traveling with a cat. Do you dream of going to live abroad or have you decided to change your life in search of new opportunities? Or maybe… you have been promoted to work for an important contract on the other side of the border and you want to take your beloved cat with you?
Today we are going to give you a list of things to do, with all the necessary suggestions, divided by points, to easily go through all the necessary procedures and health precautions for your little furry.
Documentation needed to take a cat abroad
In addition to the card common toilet for cats (the one you take with you on every visit to the vet), the most important document you need to take a cat abroad is the european pet passport.
It is a blue brochure that shows:
- the personal data and address of the owner;
- the cat's microchip number, a photo of the cat (optional but very helpful);
- the certificate of the state of good health of the latter;
- Mandatory vaccinations carried out.
If your cat does not yet have a microchip and in case of going on a trip, it is necessary to microchip the cat for identification and so that they can contact us and that they know that it is our cat in case of loss.
In addition, rabies vaccination is completely compulsory and, for some countries (especially the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and others) also antibody titer against this disease. This additional compliance ensures that there has been no infection or contact with rabies in the period immediately prior to vaccination.
When to prepare all the documentation?
As we have previously mentioned, it is necessary to start planning the move in advance before taking a cat abroad. Rabies vaccination should be carried out 30 days before departure and it is necessary to find out if the country of destination also requires antibody titration, otherwise there is a risk of rejection at the border or that the animal will be forced to quarantine.
Moving a cat from one home to another
For the cat, each change in its domestic environment (sometimes even the simple change of arrangement of the furniture in the house) is a source of stress.
The trip and the installation in the new home agitate the cat a lot, which, by not recognizing its own territory, could become fearful or aggressive or develop some psychosomatic disorders such as cystitis, due to stress.
It will also need some time to acclimate and rub off leaving its scent in its new environment to make it yours.
How can we prevent these inconveniences?
First of all, before traveling, it is necessary that your cat be examined by your trusted veterinarian: after a thorough control, you will be given a certificate of good health and the cat will receive all the mandatory vaccinations.
When you take your cat to the vet, we recommend that you express any concerns you may have about the situation. If the vet deems it appropriate, a tranquilizer (medicinal or natural) may be prescribed to help make the trip and the start in the new home more peaceful.
Scrupulously follow the advice of the veterinarian and report the details of any change in the behavior of your furry little one.
As soon as you arrive at your new home, try, as far as possible, to re-propose the usual routine to the cat and the schedules of pampering and meals.
Give him his usual accessories (shed and toys) and let it settle little by little, room after room.
During the first moments it is convenient not to let the little one out because he could run off in search of his old house or... fight with the new neighbors!
Travel with the cat
By car or by train
If you travel by land, such as a car or train, the rules are usually the same as always:
- let your friend stretch his legs every 2 hours or so;
- never leave him without fresh, clean water.
Obviously you will have to travel in your carrier to be safe and not disturb other travelers.
Avoid nausea...
Ask your vet how to prevent any episode of sickness. The cat may begin to salivate profusely, regurgitate, or curl up on the floor with its eyes in a "ball" shape.
This is an inconvenience that, while not dangerous for the animal, is very stressful. You can give them some products to prevent symptoms and ensure a peaceful trip. Also, consider offering them light meals. a few hours before departure to limit the workload of the stomach and intestines during the journey and prevent vomiting.
You will need a sandbox to travel with the cat
Doing your needs in the car or in the carrier are other inconveniences that can occur, especially if the cat and a long car trip come together.
To deal with these eventualities, it is advisable to have a travel litter box for cats that can be removed every time you decide to take a break in an equipped rest area.
Clean and discreet, it allows the cat to carry out its biological functions whenever it needs to without causing harm.
How to calm the cat in the car?
It is important to anticipate the stressful situations that the cat may be subjected to during the transfer, especially if we know that the cat is going on a long car trip.
If she cries or meows, you can try the following remedies. It is possible to use some tool that calms the cat. We talk, for example:
- the cat's favorite toy;
- of the blanket that he always uses (and that is why it is impregnated with his smell);
- of pheromone-based lotions to relax the cat…
Use of tranquilizers
A sedative can be used, but this always has to be under the supervision of the vet and following the exact guidelines they give you. You should never exceed the dose or intakes.
You can also resort to natural medicine, for example giving the cat a dose of bach flowers to calm it down, such as Rescue Remedy. This treatment is preferable to sedatives: they don't make you drowsy, but they calm you down and give you confidence. For more information, consult your veterinarian.
It is useful to spray the inside of the carrier and the car with Feliway 20 minutes before departure. By mimicking the pheromones that cats release at ease, it will calm the cat down.
Travel by plane with the cat
Things get more complex if you are traveling by plane or by boat. Some airlines accept pets on board, while others do not.
Find out well to look for alternative solutions well in advance and buy conveyors that comply with the company's regulations.
Those that accept animals usually offer two possibilities: the cat can travel with its owner In cabin (as a kind of hand luggage, marked with the abbreviation » pet in cabin ") or you can go in the cellarEven if the cargo hold is pressurized and suitable for the safe transport of pets, the air in the cargo hold still becomes thinner, and temperatures are higher than those in the upper part of the plane, depending also on the aircraft's technical characteristics. This is therefore a less pleasant solution for the cat and, if possible, better avoided.
In the cabin: It must be stored in the carrier under the seat in front of us. It costs about 75/95 euros each way. The animal must be able to get up and turn around and must not give off a bad odor. The bottom of the container must be impermeable. You cannot leave unless all the passengers and the pilot of the plane agree.
The approved and generally accepted carrier cannot exceed 46x25x31 cm, although it is better to always check with the airline you are going to take. The allowed weight must not exceed 6/10 kg in total, including the pet carrier. Within a container, 3 to 5 animals of the same breed can travel, always within the maximum weight required.
In the cellar: travel in a temperature-controlled area inside the plane, although the temperatures are higher than in the cabin. Cost: about 110/150 euros each way.
some airlines, for certain destinations, they demand a certificate of good health and a list of vaccinations taken, issued by an accredited veterinarian. They must be dated 10/20 days before departure.
Travel by boat with the cat
Finally… the boat! We are no longer in the era of the transoceanic trips of our grandparents who sought their fortune in America but... it can always happen that we have to take a ferry!
Normally these are large boats, so the oscillating movements will be perceived with less intensity by the jack, at least in the case of calm seas.
However, even in this case, it is advisable to ask the vet for advice on how to make our friend travel properly and above all contact the shipping company to know the regulations regarding the transport of animals.
The methods explained for traveling by plane are more or less valid, with the advantage that there is no need to pressurize the cabins and thus breathe normal ambient air.