how do i fly my cat to france without losing my mind?
So, here's the deal: I'm planning to move from Chicago to France to be closer to my son. Sounds exciting, right? But here's the catch—I've had my cat for six years, and there's just no way I'm leaving her behind. She's basically family at this point (honestly, she listens better than most people I know!).
Now, my son did this whole international cat move about ten years ago. He used one of those fancy pet flight services, shelled out a few thousand dollars, and still wasn't thrilled with how it went. He said the process was stressful for both him and the cat, and honestly, the price tag made my jaw drop.
I’ve been searching online, but every option seems either super expensive, risky, or just plain confusing. Has anyone actually flown their cat from the US to Europe recently? Did you use a pet service, or did you brave it and take your kitty in the cabin? What paperwork or weird rules did you run into at the airport?
I’d love to hear some real stories, especially if you found a way that didn’t cost an arm and a leg—or traumatize your cat. Anyone else feel like moving with pets is way harder than moving with kids?
#pettravel #catowners #movingabroad #expatlife #travelstories #Travel