Dark Mode Light Mode

Plan Your Trip ✈️

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

These links helped 37 readers plan their trip last month.

Follow Moving Jack

Plan Your Trip ✈️

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

These links helped 37 readers plan their trip last month.

Traveling with Cats: 16 Essential Tips (from experience)

Travelling with cats can be a stressful event. I traveled with my two cats from Beijing to Shanghai, from Amsterdam to Iraq. These are 16 crucial tips for a smooth trip.

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for the support.

Cat shanghai house movingjack • travelling with cats Cat shanghai house movingjack • travelling with cats
Author Name

By Moving Jack. Once a DJ, now a traveler exploring the world, sharing stories to inspire your next adventure.
Read more about me.

Traveling with cats can be a stressful event for both you and your cats.

I have taken my cats from Beijing, to Shanghai, from Amsterdam to Erbil (Kurdistan, Iraq). They are real-world travelers! If they could type, I’m sure they would start a travel blog.

But there are many ways to make it as smooth as possible for your cats, and for yourself! From my own experience, I’ve made this list of crucial tips to do just that. These are 16 crucial tips for traveling with a cat :

Ragdoll cat in suitcase waiting to go on a trip

Is it Cruel to Travel With a Cat?

First of all, is it cruel to travel with a cat? In my opinion, it is not cruel, but it is certainly not a pleasant experience for your cat. 

For a big part, it will depend on your cat, your breed, and if he or she is used to traveling.

My two cats are ragdolls and are very social and can be a bit sensitive as well. when I’m traveling with them, I take them with me inside the cabin so they can be with me and I can calm them down. This really helps.

So are cats OK with traveling? Try to let them get used to it at a young age and take them outside so they can get accustomed to being on the road.

If you get a cat at an older age, ask the previous owner if the cat has traveled before.

How Long Can a Cat Travel Without Peeing?

Many ancestors of cats originate from the desert. Cats don’t drink a lot, and they can go without peeing for 24 hours. So, if you are traveling on an 8-hour flight, your cat will be fine. Keep in mind how long your cat didn’t pee before leaving.

What I always do is clean the cat litter box an hour before leaving home. They will notice it and might use the cat litter box. This will make the journey more pleasant for them.

How to travel with a cat internationally?

Many airlines allow traveling with cats. You can take them inside the cabin or in a special crate in cargo. In the cabin would be the best choice in my opinion.

Make sure you have all the required documents. More on that further on.

Cat passport movingjack • travelling with cats

Cat Chipreader

Perhaps the best advice I got when we took our cats with us the first time is: buy a chip reader! Seriously, buy one. It happens sometimes that the chip reader from security or customs at the airport does not work, can’t read your chip or they can’t even find the chip reader. So don’t depend on that! Buy your own chip reader and keep it with you at all times, in your hand luggage or in one of the side pockets from your cat’s travel bag.

If you are confronted with the task of taking your cats with you on your trip. Make sure that they are chipped. This is required by all airlines.

Transporting your cat in Cargo or Cabin

If you’ve made the decision to take your cats with you on your journey you will have to decide if you want to take your cat with you inside the cabin, or transport your cat in cargo. Let me start with probably the least favorite option, cargo.

There are some advantages and disadvantages about transporting your cat in cargo.

Cat in case travelling cargo 5 movingjack • travelling with cats

Advantages cargo:

  • Your cat might experience less stress because in cargo, it will be dark, so your cat might fall asleep.
  • There aren’t any passengers around, of course, which will also help to reduce stress. From my experience, when our cats travelled from Shanghai to Amsterdam in cargo, they were surprisingly calm when we saw them again at the airport. They didn’t look stressed or tired at all.

Disadvantages cargo:

  • Saying goodbye to your cat at the airport is really hard and sad. Your cat might be ok, but I personally felt stressed, probably more than the cats!
  • Your cat may experience stress throughout the process of checking in and being transferred from the staging facility to the aircraft. (But a similar stressful process will happen anyway when you go through security when you take the cat inside the cabin).
  • The cargo area is air pressure and temperature controlled. Nevertheless, there is always a minimal chance something is defective and might go wrong with bad consequences.
  • If the airplane is delayed suddenly, it might lead to a very stressful situation to you and your cat.
Cat in case travelling cargo 2 movingjack • travelling with cats

Traveling with your cat in the cabin

We had to bring our cats with us when we relocated to Erbil, Kurdistan.

After a long time, we decided to take them with us in the cabin after weighing out the advantages and disdvantages. The main reason was that we had a transfer in Istanbul.

It was 40 degrees outside at the time. If something went wrong during the transfer, it would become too hot for them, which would be quite dangerous. We also liked the fact that we could calm them down ourselves during the flight. That helped a lot.

One of our cats was trembling during the flight, and when I tried to calm him down by petting him, he stopped shaking.

Cat traveling plane cabin 4 movingjack • travelling with cats

Advantages:

You can keep an eye on them and calm them down or give them their favorite snack.

