cats through may find rehoming their cats difficult.
I’m sure they will come to an arrangement.
This is so awesome! We travel with our dogs a lot but we’ve never travelled with our cats! We really miss them when we go away. Now we can ask our mummy and daddy if we can take our cats with us when we go travelling! 😀
Thanks for the tips!
Wolf, Bear & Monkey
You are welcome 🙂