How to Fly with A Cat Internationally: Learn from My Mistakes!

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There were many different reactions when I told people that I was going to fly internationally with my cat, Moshie. Most of these remarks included some form of, “You are out of your mind,”

Looking back, and as with most things in my life, it probably was a little wild. 

Why I Flew With my Cat

Quick back story–I was moving overseas with a cat to Budapest, Hungary from Denver, Colorado for medical school.

I am a naturally nomadic and adventurous soul. My plan was that moving to Budapest would calm my wanderlust and having a cat would ground me like a tree so that I could get down to business. 

(Spoiler alert: my plan absolutely did not work…and you can read my full story)

Nevertheless, the entire experience was 1000% more bearable with my little best friend. However, getting him there was a completely different story.

Let’s Make This Simple…so that You can Travel and Fly with Your Cat!

Because of my experience and seeing that there wasn’t a lot of in-depth material out there for cats, I decided to make this guide for adventurers like you!

So, if you are planning on traveling with a little furry friend…please read this and learn from my many mistakes. Because if I’m being honest, this entire process was a bit of a dumpster fire.

…but flying your cat internationally doesn’t have to be! That is why I am going to take you step by step from start to finish on how to fly with a cat and/or move overseas with a cat.

This is going to be a bit of a long one! So I apologize in advance, but there is a lot of information to cover. I would recommend book marking this page so that you can have access to it throughout the entire process.

Yes. Yes. Moshie’s Adorable. He KNows and He’s Not Humble.

Quick Note: because I get this question a lot. I talk about Moshie so much during this post, and people seem to be obsessed with him (for good reason)…he is a flame point Siberian Forest Cat! I moved across the ocean with him when he was only 5 months old!

So without further adieu…I present my brutally honest guide of things that I learned while flying internationally with a cat. Plus, weird things that happened in the process start to finish! 

Bucket List Review of Flying with A Cat Internationally

Category	Adventure
Who Needs to Put This on Their Bucket List?	Travelers who can’t live without their furry friend
Best Time to Go	Anytime
Traveling Difficulty	Difficult
Physical Difficulty	Easy
Popularity Rating	2/10
Group/Tour Required	No
Budget	$$$$

If you need more information about the categories of this table, please check out the Bucket List Reviews guide.

Pet Regulations and Documents You Will Need to Fly with a Cat Internationally

Finding out the pet regulations for the country you are leaving and the country where you are going

As you can imagine, being able to fly internationally with a cat has a ton of regulations!

As I mentioned previously, I was traveling from Denver to Budapest and then eventually traveled back. 

Since I was traveling from the US, I got all of my information from APHIS or the US Department of State. 

This didn’t seem like a lot of information, but there is something about it that, to me, felt very overwhelming. So I had to take a lot of detailed notes and liaison with the vet. 

Learn from Me: If I had to do it all over again, I would do it step by step and involve the vet from day one. 

Keep in mind that Moshie is a CAT, not a DOG. I did notice that the same things were needed for dogs, but they also had additional tests and forms to fill out.

Moving to Another Country? Read More: What To Expect From Moving Abroad

The general process for bringing pets into the EU from the US

Huge disclaimer: This is NOT advice for exactly what is required. This information may change at any moment and you should refer to the appropriate authority for specific instructions. Always talk to your vet and local authorities.

The only point of this is to break up what I went through into simple chunks to make it a bit more readable and less overwhelming.

Here is what was required of Moshie to leave the US and head to Hungary (EU): 

1. He had to get an ISO-compliant microchip. 

He was young so I automatically told the vet to do this. Just make sure that you get an ISO-compliant microchip.

If you have a non-ISO compliant, they told me I could have my own scanner. I personally wouldn’t risk it, but sometimes you don’t have a choice. 

2. He had to be at least 16 weeks old. 

Although it might differ from place to place, there is a general age limit in order to fly internationally with a cat.

3. He had to get his rabies vaccinations. 

This had to be placed after the microchip and make sure they got the vaccine after scanning the microchip. 

It couldn’t have been more than one year old. 

Again, he was young and got his primary vaccine right before I left. But if your pet is old then you can get a booster that is valid for 1-3 years. 

