Animal Health Certificates for Dogs vs Cats: What’s Different?
When planning to travel with your pet, you’ll need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). An AHC is an official document that allows pets from Great Britain to enter the EU. It proves your pet is microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and fit to travel.
Many pet owners wonder if the requirements are different for dogs and cats. The short answer: they’re almost identical, except for one key difference.
What’s the Same for Dogs and Cats?
Most of the Animal Health Certificate process is exactly the same for both cats and dogs. Both dogs and cats must:
- Be microchipped:
Pets must have a working microchip. - Be vaccinated against rabies:
Pets must be vaccinated at least 21 days before travel. The microchip of the pet should be checked prior to the vaccination. - Have their microchip checked: The OV must scan and confirm the microchip number of the pet before an AHC can be issued (within 10 days of travel).
- Travel within the valid timeframe: the AHC is valid for 10 days for entry, then 4 months for onward travel within the EU or re-entry to Great Britain.
So, for most of the process, dogs and cats follow identical steps.
The One Key Difference: Worming for Dogs
Dogs travelling to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Finland, and Malta must have a tapeworm treatment (effective against Echinococcus multilocularis) between 24-120 hours before arrival in one of these specified countries.
This tapeworm treatment must be administered and recorded in the AHC by a vet. This can be done at the time of AHC issue, or on a later date. The worming treatment cannot be dated in advance of the AHC issue date.
Failing to meet this step could mean your dog isn’t allowed to enter certain countries.
What About Dogs Returning to the UK?
Dogs must be wormed between 24-120 hours before re-entry into the UK. The tapeworm treatment must be licensed in the country of administration and effective against Echinococcus multilocularis.
This is to prevent the introduction of Echinococcus multilocularis into Great Britain, which remains tapeworm-free.
The worming requirement on return applies to all dogs, regardless of where they originally travelled to, except when returning directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway, as those countries are also tapeworm-free.
Why Cats Don’t Need Tapeworm Treatment
Unlike dogs, cats do not require tapeworm treatment while travelling on an AHC. You might wonder why this rule applies only to dogs. Here’s why:
- The tapeworm risk is species-specific
The tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis primarily affects dogs and some wild animals, such as foxes. It can pose a risk to humans, as dogs can become infected by eating infected rodents and then shed the parasite’s eggs in their faeces.
Cats, however, are not considered a significant host or transmitter of this tapeworm. Although rare cases of infection have been recorded, cats do not play a meaningful role in spreading it. Because of this, EU regulations do not require cats to be wormed before travel.
- EU regulations focus on disease risk
Travel health rules are designed to prevent diseases and parasites from crossing borders. Since only dogs pose a realistic risk of carrying and transmitting Echinococcus multilocularis into countries where the parasite isn’t found (like the UK, Ireland, Finland, Norway and Malta), cats are exempt from this treatment requirement. - Cats still need everything else
Even without the worming step, cats still need:
- A microchip,
- A valid rabies vaccination, and
- An Animal Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel.
Common Questions About Pet Travel
Can I travel with both my dog and cat on one certificate?
Yes, if they share the same owner and are travelling together, they can be listed on a single AHC.
Do indoor cats still need rabies vaccination?
Yes, the rabies vaccination is a legal requirement for travel and for an AHC, regardless of whether your cat goes outdoors.
Can I still give my cat tapeworm treatment even if it won’t be recorded on the AHC?
Worming isn’t required for travel, but it’s still recommended for your cat’s general health. You can continue regular parasite prevention as advised by your vet; it just doesn’t need to be recorded on the Animal Health Certificate.
Practical Tips for Smooth Travel
- Ensure your pet’s rabies vaccination is up to date:
If your pet hasn’t received a rabies vaccination yet, make sure this is done well in advance of your trip. Pets must be vaccinated at least 21 days before an AHC can be issued. - Double-check entry rules for your destination country:
Requirements can vary between countries. For example, some countries have specific breed restrictions or additional health checks. Always confirm the latest rules before travelling to avoid last-minute surprises. - Use an experienced vet who issues AHCs regularly:
Working with a specialist provider, such as Vet Home Certs, ensures your paperwork is completed accurately and efficiently by vets who handle Animal Health Certificates regularly. - Plan ahead:
Vet Home Certs recommends requesting your AHC between 3 to 6 weeks before your travel date. This allows time to confirm vaccinations, book appointments, and prepare all the necessary documents for a smooth journey.
Ready for an affordable, hassle-free AHC for your pet?
When it comes to Animal Health Certificates, dogs and cats follow almost the same process. The only major difference? Dogs need a tapeworm treatment before travel to certain countries. Cats do not need tapeworm treatment to travel.
So whether you’re travelling with a dog, cat, or both, once you’ve arranged their microchip, rabies vaccine, and AHC appointment, you’re almost ready to go!