PET PASSPORT - 'PET' TRAVEL SCHEME
Are you thinking of taking your cat abroad this year? If so, did you know that you need to plan nearly 7 months ahead before you can travel with your pet?
With the PET Travel Scheme, provided certain requirements are fulfilled, it is possible to travel with your cat to certain countries and bring him/her back again,
without having to worry about your cat spending time in quarantine.
Firstly your cat must be at least 3 months old and microchipped. Then he/she must be vaccinated against rabies and be blood tested two to four weeks later, to ensure that a satisfactory level of protection against rabies has been reached. You can then be issued with a Pet Passport which will allow you to travel between EU countries and certain non EU countries. Before you return to the
Before travelling with your cat, it is also important to consider the following points:
There are several insect-borne diseases in other countries which may make your cat seriously ill, so please discuss your travel plans with your vet so that any appropriate preventative medication can be supplied.
Will the Carrier you intend travelling with i.e. ferry company, accept your cat and will you need a special container.
Ensure that any container/cat carrier that you use is of sufficient dimensions, allowing your cat enough room to travel comfortably.
Does the accommodation you will be staying in whilst abroad, accept pets.
Further information regarding Airlines/Carriers that accept pets, health risks etc., is available by visiting www.defra.gov.uk and going to Pet Travel Scheme.