I traveled with the rabies certificate that also had his microchip number recorded. 

Then we waited 21 days after his vaccination to travel. 

4. APHIS issued an EU Health Certificate

Can you hear me crying in frustration? Yep. Good. Let’s continue. 

I got a non-commercial health certificate because I was not traveling with more than 5 pets (thank God) and not using little Moshie for any money-related activities. 

I took Moshie to the vet and he had to get a ton of health tests done. 

The vet then signed the document and submitted it to APHIS to be endorsed. 

The USDA has to endorse the health certificate within 10 days of arrival into the EU. 

As soon as I received this document, I signed the declaration before traveling to the EU. 

Now all of this seems pretty cut and dry, right? I thought so too, but as I said you could probably hear me crying in frustration….because these things are never that simple.

Going to the Vet Before you Fly with A Cat

Obviously, as seen from the requirements above, you will need to go to the vet (maybe multiple times) in order to fly internationally with a cat.

With that being said, go to the vet as early as you can. This is because sometimes this process is subjected to Murphy’s Law: everything that can go wrong will go wrong. 

Things to Prepare For At the Vet when Flying with a Cat

First, it took a while to get on the same page with the vet. Then, it took a while for them to run the tests.

After that, we had to wait between rabies vaccines and comply with the 21-day waiting period before we could travel. The USDA endorsement was then radio silent. Naturally, I started panicking and calling the USDA with no answer. 

They got it to me late two days before my massive move. I was a ball of human stress at this point and this did nothing for my nerves.

Needless to say…it wasn’t exactly a peaceful experience and takes time.

That is why I would plan on going to your vet 3 to 4 months in advance.

Vet Bills and Unexpected Costs of Flying with a Cat overseas

Soooo flying internationally with a cat (or any pet) isn’t exactly the cheapest thing on this Earth. 

First off, the vet charged me for all of the tests done as well as for the vet’s time that they took checking on all of the requirements and submitting the documentation to APHIS. 

Then I had to pay for the expedited priority shipping to get the health certificate back within 10 days of leaving. 

Another thing to consider regarding cost is the flight (stay tuned…).

Should You Sedate Your Cat while Flying?

When you fly with you cat internationally, your vet may suggest or prescribe calming medication. For example, my vet gave me Gabapentin for little Mosh. 

Although calming medication seems like a good idea for your pet during a flight…I would consult with your vet and test this on your animal beforehand.

I stress this because sometimes he seemed to actually get worked up and agitated on the medication.

As with most things, there can also be risks with using this type of medication on animals while flying.

I would make sure that you have very clear communication with your vet and make the best decision that is right for your pet. 

Booking An International Flight with a Cat

Note that I do talk about international flights, but this can also apply to domestic flights.

How Much Does it Cost to Fly with a Cat Internationally

I chose to go with United and Lufthansa because of the prices on their flights abroad for cats.

It would be safe to budget $250 (or more) each way to fly your pet internationally.

I paid $125 for United and less for Lufstansa once I got to the EU. This will depend on the airline that you choose but make sure they are pet-friendly and have flights abroad for cats. 

I have also heard great things about flying American Airlines with pets, but they, unfortunately, didn’t partner to fly into Budapest. 

After researching, I found that it was slightly cheaper to book round trip tickets. However, if you are moving, you might only have an option for a one-way.

Do Cats Need Passports?

This is going to be dependent on where you are traveling to and from.

Technically yes, your pet does need a passport. But a “pet passport” in the US generally refers to all of the documents you have obtained (health certificate, vaccination records, etc).

I didn’t get a physical passport from all of these things, but I have read of companies that will give you a certificate as a part of a “pet passport package”.

In the EU, however, there is such a thing as a “pet passport” and I actually got in trouble for not having it. This has to be obtained in the EU and is necessary if you are traveling at all throughout the EU. This includes, to be safe, layovers.

As far as coming back into the US, their customs seemed pretty relaxed for cats (surprisingly). Dogs were a different story. However, I would still take all precautions and get all your paperwork/pet passports in a row.

In my case, the only time a passport was ever an issue was during the check-in of an international flight back to Germany.

