The hardest part about traveling as a cat isn't being put into a bag and carried around like luggage. It's the paperwork. At least that's what the hooman told me. I wouldn't know, I don't have to sign any of the paperwork.
Requirements for domestic animals coming from the United States are less strict than other types of animals. Most countries consider the following to be domestic pets: Cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, some reptiles. Even if you are taking a pet for leisure and not commercial reasons, it is still possible that the country you are trying to go to will not accept any animal of any kind.
For our trip we specifically looked at requirements for the Schengen States. Our first trip abroad was to Austria and then the Netherlands. The Schengen States are 27 countries which have little control between their borders. They all keep the same entry requirements for many countries and so the assumption is that if you and your cat are in a Schengen State it was their responsibility to check that your paperwork is in order.
In other words once we landed in Austria from the U.S. they checked all of our paperwork. However, when we landed in the Netherlands from Austria they didn't check anything because Austria had already done that.
So what is all this paperwork I keep referencing?
Requirements for domestic animals coming from the United States are less strict than other types of animals. Most countries consider the following to be domestic pets: Cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, some reptiles. Even if you are taking a pet for leisure and not commercial reasons, it is still possible that the country you are trying to go to will not accept any animal of any kind.
For our trip we specifically looked at requirements for the Schengen States. Our first trip abroad was to Austria and then the Netherlands. The Schengen States are 27 countries which have little control between their borders. They all keep the same entry requirements for many countries and so the assumption is that if you and your cat are in a Schengen State it was their responsibility to check that your paperwork is in order.
In other words once we landed in Austria from the U.S. they checked all of our paperwork. However, when we landed in the Netherlands from Austria they didn't check anything because Austria had already done that.
So what is all this paperwork I keep referencing?