In case of a transfer, it might be better to keep them with you instead of in cargo because of handling at the airport and temperatures outside.

Disadvantages:

There will be many people around, in the plane, at the airport, transfer and at the gate. This might cause some stress for them. It depends on how accustomed your cat is to people.

Remember that you are only allowed to sit next to the window and not isle due to safety.

Most airlines allow only one cat per person.

Cat traveling plane cabin 1 transfer airport movingjack • travelling with cats

All in all, I would say taking your cat with you inside the cabin is the best option. You will have much more control over unforeseen situations and you can help your cat to relax

Best travel bag for your cat in the cabin

There are many bags to take your furry friend inside the cabin. I’ve had several different bags to transport my cats. In my experience, the bag below is the best travel bag for your cat to take with you on a long journey.

The size is just right for most airlines (they never check the size), and you can extend the bag to make it almost twice as big. This was super convenient. During the first flight from Amsterdam to Istanbul, the seat next to me was empty, so I was able to put the bag next to me and unfold the sides so my cat had plenty of space.

It’s easy to take your cat with you in the bag pack when you need to walk to the gate. There is enough space for them to lay down and turn. When you’ve arrived at a spot where you have some time, you can easily zip open the back end to make it twice as big.

During the next flight from Istanbul to Erbi,l the seat next to me wasn’t available. But, I was still able to extend the bag between my legs, so there was a lot of space for the cat to lay down. I was also able to pet him by putting my hand through the opening on top.

Cat traveling plane cabin 2 movingjack • travelling with cats
Cat traveling plane cabin 3 movingjack • travelling with cats
  • Extendable bag to make the available room for your cat twice as big
  • Even extended it fits between your legs and below the seat in front of you

Travel case to transport your cat in cargo

If you are taking your cat on your journey on the plane in cargo, it’s a good idea to buy an extra-large one so there is enough space to move. Many airlines have requirements for the case. It needs to be big enough for the cat to be able to stand. We bought two huge crates, big enough for a very dog.

Cat in case travelling cargo movingjack • travelling with cats

Check airline policy

Always read the pet policy very carefully. Call the airline and double-check! Make sure there are no surprises at the airport. We flew with Turkish Airlines. They have a good reputation for flying with animals. I can honestly sat that the staff on board was helpful and friendly. Let them know when you enter the plane that you have a cat.

This is a list of things we double-checked with the airline:

  • What is the price of 1 cat of …kg?
  • What is the required size of the bag?
  • Which documents do I need to prepare?
  • Is an EU pet passport sufficient?
  • How many days before departure does the cat need the rabies shot?
  • Are there any extra checks at the airport?

Book tickets at least two weeks upfront

The airline needs to check if cats are allowed on your specific flight. If someone else already has an animal on that plane, you will probably have to book another flight. Turkish Airlines specifically states that if there is a bird on the plane, cats are not allowed. Which is understandable, you don’t want some Warner Brothers Tweety & Sylvester situation on a flying airplane!

You can book the ticket, and then call the airline right away so they will check. When it is confirmed that it is allowed to have your cat on the flight, you can make the payment.

Vaccinations

It’s important to make sure your cat has all the required vaccinations. The most important one is a vaccination for rabies. What’s even more important is that if you are traveling with your cats frequently, is that they receive a rabies shot every year. If the cats don’t get it every year, they will need to undergo a blood test, which will be quite stressful for them.

Documents

One of the documents that is required for flying with your cat is the “certificate of veterinary inspection”. The thing is, it is really unclear what this document looks like and what the requirements are. I couldn’t find a clear answer online or on any forum. I asked our local vet, who has a lot of experience, and they couldn’t tell me exactly what kind of document it was.

What I eventually did was, I print out a document that I bought on this website: https://www.pettravelstore.com/other-forms/

I had no idea if this was an official document or not, but I went to my local vet with it and asked them if they could fill it in and sign it. At the airport, they looked at the document, and luckily everything was fine!

Apparently, this document works. And in my opinion, it’s always better to have too many documents than too few.

Preparing the travel case or bag

It’s recommended that the case be made as cozy as possible. What we did is, we put a toy they like or a small T-shirt from ourselves in the bag with the cat. The smell reminds them of you and can help them to relax a bit. Some recommend using Feliway, but I didn’t use that. I did use it when we arrived at the new house, but I didn’t notice any change in behavior. Maybe it depends on the cat but I don’t think it’s worth the money.

Make sure to buy the travel bag a few weeks ahead of departure. Put it in the living room and leave it there so the cat can get used to it. The more comfortable they get with it, the less likely they will be to be scared of it.

Cat in case travelling cargo 6 movingjack 1 • travelling with cats

Preparing essentials

It’s a good idea to be over-prepared while traveling with cats in case of any mishaps or crises. You don’t want to come in a situation where the cat does a big number 2 suddenly, and you don’t have any wet wipes… You should bring a leash with a harness, wet wipes, and their favorite snacks. It’s also smart to write down your name and phone number on the bag, just in case.