Which seat would I recommend getting when You Fly Internationally with a Cat 

I talked with a couple of people about their thoughts on where to sit when flying with a cat. 

One breeder said that she always flies on the window so that people are not stepping over the pet. 

For me personally, I prefer the isle seat when I am flying with an animal so that I can get up, walk around with the carrier, or get everything out easier. 

When I was in the window, it was good but I felt a little cramped when I was trying to get all of his things/litter/get out with the carrier. 

I also did a middle seat with Moshie on the flight from Budapest to Munich and that just wasn’t fun for anyone. Okay…maybe it was fun for the two grown men who spent the whole flight petting him from both sides. 

Call and confirm. Then call and confirm again. Then again. 

When you do purchase a ticket to fly internationally with a cat, do so before 48 hours and as soon as possible because most airlines have a limit for how many animals can be on a plane. 

Once you pay, keep your receipts organized and have record of everything!

Check With All Airlines INvolved

This sucks. Especially since I bought my entire ticket through United. What I didn’t realize, unfortunately, was that when I got to Europe my trip was handled through Lufthansa. This meant an entirely new set of regulations and new people to confirm with.

It could have been clearer for me because I could pay for his ticket from the US to Germany, but had to pay for his ticket at the gate for any flight within the EU. 

This made check-in a nightmare as nobody had any records because I was flying with multiple airlines.

Also, when coming back, I had bought his ticket and had a record of it but they just didn’t record that he was going on that specific flight due to multiple airlines. This caused a lot of panic and issues when I was checking in.

Therefore, I would recommend that you call both (or all) airlines ahead of time to confirm that you have paid (or will pay at the check-in counter) and that he has his own separate reservation. 

Should You put Your Pet in Cargo When Flying?

Avoid putting your pet in cargo at all costs! It is a recipe for disaster down there – poor ventilation, extreme temperatures, and bad handling.

Plus, it does give you peace of mind when you can monitor them at all times. It is also likely a better experience for your cat to have you there to soothe them.

Unfortunately, you might not have a choice. If this is your case, I would see about hiring a pet service.

If it is completely necessary to fly your pet in the cargo, here are some tips from the Humane Society:

• Try to book direct flights and travel on the same flight as your pet.
• Notify the captain and flight attendant because they can take some precautions if they know that a pet is in the cargo hold.
• Don’t ever travel with animals with short airways that can obstruct easily (brachycephalic animals), such as Persian cats.
• If flying in extreme temperatures, try to fly at the time of day where it is tolerable.
• Give your cat a collar that won’t catch in doors.
• Put your information on the carrier itself as well as the collar.
• Trim their nails before you go.
• Be cautious with sedatives.
• Avoid busy and hectic times to fly.
• Carry a photograph of your cat.
• Once at your destination, inspect your cat and the carrier. If anything is wrong, take them to the vet immediately.

Getting All Of Your Documents Ready for the Flight

Organize all of Your Documents for Your Kitty

I went with the “more is more” mentality and if I could print out a document, I did. You need to be very organized if you want to fly internationally with a cat!

I made sure that every document clearly stated microchip numbers, rabies vaccines, and the vet’s signature. 

If I could do it all over again, I would have probably cut this down a little bit and made a “master checklist” and had it in order so that customs went smoothly.

If you don’t have anything else…make sure that you at least have:

• Rabies Certificate
• Microchip Certificate
• Vet Health Check
• USDA Endorsed Heath Certificate
• Any flight requirements
  • This depends on the airline. For example, Lufthansa required me to sign a form and get it approved at check-in. I carried it with me the entire time. 
• Anything else that the countries (entering and exiting) require. 

Again, this list may look vastly different depending on where you are coming from and where you are going. This list is based off of taking a pet from the US into the EU.

Finding the Right Cat Carrier for Travel + Carrier Training

One of the things I did WELL was that I tested so many carriers before I left. 

Here is what I was looking for in a cat carrier and eventually found:

is the correct dimensions for both airlines when you Fly with a Cat Internationally

In order to fly internationally with a cat, the carrier needs to be the correct dimensions. This was the hardest criteria, but I flew with no issues with the size of the carrier, and that make it worth it! 

