No trip is complete without your beloved pet, and I know you love your cat a lot.
Are you thinking about taking your cat on a Turkish vacation? If you’re not sure how to do it, this guide is for you!
I’ll help you understand how to travel with cat to Turkey. Plus, I’ll discuss some important steps to bring your feline friend along.
Let’s get started!
How to Travel With Cat to Turkey?
Travelling to Turkey with your cat requires careful planning to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Let’s break down the essential steps to ensure a smooth journey.
Understanding the Rules
Turkish authorities allow each person to bring in two pets without paying any taxes.
Your pets must be healthy and free of:
- Zoonotic diseases
- Internal or external parasites
Make sure your pet has received treatment for internal and external parasites, like echinococcus, fleas, and ticks. This information must be recorded on their health certificate or pet passport.
Important Note: Because of COVID-19 the regulations for pet and exotic animal travel have changed; all pets and exotic animals must travel on the same flight with the owner.
Documents for Pet Travel
To travel with your pet, you need:
- Pet Passport
- Veterinary Health Certificate
- Initial Vaccination Card or proof of recent vaccinations and deworming (often shown in the passport)
- Blood Tests (like FAVN) and anti-rabies vaccination certificate
- Import Permit
- Pet Microchip
Tip: If you’re not bringing your pet to sell, you don’t need a special permit from Turkey.
Pet Passport
A pet passport is a document that allows your pet to travel internationally. It’s like a human passport but for animals. To get a pet passport, you need to have certain things, like:
- Health certificate: This shows that your pet is healthy and doesn’t have any contagious diseases.
- Vaccination records: These show that your pet has been vaccinated against diseases like rabies.
- Microchip: This is a tiny chip implanted under your pet’s skin that has a unique number. This number helps identify your pet.
- Import permits: These are documents from the country you’re traveling to that allow your pet to enter.
- Parasite treatments: These show that your pet has been treated for parasites like fleas and ticks.
- FAVN test results: This test measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood.
Microchips: A Must-Have
Many countries require pets to have a microchip before they can enter. A microchip is like a tiny GPS device for your pet. It’s injected under the skin and has a unique number. If your pet gets lost, someone can scan the microchip and find your contact information.
Types of Microchips
There are different types of microchips, but the most common ones are ISO-compliant microchips. These microchips have a 15-digit number and are accepted in many countries. Some popular ISO-compliant microchips are:
- AVID Euro chip: This chip has a 10-digit number.
- Other 9 or 10-digit microchips: You might need to carry a special scanner to read these chips.
Register Your Pet’s Microchip
Once your pet has a microchip, make sure to register it in a worldwide database. This way, if your pet gets lost, someone can find your contact information. Keep your registration information up-to-date so that authorities can reach you if needed.
Essential Vaccinations
When planning a trip to Turkey with your feline companion, it’s essential to prioritize their health and well-being. One crucial aspect is ensuring they have the necessary vaccinations to prevent any diseases and avoid quarantine.
To guarantee a smooth entry into Turkey, your cat must be vaccinated against:
- Rabies: This is a viral disease, which spreads easily and can transpire between animals and man. Cats travelling to Turkey must have valid rabies vaccinations within 30 days to 12 months prior to their arrival.
- FVRCP: This vaccine is feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia, which are diseases that affect the cats.
Rabies Titer Test (FAVN)
Apart from the rabies vaccination, the Turkish authorities demand the rabies titer test (FAVN). This one is designed to check how strong the reaction of blood serum to rabies antigens is in your cat. That of should be done at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and not later than 90 days before the journey. Make certain to have the test done in an approved serology laboratory within the common market of the European Union.
Note: If you fail to present an appropriate FAVN test outcome when going to Turkey with your cat, then he or she will be quarantined for some time.
Microchipping
Although implantation of a microchip is not obligatory, it is highly advised that all cats should undergo this procedure. A microchip is a small electronic chip that is inserted beneath your cat’s skin; this has an identification number, which is unique from other cats. Micro-chipping is particularly important if a cat is lost or even stolen; this will help in finding them.
Veterinary Health Certificate
When you decide it is time to travel with your pet you will require a document referred to as a Health Certificate. This you can get from the ‘doctor’ of your pet, the veterinarian.
The Health Certificate has to indicate that you pet is healthy. It should state that for your pet, it has no diseases that are communicable and it should also state that with your pet, it is free from parasites. It must also indicate the name of the pet that it belongs to and the date it received its shots or when it was it being spayed or neutered.
Ensure you get the Health Certificate not more than two days to the time of travel.
Helpful Tip: Begin your cat vaccinations preparations early enough, so as to allow you enough time to administer all the processes. Always talk to your vet about the proper food to feed your cat and the nutrition that will be sufficient for it given the breeds that it has.
Arranging Transportation
Traveling by Car
If you are coming to Turkey by car, then your pet will probably be a little upset, particularly if it is a cat. For your pet to feel comfortable you should take your pet for a practice ride before going for the actual journey.
You’ll need to be there when you cross the border or have someone you trust handle it for you. Make sure you have your passport and a copy that’s been officially stamped. You also need to show proof that you’ll be in Turkey within 30 days after your pet arrives.
Traveling by Plane
Flying with your pet can be easier if you plan ahead. Call the airline and ask about their rules for pets. They’ll tell you if your pet can fly and what kind of carrier to use.
Ask about the different options: where is your pet allowed to travel, in the cabin as carry on baggage or in the luggage hold or as shipment?
If your pet is checked in and is traveling alone, then one has to contact the airline’s cargo section.
When your pet comes, a particular vet will attend to him or her. Sometimes, your pet may not be eating well or may be general weak and the vet may be required to conduct more tests. Note that you will have to pay for these tests.
There is additional charge so it will be better if pet arrive at the latest at half past eleven in the morning. However, if your pet arrives after 3 PM an extra charge will apply.
Last Words
Taking your cat with you to turkey is great, but it has to be well planned for. After going through this guide on how to travel with cat to turkey, you and your cat should be ready to go!
Below, you’ll find some frequently asked questions that might help clear up anything I didn’t cover in the blog.
FAQs
Can I bring any pet to Turkey?
Nope! Some pets, like Pit Bulls and wild animals, aren’t allowed. If you have a special pet, like a snake or a bird, you should check with Turkish officials first.
Does my cat need a picture in its passport?
Yes, your cat needs a picture in its passport. This helps people know it’s your cat when you travel.
Are there any size or weight limits for my pet?
Yes, there are! If your pet is traveling in the passenger cabin, it can’t weigh more than 8 kg (including the carrier). The carrier also has to be small enough to fit under the seat. If your pet is traveling in the cargo hold, it can’t weigh more than 50 kg (including the carrier).
What other pets can I bring on a Turkish Airlines flight?
Besides cats, you can also bring small birds like parakeets and canaries. Just make sure they’re in a special cage for travel
