Reno
The In Kraut
It looks like it's notThat's not the advice I was given when I was bringing mine over but hey ho. I hope it all works out for you
Taking my cat to Germany by train
- Thread starter Reno
- Start date
pseudonarcissus
fluttering and dancing
Seat61 has advice..get your cat to pretend to be a guide dog and go Eurostar , get a taxi from Folkestone to Calais (crazy, but it's a service offered) or DFDS if they are still running ferries Newhaven Dieppe
How to travel with a dog by train between the UK and France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria or anywhere else in Europe...
How to travel with a dog by train between the UK and France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria or anywhere else in Europe...
Reno
The In Kraut
This is not going to work with a cat, because you can't keep a cat for that long in a carrier and you obviously can't disguise a cat as a guide dog.
Im really upset now. It's not like i didn't to my research. I informed myself first at Lufthansa months ago and was told it's no problem. Then I booked a flight with them and and was told afterwards that I can't take a cat because it turns out that flight is run by another company, who for some reason refuse to carry animals between the UK and Germany (all other countries are fine).
Then I booked this train journey after I called up the train line and was told no problem. And them it turns out I can't take a cat after I'd booked because Eurostar don't take animals.
And now even the fairly expensive Lufthansa flights with a stop over have been booked out by the time I promised my friends who've looked after him that I'll take him back.
I'm stuck.
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Reno
The In Kraut
Thanks for letting me know btw. While this is a crushing disappointment, it's better than travelling to London to pick up my cat only to get turned away by Eurostar.
emanymton
A cat politely sat on the flaming gardener.
Semi-seious response
Tell them its a seizure alert cat.
Assistance Cats
Do you need any proof of this sort of thing? I've no idea.
Hope you are able to get something sorted.
Tell them its a seizure alert cat.
Assistance Cats
Do you need any proof of this sort of thing? I've no idea.
Hope you are able to get something sorted.
neonwilderness
What would Badgers do?
Could you maybe fly somewhere else on a cheaper route then do the last bit by train?
Reno
The In Kraut
One problem is that unlike travelling with a dog, cats need to be confined to a small carrier and you can only do that for so long. Mine also gets very stressed by travelling. Apart from that, most airlines simply don't take cats. When I spoke to Lufthansa last December, one of the very few airlines who do take animals, they failed to mention that most of their flights to the UK are run by a different airline who won't take pets. The few flights by Lufthansa to the U.K. are expensive and involve stopovers in another country.
moose
like some cat from Japan
Interestingly (but of no use to you), I just looked at Lot airlines, who normally take animals in the hold, but with the exception of flights to the UK. Looks like it's something in our laws that make them set this rule.
Reno
The In Kraut
The UK used to have very strict quarantine laws because it doesn't have rabies, but they got relaxed years ago to get in line with other European countries. By law now you just need the necessary shots and a pet passport to travel in and out of the U.K. with pets. But airlines don't seem to have caught on to it.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
If yoi can't fly, can't get the ferry or the Eurostar across the channel, is driving an option? Provided the cat can stay in the car using the Eurotunnel service?
It would be a long and potentially expensive journey but is that the answer?
So sorry yoi've been given such shite information. Complaints should be made Reno. The people you've spoken to have got it so very wrong that they need to be told.
It would be a long and potentially expensive journey but is that the answer?
So sorry yoi've been given such shite information. Complaints should be made Reno. The people you've spoken to have got it so very wrong that they need to be told.
Reno
The In Kraut
I did complain and got most of my money back from now useless bookings of flights and trains. Unfortunately I don't drive and the few friends I have who have a car, don't have the time to drive me and Alfie to Berlin. it would be far more easy if I drove.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Bugger.
Oh bugger
Glad you've got at least some of your money back but it doesn't help at the end of the day. I have no more suggestions
Reno
The In Kraut
I've checked them out too. Lots going to Spain because of number of British expats there, but none to Berlin. And yes, very expensive.
Reno
The In Kraut
I've read through this properly now and the ferry may be not a bad option. At least the cat gets a rest in a kennel over night. Thanks !
Miss-Shelf
I'll meet you further on up the road
I've got no practical suggestions only solidarity in the last minute problem solving you're left with
It will get sorted one way or another, but the worry and uncertainty is taxing
It will get sorted one way or another, but the worry and uncertainty is taxing
Miss-Shelf
I'll meet you further on up the road
glad to read thisI've read through this properly now and the ferry may be not a bad option. At least cat gets a rest in a kennel over night. Thanks !