Although I personally did not get my cat carrier measured, they are very strict on the measurements and can turn you away if the carrier doesn’t fit their specifications.

Has an expandable part 

The dimensions for under the seat are dismal at best when you fly internationally with a cat. Therefore, whenever I could I would try to give Moshie his space. 

Most airports and airlines don’t like you taking them out of the carrier, so I had to improvise a bit. 

I found that there are a lot of options for carriers that are the correct sizes but then expand to give them more room. 

This is important if you have a layover, because then you can expand and they can stretch their poor legs for a little bit.

is a backpack 

Moshie is a Siberian Forest Cat. And although he is young, he is still heavy! 

I made sure to get a backpack with a hip and chest strap for extra support during those long travel days. 

When I had my luggage, I simply wrapped the backpack straps around the handle and rolled little Moshie around.

Gives your pet enough room to turn around comfortably and lay down

This was also a rule for the carrier on both of the airlines that I flew – and there is a good reason. 

My flight to Germany was 10.5 hours! It is bound to get a little squishy and you want your furry friend to be as comfortable as possible. It isn’t easy to fly internationally with a cat!

I ended up deciding between 2: 

This one doesn’t expand but it is massive and flexible. Plus, I love everything that Travel Cat makes. 

This was the one that I ended up taking to Europe and had no complaints…even though it was just slightly bigger than the carrier dimensions provided by the airline.

He was a little cramped in there when he was on my back but I just put his harness on and opened the window. 

How to get a Cat used to its carrier  when you Fly Internationally

In order to fly internationally with a cat, you don’t only need a carrier, but you need to make sure that your pet is comfortable! Once I got my preferred cat carrier, I started from the very beginning! 

I would put his favorite toys and comfort blanket in there. I then introduced treats and food in the carrier.

As much as I could, I tried to associate everything positive with the carrier.

Pretty soon, he would just go in there to sleep on his own. We even tested the limits and took him camping! He slept the entire way in his carrier without a peep. 

I really took my time and let him know that was his safe space and inspired him to sleep. The vet said that this was very important because you want your cat to associate the carrier with safety, winding down, and relaxing.

I do wish I would have trained him for longer hours than I did. Although 4 hours is impressive…it is nothing compared to 16 hours total traveling to Europe.

He did the best he could, but I would be screaming to get out of there too! 

Social Training for flying with a Cat Internationally or Domestically

Getting your cat used to the carrier isn’t the only thing you need to prepare your pet for.

I would highly recommend getting your pet used to people as much as you can. It’s no surprise that having a cat in an airport makes you the “prettiest girl at the party”. 

Keep in mind that Moshie is VERY social and loves strangers. 

I literally have pictures of him sitting in a random kid’s lap in a terminal and loving every second of it. 

He is used to being handled, cooed at, and picked up by strangers. He ate up the attention faster than I ate mac n’ cheese after a juice cleanse. 

However, some cats are not as trusting. I would recommend getting them used to people or figuring out how to set polite yet firm boundaries with some fellow travelers who want a cuddle while they are waiting to board. 

If this isn’t an option for your cat, I would highly recommend choosing a carrier that you can’t see into and doesn’t look like a pet carrier.

This way, other travelers don’t know there is an adorable kitty in there and won’t be tempted to give them some love.

International Flight Check List – What To Bring with you When You Fly with a Cat

Congratulations! You have worked your booty off and now it is time to take flight with your furry friend!

The hard part is over…kinda.

Here is a checklist of everything to bring with you to make your flight go as smoothly as possible:

Portable litter box

When I am not tight on space, I absolutely love Travel Cat’s portable litter box. However, it was too big for me to take. I ended up taking a flexible travel bag that I normally put my underwear in. 

This really wasn’t ideal. It was messy and a pain. But I guess at the end of the day…it got the job done. 

If anyone has any other suggestions, I am all ears!

Small bit of litter

I double bagged some litter to take with me. Every couple of hours I would take Moshie to the bathroom and would set up my make-shift litter box. 

I am not going to lie…this was the opposite of fun. But it did make the flight go fast when I spent the majority of the time cleaning litter out of the bathroom. 

Normally, according to the vet, cats become constipated while traveling. Still, they advised me to try not to feed him for 4 – 6 hours before the flight.

