Travel Overseas With Your Cat … It’s Fun (Once You Get There)

Travel Overseas With Your Cat
With a bit of know-how and planning, cats make excellent travel companions. Here’s how to do it.|©LAZY_BEAR/iSTOCK

In Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder, biotech researchers scramble to uncover the secret of an Amazonian tribe where women are having babies well into their 70s.

During my first weeks living in south Florida, I wondered if there was something in the water there, too—given the inordinate number of older women pushing strollers. If you love babies (I do) and are impertinent enough to stick your head into a stranger’s baby carriage (I am), you’ll unearth the shocking secret.

Dogs. They’re all pushing dogs.

No offense to the glorious canine, but some of us prefer the companionship of a feline. With a bit of know-how, they make equally good travel companions. It’s time to give them their due.

Let’s say you’re staying in London, but Tom Hanks asks you to his place in Greece for a long weekend. Cats can stay home alone. In fact, if Tom has a slobbery dog, they’d prefer it. Buy an auto-feeder, leave the toilet bowl open for water, put Finding Nemo on repeat, and they’re golden.

I used to tell people I took my "pet" abroad rather than my "cat." Let’s face it, in the US, cats are associated with spinsters and psychopaths. I don’t tell anyone I have a cat until the third date.

But once the word was out, I was amazed at how many people assumed you couldn’t take a cat abroad, or that it would be too difficult, given the litter situation, or that the cat would need to be quarantined (few countries actually require this). Most folks, rather than assuming I was unhinged, just wanted to know how I’d done it.

So here’s what I’ve learned—and if you’d still rather bring your canine, I won’t hold it against you. Most of these rules apply to small dogs, too.

Find a Relaxed Airbnb

Louie, a spoiled Siamese on vacation in Ireland.
Louie, a spoiled Siamese on vacation in Ireland.

If an overseas rental says no pets (or no cats), message the owner directly and offer a deposit and references. (In my experience, foreigners aren’t as picky about cats anyway.)

You can also reassure an owner about the furnishings by getting glue-on claw caps. Ask your vet to apply them if your cat doesn’t particularly enjoy a manicure. (My vet charges only $25 to do this, even when he has to use a straitjacket.) The caps last up to six weeks.

Find a Relaxed Airline (and a Sympathetic Flight Attendant)

The ability to fly with your cat depends on the airline and where you want to go. Some airlines allow pets in the cabin as carry-on under the seat, others only in cargo. For the average domestic cat, weight won’t be a factor. If your cat is spreading alarmingly into the size of a walrus, like mine, it might.

Cabin or cargo can depend on the country you’re flying into. For example, cats can fly into the Republic of Ireland in the cabin. But if you’re going to the UK (Northern Ireland), they have to be in cargo. You can do web searches for this information.

For international pet travel, health certificate timing is key.

Pettravel.com is a good place to start. But the rules can change quickly, so call your preferred airlines for up to date pet information.

Airlines can allow only so many animals on a single flight, so you’re better off booking yourself and your cat over the phone at the same time. When you make the cat’s reservation, you’ll need to know how much s/he weighs in addition to your carrier. Generally, the max weight for cats or dogs in the cabin is 20 pounds, or the ability to fit comfortably into the airline’s max carrier size.

The rules aren’t all random. They’re set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), another good resource.

When you go through security, don’t worry—you and your cat won’t be X-rayed. You’ll take the hopefully drowsy cat out of the carrier, and the carrier is scanned like your luggage.

If you’re not flying fancy-class, sometimes ticket agents at the gate will let you board early with special needs fliers. Doesn’t hurt to try… And you should, as there will be some maneuvering to get the carrier and your stuff settled.

Get a Disposable Litter Box

These days, major airports have pet relief rooms. Naturally, most are kitted out for dogs, with poop bags and wash down areas and such, but felines can use these rooms, too. My cat Louie and I have bonded with other intrepid cats and their owners in the pet-relief room.

There, we set up this disposable litter box for privacy. Pack a lightweight litter, add it in, let the cat do its business, then throw the whole thing away. (Pack one box per flight leg, just in case.)

