Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (2024)

FAQs

Can you bring a cat to the UK? ›

You can enter or return to Great Britain with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it: has been microchipped. has a pet passport or health certificate. has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you're travelling from an country that is not 'listed'

London's Pet Preference Differs from Other UK Regions

In almost every area of the country we found that dog ownership far outpaced cat ownership. In some areas, such as Northern Ireland and the North East, this margin was as high as 40% where dog ownership rests at 78% and 75%, respectively.

Which UK Airlines Allow Pets In Cabin? The main 3 airlines that allow pets in the cabin are: KLM, Lufthansa and Air France. This only applies for very small pets that weigh less than 8kg and would have to be booked direct through the airline, without the assistance of a pet export company like Fetchapet.

UK pet laws

You must be 16 years old to own a pet in the UK. You are also responsible for that animal's welfare, and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on animal owners to ensure that they are meeting their pet's basic needs.

Booking pet tickets

There is a $125 fee each way for traveling with your pet. There is also a $125 fee for each layover of more than four hours for flights within the U.S. and more than 24 hours internationally. You cannot use travel credits to pay this fee.

Dogs: There are approximately 13.5 million dogs as pets in the UK, with 36% of households owning a dog. Cats: There are approximately 12.5 million pet cats in the UK, with 29% of all households having a cat.

The grass-tunnelling field vole is our most abundant mammal and represents a vital link in the food chain.

Dogs are more popular than cats in the U.S. As of 2022, 44.5% of U.S. households own dogs and 29% of households own cats.

What is the cost of flying a cat with British Airways? The cost of flying a cat with British Airways ranges between £2600 – £2800, depending on the location you're shipping the cat to and the size of your cat.

Can pets fly in cabin to England? ›

An important rule that may come as a surprise to many pet owners is that animals aren't permitted to travel in the cabin if you're visiting the U.K. The only exception to this is if you're flying with service dogs. However, many airlines can carry your pet as manifest cargo.

Cats can fly this way either as checked bags on the same aircraft as you, or unaccompanied as shipping cargo. There may be shipping timelines to consider if the cat travels as unaccompanied cargo, so check with your airline for details.

Quarantine is not mandatory in the UK. If you follow the UK's pet import process and requirements, your pet will not be required to quarantine. Get in touch with Pets Abroad UK to learn more about the UK's pet import requirements.

Under the new rules, tenants will have the right to ask the landlord for permission to live with pets at the property. The landlord must consider your request to live with pets and cannot “unreasonably” refuse. If they do say 'no', you can challenge their decision.

You must have a Great Britain pet health certificate to bring a pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain from a 'part 2' listed country. You'll need extra documents if you're entering Great Britain with a cat from Australia or a cat or dog from Malaysia. Find out how to get pet travel documents.

There is no mandatory quarantine in the UK. Your cat, dog or ferret will be checked when it arrives in the UK. If it doesn't meet the pet travel rules, you will need to choose one of the following: Placing your pet in quarantine.

An important rule that may come as a surprise to many pet owners is that animals aren't permitted to travel in the cabin if you're visiting the U.K. The only exception to this is if you're flying with service dogs. However, many airlines can carry your pet as manifest cargo.

Cats are protected by law and are free to roam meaning they might go into other people's gardens or allotments. It is understood that some may wish to deter other people's cats from those areas.

The new rules mean that cats must be microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks – with the only exception being feral cats. Their contact details must be stored and kept up to date in a Government approved pet microchipping database.