Moshie didn’t poop the entire trip (so I guess they were right!) although his buddy Emmy did on a flight with me. I would be prepared for anything! 

He did, however, pee a few times with even the tiniest litter. Don’t ask me how he was that smart to know to pee in my horribly made travel bag with a handful of litter in a moving plane bathroom. 

Note that when I got my first kitty, Nikita, I flew with her in a diaper. You can see the picture below. Although this is an option, I have to warn you! She did pooped in the diaper, then sat in it…I’m not gonna embellish how terrible that was to clean up.

Treats

If you ever fly internationally with a cat, treats are a must! I gave Moshie a treat every time he was being a good boy, but not too many to make him sick or make him poop. 

Food

I know that a lot of people steer you away from feeding pets to avoid them making a stinky poopoo. 

However, I found that feeding him one piece at a time very very slowly was a good way to distract him when he was meowing.

I would normally give him 2 to 3 pieces before he fell asleep. 

Calming spray

If I’m being honest, I have no clue if this works. 

However, I used it more on the flight out to Hungary than coming back. And honestly, he was calmer on the flight out. 

I don’t know if it was because of the gabapentin or circumstances, but it may be worth asking your vet about. 

Their favorite toys

Moshie had 2 toys that are his favorite. A string toy named Renaldo and a small white mouse toy named Lucille.

Although he didn’t play much with them on the flight, I did notice that he snuggled with them. 

Plus, I was moving abroad with my cat, so he needed to have his favorite toys in his new home!

Calming/anxiety blanket 

This was a game-changer if you ever fly internationally with a cat!

I don’t know what it is about this blanket but Moshie loves it! He makes all the biscuits and relieves all the stress (where can I get one?)

There were a lot of times when I would look into his carrier and see him completely crashed on it. 

Harness and leash

If you don’t know, you need to take your pet out when you go through TSA.

Whenever I would take him out to be inspected, go to the bathroom, TSA, I prefer to have a harness on with my information on it (he has his own Apple AirTag). 

Moshie is also leash trained, so I had his leash as well.

This put my mind at ease in case he decides to bolt. 

Also, with my carrier I can hook him into the backpack and open the front flap to give him some air and a view. 

All of the documents mentioned previously 

Keep those documents on you and your pet the ENTIRE time and be prepare to present them at all times. 

Arriving at the Airport with Your Cat…Early!

Mentally prepare yourself for either the easiest process or the hardest process where you take deep breaths afterward.

I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, when you fly internationally with a cat, it has the potential to be extremely stressful.

When going to Budapest, checking my pet in added about 15 minutes and was no hassle at all. 

Now coming back was a completely different story…

Coming back to the US from the EU to fly internationally with a cat

First, they wanted an EU passport for him that I didn’t have. In my defense, they told me that I didn’t need it, until I got to the check-in counter.

Technically I was only transiting through Germany and didn’t need a proper EU passport (he never traveled through the EU or left Hungary). And technically the Health Certificate lasts 4 months as long as the rabies vaccine is valid. They, however, didn’t care about any of that. 

Then, they couldn’t find my reservation and said that since it was less than 48 hours before, they could not book him in. 

I had to go to customer service and fight them for about 45 minutes as we called the other airline to confirm.

They then said that I didn’t pay. Back to the customer service desk for another 30 minutes. 

Then they said that I couldn’t bring a pet into Germany. Back to customer service and called Munich to find out that they just weren’t accepting cargo pets at that time but in-cabin was okay. 

THEN they told me that Denver had increased their regulations on pets traveling from the EU and that Denver was not accepting any pets whatsoever. 

I finally convinced them to let me pass but they told me that I would be turned away once I got to Germany and if they let me pass, I would be turned away once I got to Colorado. I decided to take the risk.

Yeah…they played with Moshie for 30 minutes at TSA in Germany and waved me through customs once I got to the US. 

Needless to say, I was about to down Moshie’s calming medication after that entire ordeal.

Learn From My Mistakes!

As you may have seen, this process was one of the most frustrating travel experiences I had and I almost missed my international flight as a result. 

If failing miserably during check-in was an thing, I was a full-on dumpster fire. 

