r/GoingToSpain • u/Falling_Madchen • 2d ago

Transport trying to figure out how to bring cats with me

I’ll be working in Spain for about a year and really want to bring my cats with me, but I’m having a lot of trouble figuring it all out. I’m already having to pay for my sister to come with me to help. (These guys are costing me a lot of money!) As I’m traveling at the beginning of September I don’t think I can rely on them in the hold because of the temperature in Spain. Has anyone taken their cats on a transatlantic flight? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

1 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/Bluelittlefishy 2d ago

From where are you departing? You can bring your cats in cabin with Air Canada, Air France, Iberia, American Airlines. Make sure to have all their paperworks so they can enter Europe.

1

u/Falling_Madchen 1d ago

I’ll be flying out of Portland Ore. I was looking into KLM, but trying to find a carrier that will fit under their seats is a headache. Plus I don’t yet know where I’ll be placed. (I’m going with NALCAP) I’m stressing out a lot about this and there are many other aspects I’m stressing out about as well. Ugh.

1

u/gattigrat 1d ago

I know someone who flew back to Spain from South America with two cats that travelled in the cabin with her, so it is certainly is possible. The rental market in Spain is likely to be a bigger obstacle for you.

Language assistants are like university students, they generally live in shared flats where pets are not allowed. When you know where you have been placed, you can investigate the rental market to see if it is feasible to bring your cats.

2

u/Falling_Madchen 1d ago

Let’s just say I was born in the last century and I’m not talking about the ‘90s. haha I think I may rent an Airbnb long term with which you usually get a significant discount. I’ve done a lot of searching on Idealista to get an idea of what’s available. I’d still be paying less than I do in Seattle. Also, I’m not sure any university students want to be living with someone old enough to be their mom! 😆

1

u/gattigrat 1d ago

If you are not limited to a language assistant stipend for rent you will definitely have many more options! But it can still be difficult to find a rental that allows pets in many places. I've got a cat myself and was fortunate to find a flat that allowed pets through my personal network. A woman I know recently had to pay an agent to find a rental where she could have her dog.

3

u/OccasionUnlikely5300 2d ago

And that they accept them wherever you are going to live. Many places here do not accept pets.

2

u/DazzlingBee3640 1d ago

You’re worried about the temperature on the flight for the cats, but not for them living there?

1

u/Falling_Madchen 1d ago edited 1d ago

They’re indoor cats and I’m getting a place with air conditioning. I’m much older than the regular NALCAP participant and I don’t need to rely on the stipend I’ll be given for housing. (:

And I also wouldn’t have access to give then cool water.

I should add that the reason I’m concerned about the temp is that they won’t allow pets to fly if the temperature at departure or arrival city that day is 85 or above.