Travelling With a Dog or Cat: Car or Plane?

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Travelling with your dog or cat? Whether you're going by car or by plane, here are a few tips.

Want to take your dog or cat travelling and looking for the most suitable way to do it? Travelling by car or by plane?
Below are a few tips to best prepare your companion's trip.

A dog or cat in the car

Get your pet used to a (long) car journey by taking it on gradually longer trips.
Ask your vet for advice: is your pet healthy enough to cope with a car journey? Also ask about medication for motion sickness.
Find out in good time about the entry requirements of the country you're visiting (passport, administrative formalities, vaccinations, possible quarantine) by contacting the consulate or embassy of the country concerned.
Provide a sufficiently comfortable carrier that can be secured in the boot, or separate the boot from the passenger area with a net so your dog stays in its designated zone. Specialist pet shops sell approved carriers and harnesses (with the European logo).
Make sure your pet can never roam freely inside the car while driving. It could endanger your safety, that of your passengers and other road users. Asking a passenger to hold your pet in their arms or on a lead during the trip is not a reliable solution!
Make sure there's enough ventilation and natural light. Don't shut your pet inside a closed boot.
Also make sure your dog can't stick its head out of the vehicle while driving. This could cost it its life!
Stop regularly (at least every 2 hours) for a "comfort break", so your dog can stretch its legs and have a drink.
Never leave your pet in a car parked in direct sunlight or somewhere very hot, even if you've left a window open for ventilation. The temperature inside a car parked in full sun can quickly exceed 40°C. Your pet wouldn't survive that. Also remember that shade moves as the sun's position changes.
Tip: also pack a hi-vis vest for your dog in case your vehicle breaks down and you have to wait by the roadside in the dark.

A dog or cat on a plane

Avoid taking your pet on a plane as much as possible! This kind of trip can be very stressful and traumatic for it. Choose a direct flight.
Just as for a car trip, find out in good time about the entry requirements of the country you're visiting (passport, administrative formalities, vaccinations, possible quarantine) by contacting, where relevant, the consulate or embassy of the country concerned and the airline.
Check with your airline whether, given your pet's size and weight, it can travel with you in the cabin (in a suitable bag or carrier) or whether it must travel in the hold.
Make sure all required vaccinations and documents are in order and that you can present them to inspection staff at any time.
Choose a carrier suited to the type of trip, current regulations and your pet's comfort. If your pet travels in the hold, it's advisable to pack a spare lead and extra food (in a sealed container) in the carrier, along with any medication needed. Attach a label to the carrier clearly reading "LIVING ANIMAL", the animal's name, the owner's contact details (name and mobile number), the destination and the flight number.
Clearly write the animal's identity and the owner's contact details on its collar (in indelible ink).
Take your dog for a good walk before starting the trip so it can relieve itself. Reassure your pet as much as possible.
Tell the flight attendant that your pet is travelling in the hold and ask them to inform the pilot, who controls the hold's temperature settings.
Collect your pet as soon as possible after arrival. Bring a towel in case it has soiled itself. Take it out for a walk and give it water.