Readers Share Their Experiences of Moving Pets to France
Several readers recounted the challenges of relocating their cats from the UK to France.
Travel Preparation and Challenges
One family moved to France in 2020 with their 17-year-old cat. The only airline permitting cabin travel for their pet was Air France. They required vaccination certificates and a special carrier meeting strict airline dimensions. Their first carrier, arriving slightly too large, forced them to purchase Air France's carrier, costing about four times more. Additionally, they bought a personal identification chip reader because the airport’s reader only recognized cats up to 16 years old after a technology update.
Benefits and Life in France
A key benefit was using the cat’s boarding pass as proof of permanent arrival for their cartes de séjour at the prefecture. Their cat lived for three more years, passing away shortly after turning 20. She adapted well to life in southern France, receiving excellent care including a special diet from the local vet who also performed the euthanasia when the time came.
Current Situation
Initially deciding not to own more pets due to their age, the family now cares for one stray, one chat abandonné, and a kitten. They have formed bonds with local cat protection groups, who arranged and funded the kitten’s neutering.
"The cat survived for three years, passing away just after her 20th birthday. She loved being a retired cat in the south of France – it gave her a new lease of life."
Author's summary: Adapting to strict travel rules, readers found joy and challenges relocating elderly cats to France, ultimately embracing unexpected new feline companions.