A guide to travelling abroad with your cat

Before you set off on your holiday trip, you should be properly educated. Here we provide information and tips for those of you who want to bring your cat on your stay abroad, how you should think about the car journey and the destination with the cat and what is good to know about cat boarding houses and insurance. 

We are covering the below topics for you: 

Taking the cat abroad 

Research the rules that apply to the country you plan to travel to. The rules may differ between countries. Research the rules that apply to the country you plan to travel to. The rules may differ between countries. Please check the rules before travelling.  

You can read more about the EU rules here: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets/eu-countries-specific-information_en 

ID marking, rabies vaccine and EU passport 

The cat must be ID marked if it is to accompany you on the trip. The ID marking must be done by a veterinarian or by an approved ID tagger. 

Vaccinate your cat against rabies in good time before the trip. The cat may leave the country no earlier than 21 days after the rabies vaccination. Some countries may have special requirements regarding the choice of vaccine, deworming agent, etc. Therefore, find out what applies specifically to the country you plan to travel to. 

Cats must have an EU pet passport if they are to accompany them on the trip. The passport can only be issued by a veterinarian who works in the EU and has EU identification. Protection against ticks and fleas is also recommended if you plan to take your cat abroad. 

Your cat can be refused entry into a country and sent back to Ireland or, in the worst case, euthanized if all requirements are not met. In some countries, the cat can in some cases be quarantined, you as the owner then have to pay for the quarantine. It is always your responsibility as the pet owner to ensure that all requirements are met. 

Taking care of the cat at the hotel 

Think about what the new location will mean for your cat. Will there be people there who are allergic? Are there other cats at the destination that would pose a problem for your cat? Are there, for example, children or other animals that could affect your cat's safety in any way? If you believe that the cat's well-being may be compromised, you should review the possibilities of not bringing the cat. 

Once in place at the destination, it can be good to try to make it imitate your home environment as much as possible. For example, you can bring blankets from home that the cat is used to and that smell safe. Pheromones that can be bought at pharmacies or at the vet can also give the cat a sense of security. 

Try to place food and water bowls in a similar place as at home and bring some used cat litter from the box at home. Make sure your cat is ID marked and wearing a collar. It is not unusual for stressed cats or cats in a new environment to go on their own adventures. 

Cat boarding house 

If you don't know anyone who can help you take care of your cat, you can book a place for the cat at a cat boarding house. Keep in mind that good cat boarding houses are often fully booked for the summer well in advance. Contact a cat club if they can give you tips on reputable cat boarding houses that have a high standard both in terms of accommodation and the care of the cats. 

Consider this when choosing a cat boarding house 

Taking the cat on the drive 

If you are taking your cat on the road trip, it may be good to know that cats can easily get motion sickness. You can help your cat by not feeding it right before you leave. Your vet can help you with motion sickness if needed. 

Leaving the cat at home 

If you choose to leave your cat at home when you travel, it is important that you have a cat sitter. The cat sitter must look after the cat at least twice a day, give the cat food and water, clean the box and hang out with the cat for a while. If you are away for more than a week, you should consider letting someone stay with you instead. Although cats are independent individuals, they are also social creatures who need companionship and need something to happen in their lives.