Also, after taking my two cats from south london in a cab to Euston and then a couple of hours north on the train, I would say, take loads of wipes, extra bedding and trashbags as well as nitrile/latex gloves for yourself. One of my cats shat in his basket 5 minutes out of brixton - had to take him to the toilet on the train and wash him down - could not have allowed him to be in that mess but also the other passengers would have suffered.
Thimble Queen
Called away to another place
Reno if you haven't already, check out bla bla car... TBH I've no idea what the rules are on transporting animals are in this case so you'd need to research that yourself Share your journey with BlaBlaCar - Trusted carpooling
Reno
The In Kraut
Cool, I'll never heard of them. Certainly would be great if someone would take me + one.
skyscraper101
0891 50 50 50
Here's a useful recent thread from a different board:
Moving Cat from UK to Germany
Seems Swiss Air might allow cats, so you may be able to get to Zurich and then train from there. Or, ferry option.
Do Euro coaches allow pets? Loads of them travel through the Eurotunnel.
Good luck!
Moving Cat from UK to Germany
Seems Swiss Air might allow cats, so you may be able to get to Zurich and then train from there. Or, ferry option.
Do Euro coaches allow pets? Loads of them travel through the Eurotunnel.
Good luck!
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Was gonna say, apart from flying you need a car. There is no other way, spent a long time looking in to this the other week for some prick who wanted to take his dog on a bicycle to Cherbourg.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Could always kill it, stuff it and fly it across...
Reno
The In Kraut
I think I've sorted it (without killing my cat and turning him into a drone 
)
There is only one Lufthansa flight a day, early in the morning and you have to change in Munich. To make the trip more affordable, I finally figured out that I can lower the price for both flights if I book a return flight really far ahead. Instead of going to and from London by Lufthansa in March, I'm now going to London on a cheap EasyJet flight. Two days later I'm taking the Lufthansa flight with the cat to Berlin and then I booked a Lufthansa return flight to London in October. So instead of nearly £400 the whole thing now costs £210. I can take Alfie with me in the cabin, but I feel sorry for the extra stress I'm causing him of having to change planes. It's the quickest way to Berlin though.
I have no idea how Lufthansa can charge these prices when they don't even have a flight that goes straight to Berlin.
)There is only one Lufthansa flight a day, early in the morning and you have to change in Munich. To make the trip more affordable, I finally figured out that I can lower the price for both flights if I book a return flight really far ahead. Instead of going to and from London by Lufthansa in March, I'm now going to London on a cheap EasyJet flight. Two days later I'm taking the Lufthansa flight with the cat to Berlin and then I booked a Lufthansa return flight to London in October. So instead of nearly £400 the whole thing now costs £210. I can take Alfie with me in the cabin, but I feel sorry for the extra stress I'm causing him of having to change planes. It's the quickest way to Berlin though.
I have no idea how Lufthansa can charge these prices when they don't even have a flight that goes straight to Berlin.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
I think I've sorted it (without killing my cat and turning him into a drone
There is only one Lufthansa flight a day, early in the morning and you have to change in Munich. To make the trip more affordable, I finally figured out that I can lower the price for both flights if I book a return flight really far ahead. Instead of going to and from London by Lufthansa in March, I'm now going to London on a cheap EasyJet flight. Two days later I'm taking the Lufthansa flight with the cat to Berlin and then I booked a Lufthansa return flight to London in October. So instead of nearly £400 the whole thing now costs £210. I can take Alfie with me in the cabin, but I feel sorry for the extra stress I'm causing him of having to change planes. It's the quickest way to Berlin though.
Are you sure you can take the cat in the cabin on a flight leaving the UK? Please double check that, cos it doesn't sound right.
That's a hangover from the Cold War when Lufthansa were not allowed to fly over East German airspace.
Reno
The In Kraut
Lufthansa are known for carrying pets on planes from the UK and I've got it on my ticket that I'm travelling with a cat. I don't really know what else I can do, I've got all the documentation which is required. There is no law to prohibit it, the UK changed their strict quarantine laws in 2000. It's most of the airlines who dig in their heels.
Reno
The In Kraut
trabuquera
Modesty Bag
What an odyssey - and not even travelling yet. I would honestly never have thought this would be so difficult! Makes me wonder what those mad people who spend their lives touting their poor cats & dogs around shows do - how do they manage it? (i.e. all those Belgian dog breeders who always do well in the medals at Crufts.)
