Bringing Your Cat on Vacation: A Guide to a Stress‑Free Trip

Can I take the cat on vacation? Sometimes a vacation is kind of unhappy if the whole family doesn’t relax together, and some people also consider their pets as family members. Holidays with a cat can be a very fun way to make friends even closer, but it’s important to properly prepare for a trip with a cat!

You can usually carry a cat on holiday at home or abroad. After all, a family vacation without a pet will not be what it should be! However, there are a few things you will need to prepare in advance, especially if you are leaving the country. You will be able to have a quiet holiday with a cat if you prepare for it in advance. You should be a little prepared during the holidays and to transport the cats together. If everything is sorted out on time and if you know the cat will withstand the journey, the journey should go smoothly.

Cats really love their territory, so cat owners usually choose to leave them to a trusted caregiver – you know for yourself what’s best for your pet. On the other hand, modern animal transport boxes, animal passports and vaccines now make it much easier for people to travel with cats.

If you are planning to take a cat on a trip, read our tips on how to prepare for it and you will be able to load things up!

How to take cats on a trip?

Nothing is easier if you are taking a cat on holiday in the UK. If you stay in a pet-friendly environment, if your cat is labeled with a chip, and if you think it will easily adapt to a temporary environment, you can go right away. Cats can travel freely in Europe if they are vaccinated against rabies, marked with a microchip and have a valid pet passport. Most veterinarians can issue a pet passport, which must contain up-to-date information about your cat’s treatment so you can prove it’s healthy.

If your veterinarian is unable to issue such a passport, he or she should know what veterinarian can recommend it.

It is very important to warn the air carrier in advance that you are carrying a cat. He will tell you what else needs to be done to bring the cat to the airport.
Whether you are staying in the country or traveling abroad, you should find out how to travel by cat or plane.

Veterinary inspection before transporting the cat on vacation

Cats do not usually need special medication before you go on holiday, but if you are unsure, ask your veterinarian about everything. Either way, it’s better to check with your vet if a cat can be taken on a long trip because each animal is unique and there may be things you didn’t take into account.

Talk to your veterinarian about your cat’s overall health and tell if she is afraid of being locked up. If your cat hasn’t enjoyed traveling before, it’s worth considering if it will really be best to take her on vacation together. After all, your cat can’t tell you how you feel, so if you want to find out, you have to work hard!

It is also worth considering some practical aspects of carrying a cat on vacation. If your cat is given medication, make sure they have enough supplies for the entire trip. If your veterinarian advises giving your cat sedatives on the trip so that she is well behaved and calm, keep in mind that medications can last longer than the trip, so then your cat will need some warm and safe place to recover!

If your veterinarian prescribes medication for your cat for the trip, you may want to ask how to test them in advance, especially if you plan to travel far. If you already know how those drugs affect your cat, you are less likely to experience surprises at the last minute – no traveler craves them!

How to plan a vacation with cats?

When planning a vacation with your marmot, you should think about the following. If you take care of everything in advance, your vacation will be smoother, you will experience less stress and have a lot more fun resting – both your cat and you!

• Before you leave, find out if the place you will live in is suitable for the cat. Warn that you bring a pet so that everything is ready when your cat arrives.
• If your cat is not yet familiar with the outdoor environment you will be in, she will need to spend the time indoors. Make sure the place you are staying is pleasant and safe.
• Check in advance that your cat has the right toilet equipment there and that there is a safe outdoor space – the cat should feel as comfortable as possible.
• If you are staying in someone’s home or in a small bed and breakfast house, ask if there are any other animals before you go. Will your cat feel good if there are other animals there?
• Make sure your cat has everything you need for the first few days of the trip until you find a place to buy everything – food, water, treats, litter boxes and enough litter.
• If you can, take familiar items from home to help your cat settle in better, such as cat tree, toys, and comfortable bed. Like most people, cats love the comforts of home!
• Take a non-draining water bowl and bottles of fresh water on the trip. A cat that has enough fluids is happier, and may need to cool down during the trip.
• Put a litter box in the right size in the transport box so that the cat can go to the separate bed, making the environment cleaner and more comfortable.
• You can also plan how to safely move your cat to a separate transport box every few hours so that she can use the toilet – then she will definitely stay clean and not get wet.
• No matter how you come up with the solution to the litter box issue, take plenty of plastic bags and cleaning supplies on your trip so that your cat never runs out of anything!

Arrive on vacation with a cat

The worries don’t end when you arrive at the place, although both you and your cat would probably already love to rest! There are a few more things to take care of – then you and your cat will be able to take a vacation.
If you are going abroad and your cat is traveling with you, it may need a short quarantine (depending on the country you are going to). Even if you know your pet is healthy, this legal requirement applies in many countries – keep this in mind when you travel!

When you arrive at the place where you will be staying, your cat will need a lot of time to get used to it. Keep it in the transport box in a quiet place until you unpack the items, then safely close the room and let the cat out of the transport box so that it can inspect the place itself. If you can, go around the rooms with the cat so that she can explore them all and get used to it.

Make sure your family members know where your cat is allowed to go – windows and doors in rooms that are not allowed to go must be closed. Also, to make the cat comfortable, the room temperature should be adjusted – remember that, unlike you, the cat cannot take off its fur or put on a sweater!

Chip marking

It’s worth tagging your cat with a chip, even if it’s not being taken on a trip, but all the more so if it’s “on vacation” with you. If you take a cat on a trip, there is a greater risk that she will get lost than in the garden of your house – after all, any curious cat will be tempted by some seductive smell or will be tempted to get out through the window of interest!

If you leave the cat at home

Before you decide to take a cat on vacation with you, think about whether you can leave it at home. Unlike a dog, a cat would probably be satisfied with the rest of the home, where she could use her usual litter box, eat out of her bowl, and settle in comfortably for a nap. Therefore, even if you miss your kitten, it would be worth considering whether it would not be better to leave her with a pet handler if you think the trip would be too stressful for both you and the cat.

If your cat does not have special medical needs, you could ask a trusted cat-loving neighbor, friend, or family member to feed her, clean the litter box, provide food, and add fresh water, pat a little, and play with it. Or, while you are away, your cat can be taken care of by a professional pet handler, or you can leave her at the pet hotel.

Whether your cat is traveling with you or staying safe at home, do it in the best way for your pet. Even if she stays home, it will be amazing when you come back after a fun holiday and she will greet you with a loud murmur and follow after.