
Taking a cat to France is relatively straightforward, however it's key to ensure you get the rabies vaccination and Animal Health Certificate booked in early enough, and within the correct timeframes, to avoid delays.
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This guide assumes your cat is at least 12 weeks old, and that the cat is not travelling for commercial purposes (e.g. change of ownership). If this is not the case, please contact us as the requirements differ.
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This guide is frequently checked and kept up to date based on the EU and UK government guidance. If you think something is incorrect or out of date, please contact us.
Microchip
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All cats are required to be microchipped to travel to France. In the UK, it is a legal requirement for all cats over eight weeks old to be microchipped, so it's highly likely your cat has one already. Check with your vet if you're unsure.
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Rabies Vaccination
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All cats travelling to France (and the rest of the EU) are required to have a rabies vaccination that is valid for the duration of your trip, so book this in at your vets unless your cat already has a valid one. The rabies vaccination is not an annual, routine vaccination, so you will have to specifically ask to get this done at your vets. Cats must be at least 12 weeks old to get a rabies vaccination.
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Most rabies vaccinations in the UK last for three years, however some are valid for just one year. Most rabies vaccinations adminstered abroad are valid for just one year. Check with your vet if you are unsure about your cat's rabies vaccination validity.
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Timing-wise, the rabies vaccination needs to be administered at least 21 days (3 weeks) before you can get an Animal Health Certificate so it is vital that you book this in early enough at your vets. Animal Health Certificates cannot be issued until 21 days have passed following the rabies vaccination (where the vaccination date counts as day 0). This 21 day wait does not apply to booster rabies vaccinations where the booster was administered before the previous rabies vaccination had expired.
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When you take your cat in to get the rabies vaccination, please ensure the vet scans your cat's microchip before administering the rabies vaccination and that they make a note on the vaccination certificate or card that they scanned and verified the cat's microchip. The rabies vaccination certificate/card should contain your details, your cat's details including microchip number, the date of the rabies vaccination, the brand and batch number of the rabies vial, and the details of the veterinary surgeon that administered it.
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Although recommended, it is not a requirement for cats to be up to date with their annual, routine vaccinations.
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Arrange Your Travel
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There are many ways to travel with a cat to France. Popular routes include taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone, or ferries from Portsmouth, Newhaven, Poole, Plymouth or Dover.
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Very few airlines allow you to take cats to the EU, so ensure you research the airline's pet policy before booking if you are planning on travelling via plane. Airlines that do allow you to take cats in the cabin include Air France, TAP, KLM, Iberia, and Lufthansa.
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Before you book your travel, ensure you can book an appointment with an Official Veterinarian to get an Animal Health Certificate less than 10 days of your travel date. If your vet practice doesn't have an Official Veterinarian, or if you find their pricing too expensive, contact us - we issue Animal Health Certificates for £99, and we've issued thousands of AHCs for cats travelling to France.
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Animal Health Certificate
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An Animal Health Certificate is a 11-13 page government document that is required to travel to the EU. Only Official Veterinarians (vets that have additional government qualifications) can issue Animal Health Certificates.
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The key requirement to get an Animal Health Certificate is that your cat must have a valid rabies vaccination administered more than 21 days (3 weeks) before the AHC issue date. The AHC issue date must also be less than 10 days before you are due to depart (where the issue date counts as days 1). It is vital that you book your AHC appointment within the correct timeframe otherwise you will be denied entry into France.
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Prices for Animal Health Certificates vary widely. If your local vet practice does not employ an Official Veterinarian, or if the price for the AHC is too expensive, book an appointment at one of our veterinary travel clinics. At PassPets, prices for our AHCs start from £99, and our experienced Official Veterinarians have issued thousands of AHCs for dogs and cats travelling to Europe. Click here for more information about our same-day service.
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At the AHC appointment, the Official Veterinarian will scan your cat's microchip and check the rabies vaccination details, before completing and issuing the certificate. This certificate is valid for four months of travel within the EU, however you must have departed on your trip to France less than 10 days from its issue date.
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Travelling to France
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As soon as you have your AHC in your hand you can travel to France with your cat.
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At your departure port, an official will scan your cat's microchip and check the Animal Health Certificate to ensure everything is correct before waiving you through.
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The AHC is valid for travel throughout the EU (including Switzerland and Norway), for a period of four months from the issue date.
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Returning to the UK
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Provided you are returning to the UK within four months of the AHC issue date (or before your cat's rabies vaccination expires), there are no additional requirements to return. Tapeworm treatment is not required for cats before you travel back to the UK, only for dogs.
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Your cat's microchip and the AHC will be checked again by a border official on your return.
We hope this guide helps you plan your trip to the US with your dog. If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with one of our specialist pet travel vets at PassPets, please get in touch by calling on of our team or emailing info@passpets.co.uk. Our team has helped thousands of pets travel safety and we can't wait to help yours too.
This guide is based on the information available at the time of writing. The exporter is responsible for verifying the requirements with the importing authorities and airline before travel.