Pet Travel: Say ‘No’ to Sedation and ‘Yes’ to Crate-Training and Hydration

Hi PetRelocation,

What are the requirements and the time frames in which to produce the required documents? Is there a passport form to download for the vet to complete?

Is sedation required, as it is 10 hours and it would likely be stressful for them? Is it very cold in the area that they will be transported?

Thanks in Advance,

Linda
 

Hi Linda,

Thanks for submitting your questions to us, we're happy to help.

First, here are the pet import requirements for Italy. Your cats will need to be microchipped, have updated rabies vaccines, and they need an EU Health Certificate. Your vet should be USDA-certified and you should allow at least 30 days to prepare for the trip.

Regarding sedation, the answer is a firm "no." Sedation is dangerous because it interferes with a pet's normal coping systems and may disrupt regular breathing. Most airlines will not accept pets that have been sedated. Instead, try working on crate-training in the months before you move so that your cats see the travel crate as a normal and safe place to be -- here are a few cat crate-training tips.

We also recommend talking to your vet about any health-related questions you may have and working to make sure your cats are as fit and hydrated as possible before the journey.

The cargo area of the plane is pressure and temperature-controlled, and when you choose a pet-friendly airline (we often use KLM, United and Lufthansa), they will be handled by trained professionals dedicated to safe pet travel. This is an important part of helping your cats' journey run smoothly.

If you have any further questions or think you'd like to find out more about our door-to-door services, please fill out our online consultation form. We've helped many pets travel safely internationally and would be happy to assist you, as well.

Thanks again for reaching out, and have a safe trip!

Pet Travel Question Details:

Name: Linda
Number of Pets: 3
Pet Type: Cats
Pet Breed: Long-haired Tabby and short-haired Cats
From: North Miami Beach, FL, USA
To: Cupramontana, Italy

Contact PetRelocation for more information about safe pet transport options.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in October 2014 and has been updated with new information.