How to prepare your cat for a trip abroad

For most cats, home is their whole territory. New smells, sounds and movement make them wary, and sometimes very stressed. That’s why getting a cat ready to travel has two parts: the formal one (documents and veterinary procedures) and the everyday one (getting used to the carrier, the routine and the journey itself).

The documents require procedures done in the right order — if we prepare them, we plan that order ourselves so you can leave at short notice. The everyday part can start in parallel: a cat needs time to stop seeing the carrier as a sign of trouble.

First, your destination’s requirements

Before booking a vet appointment, it helps to understand what exactly your destination requires. Requirements depend on the destination country, any transit points and the date of travel. For some countries a rabies vaccination and a veterinary certificate are enough; others also require a rabies antibody titre test.

Write down where you’re going, which countries you’ll pass through, how you’ll travel, for how long and whether you plan to come back. These answers shape the whole plan.

Microchip, vaccinations and passport

Many countries require pets to be identified with a microchip, and the chip usually has to be implanted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination. If your cat was vaccinated before being chipped, for a number of destinations the vaccination will have to be repeated.

• Check whether your cat has a microchip and whether a scanner can read it.
• Make sure the chip number is entered in the pet passport without errors.
• Look at the dates of the latest vaccinations and how long they remain valid.
• Find out whether your destination requires a titre test.

If some procedures still need to be done, don’t worry: when specialists handle the preparation, the full package comes together quickly and the procedures are scheduled around your departure date.

Getting used to the carrier

Many cats only ever see the carrier on the way to the vet, so they hide as soon as it appears. Try to change that association: leave the carrier open in a room, put a familiar blanket inside and now and then leave a treat there.

1. For the first few days the carrier simply stands open — don’t push the cat inside.
2. Once the cat starts going in on its own, close the door for short periods.
3. Then pick the carrier up and walk around the home with it.
4. Later, try short car rides or a walk to the next street.

Don’t rush things: a few calm minutes inside are worth more than an hour of meowing and attempts to escape.

Food, water and the litter tray on the road

Before a long journey cats usually aren’t given a big meal — this lowers the risk of nausea. It’s best to agree on the exact feeding plan with a vet, especially if your cat has a chronic condition or takes medication.

Put an absorbent pad on the bottom of the carrier and pack a couple of spares. For long car journeys, a compact travel litter tray comes in handy. Offer water in small amounts at stops rather than leaving a bowl in a moving carrier.

Calming medication

Don’t give your cat sedatives on your own: some affect body temperature regulation and breathing, and some airlines won’t accept sedated animals. If your cat is very anxious, discuss the options with a vet before the trip rather than the day before the flight.

A vet check and your cat’s individual needs

Shortly before the trip, it’s worth taking your cat to a vet — even if it looks perfectly healthy. For many destinations an examination is needed to issue the veterinary certificate, but that’s not the only benefit. The vet will assess your cat’s general condition, advise on handling it during the journey and warn you about any risks if your cat has health issues.

Older cats, cats with heart or kidney disease and flat-faced breeds — Persians, British Shorthairs, Exotics — deserve particular attention. They cope less well with heat, stuffy air and stress, so it’s best to discuss the length of the journey and travel conditions with a vet.

• Write down your questions before the appointment so you don’t forget anything.
• Describe past trips: how your cat behaved and whether it got travel sick.
• Ask how to give regular medication on the day of travel.
• Ask for a health summary if it might be useful abroad.

If your cat goes outdoors or often spends time on the balcony, check its parasite treatment too: some countries officially require it, and for the rest it’s simply sensible before a change of surroundings.

Departure day

In the morning, it’s best to keep your cat in one room so you’re not searching under the sofa half an hour before you leave. Keep the documents in a separate folder in your hand luggage, not in your suitcase.

• Original veterinary documents, plus copies just in case.
• Confirmation of your pet’s booking.
• Pads, wet wipes and bags.
• A small supply of your cat’s usual food and some water.
• A harness and lead — in case your cat has to be taken out of the carrier at security.

At your new place, give your cat time: put the carrier in a quiet corner, open the door and don’t hurry it out. A bowl, a litter tray and a familiar blanket will help it settle in faster.