Preparing your pet's trip: the complete checklist

Most trips that go wrong with an animal are not decided on the day of departure, but in the weeks before: a missing document, a carrier discovered too late, a booking that cannot be made. Here is the complete checklist, organised by deadline – from a month before until you get home.

A month before: the points that can stop you

These are the only ones you really cannot catch up on. Deal with them first.

• Check the carrier's rules. Plane, train, ferry: each has its own conditions, dimensions and quotas. The number of animals allowed is often limited per flight or per carriage.
• Book your pet's place at the same time as your own. In the holiday season, this is what causes the most missed departures.
• Check identification and vaccinations. Microchip, European pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination. Outside the European Union, requirements get much stricter: antibody tests, health certificates, sometimes several months' notice. Ask your vet as soon as the destination is decided.
• Confirm that the accommodation accepts animals, and on what terms.
• Choose the carrier – and order it now, not the day before.

Choosing the right container

The format is decided by weight and use, not by design.

Up to 5 kg, anything is possible: shoulder bag, front carrier, small backpack. From 5 to 10 kg, a backpack with a chest strap is the clear choice. Above 15 kg, you move to wheels or a crate.

In every case, the check is the same: measure your pet standing, from the nose to the base of the tail, then from the floor to the top of the head, and compare with the interior dimensions. It must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down. The stated load in kilos says nothing about the space.

See our dog carriers and our cat carriers, or our format comparison.

Two weeks before: getting used to it

This is the step almost everyone skips, and the one that changes the journey the most.

1. Put the carrier open in a quiet spot at home, and leave it there for several days.
2. Place a blanket that smells of home and a few treats inside, without asking for anything.
3. When your pet goes in on its own, close it for a few seconds, then open it again and reward.
4. Gradually lengthen the time, then carry it around indoors for a few dozen seconds.
5. Finally, take a short trip that ends back home – so it learns that the carrier does not always lead to the vet.

Never force it in: an animal pushed into a carrier develops a lasting mistrust, which takes far longer to undo than to avoid.

The day before: packing your pet's bag

• Water and a collapsible bowl.
• Its usual food in sufficient quantity – changing diet while travelling causes digestive problems.
• Lead and harness, to be put on before each time the carrier is opened.
• A spare mat, bags and wipes: stress causes accidents.
• Passport, vaccination record and your vet's contact details.
• Any ongoing treatment, with the prescription.
• A familiar object: blanket, toy, fabric from its bed.
• A recent photo of your pet on your phone, just in case.

Also check that its identification details are up to date in the national register: a move or a change of phone number that has not been recorded makes the chip useless if your pet gets lost.

On the day

Let it burn off energy before you leave. An animal that has run around sleeps during the journey.

Avoid a meal in the two to three hours beforehand, while keeping water available until the last moment. An important exception: a rabbit must keep eating hay, its digestion cannot cope with a break.

Leave early. Checking in an animal takes longer, and rushing is felt immediately.

Keep the container closed for the whole journey, and only open it with the harness already clipped on.

Depending on how you travel

By car, the format matters less than how it is secured: the container must be strapped in with the seat belt or wedged on the floor, never left loose on a seat. See transporting your dog safely by car.

By train, a ticket is required, the bag stays closed, and large dogs travel on a lead and muzzled. See travelling by train with your pet.

By plane, it all depends on weight: the cabin with a soft carrier in the airline's dimensions, or the hold with a crate that meets IATA standards. See flying with your dog.

For a rabbit, a bird or a rodent, the constraints are different: see our small pets guide.

The absolute rules, whatever the journey

Never alone in a parked car. Not even for a few minutes, not even in the shade, not even with the windows ajar.

Regular breaks on long journeys, roughly every two hours – harness and lead on before you open the door.

No sedatives without veterinary advice. These substances disrupt temperature regulation and balance, which is risky in a car as well as at altitude.

On arrival

First set up its familiar things – bowl, bed, litter tray – in a quiet room, before letting it explore. An animal that discovers an unfamiliar place with nothing to anchor it takes much longer to settle.

Keep a cat indoors for the first few days: that is when most escapes happen. And check for ticks after every outing in nature.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a passport to travel in Europe?
Yes: a European pet passport, a microchip and an up-to-date rabies vaccination are required for any travel between countries of the Union.

How far ahead should you start?
A month for a trip within Europe, several months outside the EU, where health requirements can take a long time.

Can you give a calming medicine before leaving?
Only on veterinary prescription. Self-medication is risky, especially when flying.

My pet gets travel sick, what should I do?
A light stomach, ventilation, smooth driving and gradual training. If it continues, your vet has suitable treatments.

Also worth reading. The rules change depending on how you travel: travelling by train with your pet and the IATA-approved cabin carrier for flying each set out their own constraints.