If the airport doesn’t have a pet-relief room, look for a family (baby-changing) bathroom or, if desperate, a handicap stall. If your cat is like mine, the toilet can double as a water bowl.

Get a Health Certificate, and Maybe Some Drugs

Pet travel isn’t cheap, especially if you need a health certificate from your vet. This can cost $100-plus, not including the appointment and any vaccinations your pet needs.

Keep in mind not all vets are "USDA accredited" to issue health certificates. So call your vet well in advance. If they can’t do it, try a search here.

When you visit the vet, I’d recommend asking about kitty anxiety meds for travel, and test the prescription before you go (on the cat, not yourself ). Some work like a charm, others not so much. And you’ll need to know how long the effects will last.

For international pet travel, health certificate timing is key. Most airlines require the certificate be dated within 10 days of travel. Once you have a health certificate from your vet, most foreign countries also require it to also be endorsed (countersigned and stamped) by the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Your vet should be able to send it to APHIS digitally for approval. APHIS can mail the stamped certificate directly to you, but make sure your vet has your correct mailing address.

Some airlines, like Delta (last I checked), no longer require a health certificate—saving money and hassle, but you’ll pay $200 for the privilege of traveling with your cat each way in the cabin, typically more in cargo.

It’s also important to find out what the arrival country requires. Some want you to fill out an advance notice form online for the pet’s arrival and to pay an additional fee. (For example, Dublin airport currently charges $50 for a cat.)

What You’ll Need in a Cat Carrier

Your cat carrier counts as your carry-on bag, so get one with handy pockets to stash collapsible pet dishes, treats, and anything else you might need in a pinch. (I’ve been known to strap a jacket and airline pillow to the top with a bungee cord.)

Each airline will have required dimensions for a carrier. These are supposedly under-seat dimensions (my Delta-compliant carrier is 18 × 11 × 11). But the space under the seat can be smaller than that, so opt for a soft-sided carrier that will squish down. Some even have mesh compartments you can unzip to give your cat room to stretch after takeoff.

I also recommend a carrier that rolls (mine has strap-on wheels). Louie loves whizzing through the airport this way.

Some carriers double as backpacks, which is a convenient if somewhat embarrassing way to go sightseeing abroad with your cat… without interrupting their commitment to laziness.

A cat carrier backpack lets you sightsee with your furry friend comfortably.
A cat carrier backpack lets you sightsee with your furry friend comfortably.

Be sure to line the carrier with "puppy" pads before you travel, because there was a time Louie just couldn’t hold it across the Atlantic. Throw in an old shirt or cover the carrier with something that smells like you. Your cat will be comforted, though never admit as much.

Before you go, invest in some form of tracker for your cat. I have a basic Apple Airtag attached to Louie’s collar, and it’s been a big help, but it isn’t long-range. If your cat likes to roam, I’d recommend a more robust GPS model.

Granted, it’s a fair amount of work to get cats (or any pet) overseas. But it’s a bit like childbirth. You quickly forget the pain. And when you’re abroad for weeks or months at a time, their company is so worth it.

Legroom-Saving Tips

When you make your flight reservation, I highly recommend reserving an aisle seat. You’ll have a bit more room for your legs if the carrier doesn’t quite fit under the seat.

Some airlines will allow you to buy an extra seat for your pet or "for yourself," and I’d recommend it if you have the means, especially for long overseas flights.

Here’s my cheapskate method: If the flight isn’t full, I ask the friendliest-looking flight attendant to move me to a row with an extra seat after takeoff, and strap the carrier into the seat next to me. (Some attendants will look the other way, others will make you put your pet on the floor, per regulations. Feign ignorance.)

A Money-Saving Tip

If you’re traveling to a country often, make an appointment with a local vet to get your cat a pet passport. You’ll sail through the airport and bypass the foreigner fees. Just be sure to keep the passport up to date with local vaccination requirements. (Louie now has an EU passport. I’m jealous.)

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