Caravanning With Pets – Taking Your Pet on a Caravan Holiday

Taking a pet with you on your caravan holiday can be a great idea but you should make sure that you are adequately prepared for both your and their comfort.

Caravan Travel With A Pet Inside the U.K.

If you are going to a caravan site firstly check with the owners that pets are allowed.

Make sure that you have a travelling cage for your dog or cat. It needs to be large enough for them to be comfortable. Let your pet test the cage before you plan to travel especially if you are going a long way. It may help your pet to relax if you put a familiar blanket or cushion in the cage. Ensure that they have enough water for the journey. Take a spare bottle with you so that you can top up their water from time to time.

If you have a dog you are probably have the necessary equipment to keep them restrained when out and about, but this may not be the case if you have a cat. Some cats are house cats and they may be happy to remain in a caravan for the duration of the holiday. If this is the case with your cat you need to ensure that your caravan has good ventilation otherwise it may get too hot inside on a warm day.

Some people buy leads for their cats so that they can take them on a walk. Others choose to let their cats roam free, but this can be a risk if they become disorientated and try to find their way home. There are collar tags available that can be electronically tracked, this could be useful if you are trying to find your cat and it is hiding somewhere.

Caravan Travel With A Pet Outside of the U.K.

It is possible to travel in your caravan with cats, dogs and ferrets outside of the U.K. on the Pets Travel Scheme (PETS). This scheme allows these pets to enter the U.K. from certain countries, all of the E.U. and certain other non-EU countries without having to be quarantined for six months. This is great if you are a caravanner who likes to travel around Europe for your vacations.

To comply with PETS you must have your pet micro chipped, then vaccinated against rabies, blood tested to ensure an acceptable level of protection against rabies. When the pet is to return to the U.K. it must be treated for ticks and tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than 48 hours before it is to embark on its return journey. Your pet must travel from a PETS listed country by an authorised route and with an authorised carrier back to the UK.

It is essential that you travel with all of the relevant documentation and proofs of the treatment. When travelling outside of the U.K. you must get an additional veterinary certificate. If you do not have sufficient evidence that your pet is compliant with the PETS scheme it will be taken into quarantine for six months or until you can show compliance.

The cost of taking your dog, cat or ferret on your caravan holiday through the PETS scheme is likely to start at around £125, but it can varies significantly. Don’t forget that you will need to have booster jabs from time to time and have the passport re stamped to prove that your pet is still healthy.

Certain countries have more strict rules about animal behaviour than we do in the UK. For example in Switzerland dogs some must be muzzled in public places.

Taking your pet on a caravan holiday can be great fun if you are prepared. To ensure maximum enjoyment always check the local rules of the campsite, country or principality and make sure that you are in accordance with government legislation at all times.