"How to Successfully Move Your Cats from England to Italy: A Step-by-Step Guide"
- Louise Di Rito
- Apr 23, 2024
- 3 min read
My Italian heritage runs deep; my love for Italy has been with me since childhood. As the granddaughter of Italians who travelled to England, I have always felt a deep connection to the country of my ancestors. So when I visited Alberobello in Puglia as a child and saw the beautiful Trullo houses, I knew I would one day live in one of those enchanting homes. What I didn't know was that it would take 40 years, a husband, and a family of four Neva Masquerade cats to make that dream come true!
Our priority was their comfort, how could we get to Italy?
I seriously considered driving my very old Mini Cooper, affectionately known as Dobbie (yes the Harry Potter house elf). I would have to travel alone so that I could fit them all in! However, coupled with the likelihood of Dobbie not making it, and my fear of leaving cats in the car whilst I carried others into a hotel each evening, it would be a very long journey for them and I, just a bit stressful!
Looking at every option I chose Air France, having flown with them from the US to Paris I knew that my fur babies could travel in the cabin.....of course, it is never that simple!
The service is amazing but it is limited to one cat per passenger and they must fit 'under the seat in front', don't worry this just dictates the bag size, who would squeeze their beloved under there?!?!?!?!?! You also have to consider the bag and cat's combined weight, under 8KG, fortunately, Boris just made it without treats for a week before ;)
With our team of four, consisting of myself, my parents, and a family friend, we embarked on a journey to conquer the skies. The route from the UK to Italy was via Paris, and we had to conform to the minimum 4-hour connection. The walk from one terminal to another took a good 45 minutes, and we had to take our cats out of their carriers for security checks. But we were undaunted, and we made it through with flying colors.
Paperwork! there is nothing to be afraid of....
Before travel I ensured everyone was up to date with vaccines and had the Rabies vaccination in time. Our vet then issued the travel certificate, all 4 cats went on one which is great as it is a costly process. There was some discussion about if the certificate should be in French or Italian, the requirement states 'the first European country they enter'. I went with Italian, in France they were transiting and remaining 'airside', therefore they would not enter Europe until they reached Naples, our final destination.
When we finally arrived in Naples, we were told that our entry certificates had to be stamped by customs on arrival. But, to our surprise, customs just told us to see our vet upon arrival, and we weren't checked or stamped !
In the end, our journey was an unforgettable adventure, full of challenges, surprises, and triumphs. We made it work thanks to our determination, resourcefulness, and the help of our friends and the accommodating airline. And now, we get to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, surrounded by the history and charm of the Trullo houses, with Dobbie and our beloved cats by our side.
Next Time…..Getting Italian vaccinations…two very different tales!
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