HENSE…my tips: get to the airport early, mentally prepare yourself, read the fine print on pet regulations for ALL involved countries (even layovers), double-check reservations, and keep your documents and receipts organized. 

Going through TSA when You Fly Internationally with a Cat

As mentioned before, make sure to tell the TSA officers that you have a pet. 

You will then have to take them out of the carrier, carry them through, and then place them back. 

One thing I wish I would have done differently is to practice this with my kitty. When I was headed out, TSA was chaotic!

It was very busy and he just wanted to be held. When I took him out, he clung to me and behaved wonderfully. 

However, when I went to put him back in the carrier, it was a little more hectic because he wanted me to keep holding him. 

It is also very important to use that harness and leash like I mentioned in my flight packing list. If, Heaven forbid, your cat were to get loose during this process, it is best if they have an ID and a collar.

What to Do While Waiting for a Flight With a Cat

My flight to Germany was 10.5 hours, I had a 6-hour layover, and then 1.5 hours to Budapest.

During those 6 hours, Moshie was antsy to say the least. Luckily, he had a grand ol’ time in his expanded carrier. Then, in a remote corner, I got permission to let him stretch his legs. 

This, of course, attracted a wide variety of people who wanted to meet him. In standard Moshie fashion, he was sleeping on their laps and playing within about 30 minutes. 

The point is to let them out whenever you can. I did start to feel bad at the end of my flight for poor Moshie (who again just wanted to be cuddled like the man he is). 

It made me, and Moshie, feel loads better stretching our legs and meeting new people. 

Some cats are, however, not as social and clingy as Moshie. So I would just be careful making them visible if they don’t warm up to new people. I quickly learned that having a cute cat automatically makes you the most popular person in an airport. 

And some people don’t have boundaries or common sense when it comes to seeing a cute animal in an airport.

What To Do When Boarding Your Flight when YouFly With a Cat

Before Boarding

One of the secrets that I learned very quickly is to always go up to the gate desk when you arrive. You may be charming, but your pet is sure to charm the attendants into upgrading or moving you.

Once there, I would tell them that you are the person with the animal. And (broken record) have all of your documents ready to go. 

Sometimes there is not a lot they can do in regards to seating. However, on my way back, they actually moved the person in the window seat to another seat with his permission so that I could have the entire row. 

I then expanded his carrier across two seats and slept against the window (of course Moshie could meow his way into getting two plane seats on a long-haul flight). 

As Soon As You Get On the Plane

Another tip that I got from the internet that worked really well was what to do when you actually get to the seat. 

I started by introducing myself as well as Moshie to my seat mates and the people sitting next to me. 

I then asked all of them if they had cat allergies. Moshie is hypoallergenic because I am severely allergic to cats, but I found it to be the most respectful. 

I learned is that traveling with a cat is not much different than traveling with a toddler.

Most times they are cute, other times they won’t shut up, sometimes you have to walk to isles rocking them, and others you are just stuck in the bathroom. 

Moshie is so well-behaved and such a good boy. But one of his quirky personality traits is that he wants to be held constantly like a toddler. 

This doesn’t fly with airlines and they pretty much want pets in their carriers at all times (and I can’t really blame them). So at times, Moshie did cry…and it was heartbreaking.

Luckily, since I was so open and respectful to everyone around me, they were more than happy to put up with the occasional meow and even held the carrier on their lap and pet him while I slept for a while. 

It really does take a village…

One woman that I met from Romania held him and even admitted to me that this was her first long-haul flight and she was so nervous! But she pet Moshie in his carrier for around 1.5-2 hours and she said it helped her through it! 

How to Keep a cat quiet during a flight…Or trying Your best

That being said…here is what I found helped when Moshie started to meow:

Feeding him 2 or 3 small pieces of food very slowly. 

Putting your hand in the carrier and petting him. 

Once he fell asleep, I would stop petting him and just leave my hand inside there with him. It seemed to help just having my hand in there. 

I know this is counterintuitive, but just leaving him alone when I could. 

The more that I talked to him and tried to calm him down, the more he just wanted to get out and be held. 