Litter Box Cleaning

Right before you leave home and go to the airport, clean the litter box. Your cat will hear the sounds and notice the clean box, which will help them to go sit on it. It will be their last opportunity until they have reached their new home!

Each their own case

If you have more than one cat, make sure to have one cat per case. If they cat stressed a lot they might fight even if they are friends. There’s also a chance that the bag or case will get too hot if they are together in one bag.

Cat traveling plane cabin 5 movingjack • travelling with cats

Be on Time at the Airport

It’s smart to be on time at the airport for extra checks and for not needing to rush too much. Your cat’s journey might be a bit longer, but it doesn’t weigh up to the stress it will feel, so just be on time and take it easy.

Transferring at the airport

It is possible to take your cat or dog to the “Pet restroom” at certain airports, where they will have some space to stretch their legs. In my view, it’s more suited to for dogs than cats. Just keep the bag closed, and don’t bother taking out your cat. It will be even more stressful for them to put them back in the bag.

Cat traveling plane cabin 1 airport transfer movingjack • travelling with cats

Arriving Home

Touch down! You have finally arrived at your new place after a long journey. When we arrived in Erbil, Kurdistan (7-hour long flight), I immediately set up a cat litter box. I had a foldable cat litter box with me. It’s a very simple handy bag that you can unfold and put cat litter in. I also brought just enough cat litter to fill the cat litter box one time. The cats went to it right away. Time to relax.

Cat traveling plane hotel 3 movingjack • travelling with cats

Useful Websites

Travel documents: https://www.pettravelstore.com

Information to prepare your pet for departure: https://www.klm.sx

Flying in and out the EU: https://ec.europa.eu

More tips on traveling with cats: https://www.iata.org

More info: https://bestfriends.org

Useful website: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.jsp

If you have any questions about visiting Travel Tips, just write a comment below and I will respond as soon as possible. 👍

✈️ Thinking About Traveling ?

These Are the Tools I Use:

After traveling to over 40 countries and living in 4, I’ve learned which tools actually make things easier on the road. These are the websites and apps I always go back to when I’m planning a weekend away, booking longer trips, or figuring things out last minute with my family.

Places to Stay

    Booking a hotel isn’t something I take lightly — where you stay can shape your entire trip. I’m all about getting the best value, so I usually bounce between a few trusted platforms. Booking.com is my go-to for most destinations, while Agoda often has better deals in Asia. Hotels.com sometimes comes through with even sharper prices, so it's always worth comparing. And when I’m looking for something a bit more local or unique, I turn to Airbnb or VRBO for vacation rentals.

  • Booking icon
    Booking.com – My go-to for most destinations.
  • Agoda icon
    Agoda – Ideal for hotels and other places to stay in Asia.
  • Hotels.com icon
    Hotels.com – Sometimes Hotels.com has great deals, worth checking out if you're looking for places to stay .
  • VRBO icon
    VRBO – Ideal for longer stays, guesthouses or family trips .

Booking Flights & Transportation

  • Skyscanner icon
    Skyscanner – Compare flights across airlines in seconds and find the best deals fast .
  • Skyscanner icon
    Trip.com – Many times I switch back and forth between Skyscanner and Trip.com looking for the best deal. Trip.com has great support but some times it is a hit or miss with finding the best deals.Trip.com works perfectly for booking trains in China and South Korea from my experience. I never used another platform in Asia for train tickets!
  • Expedia icon
    Expedia – Great for figuring out how to get from A to B whether it’s a plane, bus, or ferry.

Stay Connected

  • Airalo icon
    Airalo – eSIM app I use to get online instantly in most countries. Especially useful when you arrive late in the evening and Sim Card shops are closed at the airport. It even works in China without a VPN so it saves you money as well from getting a VPN.

Things to Do

    I usually like to explore on my own or ask locals or people that have visited a certain place a lot what the best things to do are. But that isn't always an option. With these websites I can explore what things there are to do and book something even last minute.

  • GetYourGuide icon
    GetYourGuide – Unique tours, skip-the-line passes, and authentic local experiences . Especially great for solo travelers!
  • Viator icon
    Viator – Similar to Get Your Guide but it can't hurt to check both to get the best deal!
  • Look icon
    Klook – Offers a more different variety of activities .

Affiliate Disclaimer

Some of the links on this website are affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. For more details, please read the Affiliate Disclosure . Thank you for supporting Moving Jack! ❤️

Author's Profile Picture

Moving Jack

Hi! I’m Chris, a traveler who’s explored over 40 countries and lived in fascinating places across Asia and the Middle East. Featured by top travel outlets, I’m here to offer real insights, hidden places, and practical tips to make the most of your travels. Let’s go!

View Comments (5) View Comments (5)
Previous Post
Lion pet store iraq 9 movingjack • travelling with cats

Lion at the Local Pet Store in Erbil

Next Post
Croatia thumb movingjack • travelling with cats

Plitvice Lakes National Park Croatia