What do pets need to travel? Key things to remember

Are you headed away with your pet? Whether they're joining you on your adventure or staying in safe hands at home, the preparation process can feel a little anxiety-inducing with all the paperwork, costs, and extra considerations.

But don't worry: we're here to help you and your furry family member get the holiday you both deserve.

Check out our video below, and read through this article for further advice.

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Lets take off

Do you know the rules for taking pets on planes, trains, automobiles (and ferries)?

By train

Some companies, like Eurostar, do not allow pets on board, while others, like National Rail, allow up to two pets per passenger, free of charge.

By air

If you choose to fly with a pet, generally it will not be allowed in the cabin with you unless it's an assistance animal (although you are allowed to take your falcon on Qatar, Emirates, Etihad or Royal Jordanian Airlines - the more you know).

To meet the requirements for transporting a pet on a plane, you’ll need a container that is spacious, robust and secure. Check out the IATA (International Air Transport Association)'s Animal Regulations.

By ferry

Several ferry companies (Stena Line, P&O, Wightlink) allow dogs on board but few allow cats (P&O does allow them) or ferrets. On most ferries, you’ll be allowed to leave your dog locked in your car or in an onboard kennel if one is available. Usually, there’s an extra cost involved.

It’s important to familiarise yourself with each company’s rules before booking.

By car

Our article on driving with your dog can help here. But if you choose to travel by car, please make sure you comply with Rule 57 in the Highway Code which says:

"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

This prevents distraction and injury, and you can face a fine of up to £5,000 and a potential careless driving charge if you don't do it.

Do you have everything on your travel checklist?

Travel can get stressful, but a good travel checklist helps. Make sure you pack practical things like:

• Familiar toys and blankets

• First-aid kit

• Food and water (enough for the journey and potential delays)

• Hygiene stuff, like waste bags and wipes

• ID tags

• Litter box and litter (if travelling with a cat)

• Medication

• Pet-friendly sunscreen

• Rabies certificate

• Seatbelt harness for car travel

• Tapeworm medication (if applicable)

• Travel-friendly bowls

• Vaccination records

Preparing helps reduce travel anxiety, and having what you need for each travel stage.

Make travel tolerable

A new environment, even if it's temporary, can be stressful for pets. In fact, some breeds are better suited to travel than others, so you really need to consider what to do to make it comfortable for your pet specifically.

To make travel more tolerable, you can buy a pheromone spray that will soothe your pet, put familiar things in their container, such as favourite toys and maintain their routine as much as possible.

If travelling by car, feed your pet and have toilet breaks at the same time as you would at home. If you have a cat, carry a litter box with you.

You can buy safe booster seats for dogs, and it may be worth considering a backseat barrier to ensure your pooch won’t hop over to the front seat while you're driving.

And don’t forget to pack things like your pet’s bed, blanket, toys or a scratch post. Putting these things in your temporary accommodation will relieve the stress of being somewhere new.

Here are some other top tips:

Acclimatise them

Get your dog used to car journeys and being away from home before your trip. This helps them mentally prepare.

Comfort stops

Emphasise regular food, toilet and water breaks to keep pets feeling fresh and happy.

Manage motion sickness

Try not to feed your pet right before travel, ensure good ventilation and take vet-prescribed medication if needed.

Manage the temperature

Keep your car cool but safe. Never leave your cat or dog in a hot car on their own. Our article on helping dogs in hot weather can provide further tips.

Use safe restraints

Research and test numerous safe restraints for cars, like crates or harnesses. Never put your dog in the front seat as the airbags aren't designed for them.

What are the vaccines pets need to travel?

Pet travel vaccination is essential. Make sure your cat's vaccines and dog's regular vaccines are up to date and, if you’re going abroad, it will need a rabies jab or booster, otherwise you risk having it detained in quarantine for up to four months.

You have to wait 21 days after you’ve had your pet vaccinated against rabies before you’re allowed to travel.

Your pet might need additional vaccines depending on where you're going. Talk to your vet and find out what animal illnesses are common in the countries you’re planning to visit and whether you’ll need to vaccinate your pet against them.

What documents are needed for pets to travel?

This is a really important point, and it's difficult for us to comment on everything here since things change quickly.

We recommend looking at the UK Government website for up-to-date information. This will answer key questions like "do pets need a passport to travel?"

Will your pet be allowed to share your accommodation?

Check that your hotel allows pets to stay with their owners. Luckily, an increasing number of hotels allow pets. They are likely to charge more but they should have more pet-friendly areas.

You can even book a dedicated dog-friendly holiday that will come with all the extras your pooch might need. Check out PetsPyjamas Travel for retreats, hotels, manor houses, cottages and many others that you can share with your dog.

Do you need pet travel insurance?

Dedicated travel insurance for pets isn't common. But many pet insurance plans offer add-ons that cover your pet for vet treatment while abroad.

You should consider pet insurance for travel abroad. Thankfully, all of our plans have some level of travel cover for the EU, while our Complete Care plan offers up to £2,500 of travel cover for EU and worldwide destinations.

Learn more about pet travel cover here, and read our article on if pets need travel insurance.

Are you prepared for emergencies?

Now, we know going on holiday is good fun, but you do need to prepare for emergencies, too.

This shouldn't take too long, but we recommend:

• Assembling a travel first-aid kit. Our article on how to make an emergency first-aid kit for your cat can help here, which applies to dogs.

• Getting a check-up beforehand with your vet and making sure your pet is all good to travel.

• Identifying local veterinary clinics at your holiday destination.

What if you're leaving your pet behind in safe care? What do you need to do?

Not all of us take our pets with us on holiday, and that's okay. But we do need to make sure they're well looked after while we're gone.

We recommend trying:

• Catteries or kennels

• Friends and family

• Professional pet sitters with good reviews (in-home or boarding at their house)

For catteries, kennels and pet sitters, make sure they're licensed and have the right insurance (public liability insurance and employers liability insurance), good reviews and strong references.

Professional pet sitters will need DBS checks, too. Organisations like the National Association of Registered Pet Sitters (NARPS) can find registered pet sitters for you. You might benefit from a good pet minder, like those on TrustedHousesitters.

Next, you should prepare your pet for the visit with trial stays. Don't just drop them off and hope for the best. Leave detailed instructions about their routine, eating schedules, medication and always share a vet and emergency contact. We recommend bringing some familiar items with them, too, preferably things that smell of home.

You'll likely need more specialised care if your dog struggles with severe separation anxiety, and we recommend chatting with your vet about this, particularly if your pet is facing behavioural issues.

And finally: plan ahead!

The sooner you plan for all the above the more likely you are to have a memorable holiday with your pet.

Looking for ideas or fancy a staycation? Our article on the best dog-friendly hikes in the UK can get things started.

How pet insurance can help

You can get EU travel cover when going abroad with your pet on all our plans with worldwide cover on Complete Care.

Plus, it's not just about the travel cover: we have up to £20,000 vet fee cover on our Complete Care pet insurance plan, 24/7 video vet access and a host of extra ManyPets Perks.

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