Do cats travelling from UK to NL need a pet passport?

[BethCro]

I have a 17 year old cat and I am going back to the US for at least 3 months, hopefully for much longer. My flatmate has moved out, so there will be noone in the flat to look after the cat, and none of my friends are responsible enough to remember to feed/cuddle/generally care for him for longer than a week. There is no way I’d subject such a sweet old boy to the trauma of the long journey to the US. However, my ex-husband in Amsterdam has offered to drive him from London to his home, where Sylvester could live out his remaining years in the style to which he’s become accustomed.

I know that pets going into the UK need a passport. Do pets leaving from the UK to spend their twilight years in Holland need a passport as well?

I’ve looked online, and found differing opinions. Hopefully you lot can put me right. And, knowing this board’s love of cute cat pictures, I will post one when I get back to the UK next week.

[AHarris]

Here is what the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture Nature and Food Quality has to say:

From 3 July 2004, the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets within the European Union must comply with the following veterinary requirements:

• Pet animals must be identified. In the Netherlands, the most popular method used to identify animals is the electric transponder (microchip), which is inserted just under the skin. A clearly readable tattoo is also accepted as identification. Both means of identification are applied by a veterinarian.
• Dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies by an authorised veterinarian, who must certify that the animal has a valid rabies vaccination in the EU passport. The first vaccination is valid 21 days after the vaccination protocol has been finished.
• A compulsory blood test must be taken for pet dogs, cats or ferrets travelling to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Sweden. The blood sample must be taken by an authorised veterinarian (for United Kingdom and Ireland 6 months, for Sweden 4-12 months after the last vaccination) before the date of entry and must have a satisfactory result.
• Dogs, cats and ferrets must be accompanied by an EU passport on journeys between Member States. The passport should provide the animal’s identification, the owner’s name and address, and proof that the animal has a valid vaccination against rabies.

So you will need to get a passport for your cat. You may want to conslute with the countries that you cat may be passing through as well (in case different restrictions apply).

[AHarris]

The last sentence was supposed to say: You may want to consult with the countries that you cat may be passing through as well (in case different restrictions apply).