Vaccination
Before you get to travel with your cat, you have to make sure you get the vaccination against rabies. This vaccination is valid for one year and has to be renewed every year. Also make sure to vaccinate early enough, as it can take up to 14 days until the full effect of the vaccination is reached.
Also if you have a kitten travel with you, make sure that a vet proofs that it’s at least 12 weeks old.
Other vaccinations
There is the 3-in-1 vaccination, that we do believe is important for cats especially when they’re outdoors a lot and could potentially be involved in fights with other cats.
This vaccine protects cats against the three following infectious diseases.
Feline viral rhinotracheitis (basically an influenza)
Feline calicivirus (disease of upper respiratory and oral tract)
Feline panleukopaenia virus (cat leukaemia)
Travel by plane
When you want to travel and that includes taking a plane, then you have to check those things first:
if the airline you want to fly with is allowing pets in general (not every airline is allowing them) some examples are: American Airlines, Lufthansa and Air France
if you found an airline you have to check if you’re allowed to take your cat into the cabin with you or if it’s just allowed in the hold.
- Allowed in the cabin: you must follow the airlines rules. Those can be that the weight of the cat including it’s carrier can’t overstep a certain limit given by the airline.
Also the carrier has to be within the required measurements and has to be made of certain materials.
- Allowed in the hold: any cat can be transported in the hold, but they have to once they’re weighing more than 8kg (check for different airlines)
check if your cat is allowed to travel on the plane, because some breeds are prohibited. Those are e.g. Persian, Himalayan, Burmese and exotic shorthair cats
all cats must have recent health certificates and immunization records from a vet, and most airlines require pets to be at least eight weeks old. So make sure you have all the papers you need to avoid problems with the aircrafts. Your cat might be taken away from you or has to go though quarantine. And you really don’t want that!
if you’re travelling with more than one cat, you have to check what the restrictions are from each airline. General rule is that you can travel with 3 adult cats in the cargo hold, but all have to be in their own carrier. In-cabin rules are saying you can have one cat with you in a carrier. You can also put 2 kitten in a normal sized carrier.
you usually have to get in touch with the airline to get your cat a ticket (you can’t choose it when you’re booking your own tickets though the website) normally you send them an email, it only has to be at least 24 hours before your trip starts.
The prices can vary dependant on each airline. E.g. bigger airlines of the U.S. are charging $125 for an in-cabin cat. From our experience: it’s not always that expensive. We payed 20€ for our cat per way. It was not a big airline, but if you’re travelling in Europe it’s definitely cheaper.
Travel by car
You definitely want to make sure that you are preparing your cat for this trip. A lot of cats are very afraid on their first trip in a car. We can’t blame them. People are getting sick in the car and it’s not the most comfortable either let’s be honest. So why would it be different for a cat?! Plus the loud and unfamiliar noise of the engine, traffic on the highways etc.
- What you can do if your cat is a kitten:
You can still incorporate this in the daily routine. It might be way easier to make your kitten used to travel by car. On longer trips make always sure that your cat has enough water and maybe hide it from the sun. Open the windows regularly for fresh and cold air. This might help to keep down the temperature, especially on hot days.
- What you can do if your cat is an adult:
If your cat is not at all used to travel by car, then you need to have basically a training.
First, make them used to the sound of the engine and the smell of the ex-and interior of the car. Then every now and then you take them with you on small minute-rides. Always make sure your cat is comfortable. Don’t overwhelm them or even worse force them.
From our experience: they are way calmer more comfortable and get less car sick when they’re in the footwell of the passengers seat.
After take them on longer rides.
But important is that your cat is setting the pace.
Things we always carry with us for our cat
a comfortable carrier, with enough space and see-through sides.
cozy and favourite blanket
favourite toys including mint or valerian pillows
furminator (our favourite brush ever)
some medicines like ear and eye drops (we got them from our vet)
a leash (we’re usually walking our cat around in new surroundings)
dry and wet food
water
different bowls for water and food
his papers including health certificate and proof of vaccinations
travel medication
comfort spray with pheromones
travel toilet (foldable and easy to fit in luggage)
some pet wipes
Things we buy in new destination
fresh cat mint (if cat has to stay indoors for longer)
a cat toilet and cat litter
a scratching pat
We are no experts in this, but we did our research to give our cat the most comfortable trip because travelling can be stressful for us so you can imagine for a pet. We hope it might help you also for yours.
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