Can I take my cat on the train in Spain?

On Renfe trains, yes, in a carrier and with a weight limit; on long-distance services you pay a ticket or supplement for the pet. Conditions change by service and by operator, so it is worth checking them when you buy the ticket.

Can my cat travel in the plane cabin?

With many airlines, yes: in a soft carrier under the seat and with a maximum weight that is usually around 8 to 10 kg including the carrier. There are few places per flight and they must be booked. Some low-cost airlines do not accept animals.

What does a cat need to travel to another EU country?

A microchip, an EU pet passport issued by a vet and a valid rabies vaccine, given at least 21 days before the trip if it is the first one.

Can your cat travel with you?

A cat is not a travelling dog: it is territorial and almost all cats have a hard time away from home. If yours has to travel, here is what you need to know, by means of transport, with what depends on each company marked separately. The operators are Spanish examples. And first of all, the question that really matters: whether it is better for it to come or to stay at home with someone who looks after it.

Travelling by car → Flying with a cat → What if it stays at home? →

The first question: does it have to come?

Unlike a dog, a cat does not travel for fun. It is territorial, it feels safe at home and almost all cats have a hard time in a carrier, in a new place and among unfamiliar noises. For a holiday, most cats are much better off at home, with someone they trust or a professional cat sitter who comes in once or twice a day, than travelling. Spanish animal welfare law does not allow leaving it unsupervised for more than three days in a row. Travelling is worth it for a house move, for long stays or with cats used to it since they were small.

What is the same everywhere

Always in a carrier, properly closed, and almost always with a maximum weight of about eight to ten kilos including the carrier, which a normal cat meets easily. With a microchip, an up-to-date health record and, to leave Spain, an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccine. And with limited places: on trains, planes and ferries the number of animals per service is small and it is worth booking at the same time as your ticket.

The carrier decides the trip

If your cat associates the carrier with the vet, the trip starts badly before you even leave. Leave it open at home for a few weeks, with a blanket that smells of it and a treat inside, until it goes in to sleep of its own accord. For trains and planes a soft one that fits under the seat is usually required; for the car, a rigid one held by the seat belt. Measure it before buying the ticket: each company has its own dimensions.

When you arrive

Before opening the carrier, close windows and balconies, and set out the litter tray, water and a place to hide. It is normal for it to spend the first few hours under the bed or inside the carrier: do not pull it out. Many cats escape at the destination, so a microchip with your details up to date in the register is your best insurance. And if at any point you think about giving it something to keep it calm on the journey, let the vet prescribe it: several human medicines are toxic to cats.

An educational tool from Michipedia. It gives estimates, not a diagnosis: for anything to do with your cat’s health, ask your vet.