It seemed that when I just let him do his thing (and just keep my hand in the carrier or stroking him), he eventually fell asleep and slept for 4-5 hours. 

Set alarms to make trips to the bathroom. 

Don’t forget to make trips to the bathroom. 

I let the flight attendant know this ahead of time and made sure to leave everything squeaky clean. 

These little breaks seemed to be good for him and he always went back into his carrier. 

What You Will Feel Emotionally when You Travel with a Cat Internationally

I know that this is rarely talked about…but what about YOU?!

When traveling with Moshie, I noticed some strange emotions creeping into my head. Most of which were along the lines of “how could I do this to him? I’m such a terrible cat parent”

Yes, it is heartbreaking. Your cat is bored, confined, and really does not want to be there. And I am not going to lie to you: it can be emotionally draining.

What helped me through this is realizing that this is one day out of their cute kitty lives and one bad day is worth not loosing them altogether.

Would I recommend taking them on week trips abroad? Probably not, unless they are trained like a solider. You certainly wouldn’t find me taking long-haul flights with Moshie on a weekly basis.

A short domestic one? Maybe. But these intense transcontinental flights? No thank you.

However, if you are moving abroad for an extended period of time, one difficult day flying might just be worth the effort to have them with you in your new home abroad.

Going through customs when You Fly Internationally with a Cat 

Once you arrive, it can be a little hectic. Moshie was absolutely done at this point and it is always a struggle to gather all of your stuff after you’ve been sitting there for over 10 hours (even when you don’t have an animal with you).  

I proceeded through border control with no problems but was very confused when customs was closed. 

For those of you who work in the travel industry and customs…please tell me what to do if this happens! 

I then proceeded to run around like a mad woman trying to find someone to look at my cat. I spent so much time and stress getting the health certificate and I wanted someone to appreciate it! 

Finally, did find an official who helped me, briefly scanned my documents, and sent me on my way. 

I’m not really sure if he actually cared or just wanted me to stop talking to him about my cat, but I guess it could have been worse. 

Similar to the check-in, I would really approach customs with an “expect the best, prepare for the worst” mentality.

And as always, treat customs officers and border officials with the utmost respect. 

After that, I grabbed my suitcases, popped Moshie on one of the handles and had officially moved to Hungary with my cat!

My Honest Opinion on Moving Abroad with a Cat

Overall, I think that moving abroad with a cat is quite an adventure. I certainly could not have imagined my life in Hungary and medical school without Moshie!

I would, however, be wary. Moving abroad is stressful – even for humans. This means that it is extra harsh on your little furry friend.

Cats are creatures of habit, and some cats might not take the move too well. Some might not adjust to live in other countries. Others may be adventurous and totally fine.

Moshie is a pretty adventurous little fur ball, but even he got so stressed out that he developed urinary issues in Hungary. Keep in mind that I was in medical school and constantly stressed out of my mind, so he might have picked up on that.

It took him a while to adjust to life in another country, but he did eventually. Still, that little dingus gave me quite a few heart attacks during my time in Hungary.

I think that it is important to reflect on your cat’s health and personality. Is a huge move good for them? Or, is it just good for you?

If your cat is up for the challenge and is adaptable, than I think that moving abroad with a cat is a worthwhile endeavor indeed!

Final thoughts about Flying with a Cat

Whew! Now that was a LOT of information and storytelling. I think I need a nap now!

Being able to fly internationally with a cat is definitely an art that takes practice and patience from both you and your furry friend.

I wouldn’t exactly call it the “best time in the world” but sometimes it is a necessary process to have your baby with you. And it CAN be done! If I can do it, so can you! 

Are you traveling with your beloved pet? Make sure to follow and tag me on social media to tell me how it went.

UPdates on Moshie

If you are wondering how Moshie is doing…he is living his best kitty life!

After dropping out of medical school (oops…), I sold everything I owned and am traveling full-time in an RV. I now teach yoga and help adventurers like you conquer their bucket list!

Moshie and his sister, Amelia, have joined me on this journey and live in the RV full-time! They love to go on hikes, be outside in their cat tunnel, and lay in the loft of my massive fifth wheel.

Travel Resources to Make Your life Easier While Moving Abroad with Your Cat

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