Cat transport on plane UK-FRANCE

[WF1990]

Good evening all, we are moving to south of France soon and I have two cats. What company would you recommend to travel with them in cabin (I will not put them in the hold seeing how pets can be treated there). Has anyone ever done this ? We would have to take 2 flights. Thanks !

The last time I checked you could lnly transport animals in or out in cargo.

There are companies that will transport pets by road if this is an option for you to consider.

I'd go by road.

We had pets transported from the Balkans to the UK via Vienna. It was fine in the end, but was traumatic. If you can go by road - which is a short distance- then I'd do that tbh.

About the only relevant airlines that might allow carriage in the cabin would be Air France/KLM, you'd need to investigate further with them.

Please don’t, I can’t be the only person with a cat allergy. Just an hour near a cat and I’m feeling unwell for days

Thank you all, I think I will call Air France to check what their policy is , I think we’re allowed to travel with one cat each !

@ChristmasMantleStatue we are going from north of the uk to south coast of France so plane journey would be easier and less traumatic I think …! I will enquire though as I need to consider all options !

The ideal is as short a time as possible I know!

We hope to move to Australia in the next few years. I'm planning to go with our cats on a ship - the Cunard cruises I believe offer it. I know that pet transporters do it all day every day, but the thought of such a long flight for them makes me feel anxious.

@ChristmasMantleStatuei know! I will give them gabapantin as prescribed by the vet. Ideally I want them with me in cabin. I refuse to get them on the hold because of how poorly pets are treated and I’ve heard horror stories about it. I just had a look and klm and Air France are ok with pets so I might go with them !

Good luck and congrats on your exciting new move!

Good to know about KLM and Air France.

thanks so much ! Good luck to you too ! I shall report after the move if it helps anyone !

I'd love to know. France is another option for us as our DS wants to go to university there. So its either France or Australia in the medium term, but Oz longer term.

A friend emigrated from England to Australia and used a company called PetAir. All really smooth and well-handled. Dog had an overnight in Singapore, in a compound, then to Melbourne for ten days quarantine, then internal flight to Sydney where my friend collected him.

@muddyford thanks so much I might look into it, I just don’t want them to be so stressed but I guess it would be stressful either way !
if any cat owner can recommend tranquilisants or medicine to chill them I’ll happily note!

@ChristmasMantleStatue I wish you all the best ! I’m French so taking husband with me ! Oz sounds very exciting, but obvs I vouch for France always 🤣

I don’t think you can fly animals in the cabin out of the UK - they can only be flown back.

I suspect you might be right, AF defo carry small pets in the cabin, but whether they can ex-UK, not sure...

Thanks everybody. Gonna check this out

Hi all ! After a bit of research and AF email we can fly out of the uk with our pets in cabin with relevant certificate + an EU pet passeport and all vaccines of courses! We will likely choose this option to avoid our girls being too stressed- shortest option for us given that we have to go south and take 2 planes !

Glad it's all sorted for you OP but just to say that we have now adopted two cats from Dubai who were both flown over in the hold. With a reputable logistics company you shouldn't worry about any mistreatment and both our boys bounced back from a 6 hour flight with no problems.

@Puppylucky what company was this ? Did they have some tranquillisant ? Thanks !!

Hi @WF1990 they are called Sandy Paws - not sure if they operate outside the UAE but they might be able to recommend someone. One thing I should clarify though is that airlines do not allow any sedation to be used on animals travelling in the hold as if something went wrong during the flight they wouldn't be able to be helped. They also don't allow food and drink for the same reason. My understanding is that the cats just shut down and sleep through the journey anyway.