How to transport a cat on a train: detailed instructions and basic rules

Legislative regulation

If you are not allowed on a train with an animal, two points are considered. The first is that you have not carried out all the preparatory measures regarding the documents. Secondly, you simply forgot the animal at home.

Knowing and observing all the requirements that are needed to transport a cat on a train, the conductor will not reprimand you, and certainly will not refuse to board the carriage. Everything is explained by Russian legislation.

At the moment - in 2020 - there are two legislative acts regulating the transportation of pets on trains.

— The first act is Federal Law No. 18 of January 2003. This bill approves the rights and requirements for persons who have purchased a train ticket. They automatically become passengers in the vehicle in question and are responsible for complying with safety requirements.

— The second act is Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 473 of December 2013. Here are the regulations for the transportation of passengers and animals by Russian Railways.

It follows from both legislative acts that you can transport a cat on a train. To do this, you just need to follow the rules.

Food and drink during the trip

It is unlikely that your cat will want to eat or drink during the trip, as transport is a stressful event for the animal.

I took with me some dry food and 2 cat sausages as treats. The cat ate the treat, and even then in several passes, but did not touch the food.

It's the same with drinking. You can completely refuse water, since nothing will happen to the animal during the day, and an extra trip to the toilet in a carriage will be uncomfortable.

About the rules of transportation on various types of trains

Every cat owner, if he wants to take an animal with him on a trip, must prepare for the trip in advance. To do this, familiarize yourself with the general rules for transporting pets on a train, which highlight the following points:

• Transportation of animals is possible only in specially designated carriages. They have corresponding icons. The owner of the animal purchases a ticket for himself, but in a special carriage where the transportation of animals is allowed.
• Cats are small or indoor animals, so you can take them with you on the train. An important condition is to notify the conductor in advance of your intention to travel with a cat. To do this, it is enough to show the animal to the handler when boarding.
• Cats must be kept in special baskets, houses, and carrier bags. There is no separation between an adult pet and a kitten.
• There are also restrictions on the container in which a cat can be transported on a train. The total size of the sides of the bag or basket should not exceed 1.8 m. This is standard passenger hand luggage, so there is no need to purchase an additional ticket.
• The owner of the cat is obliged to keep the cage clean, feed the animal in a timely manner so that it does not disturb others with its plaintive sounds.
• The rules for transporting cats on the train do not exclude the fact that the conductor can remove the passenger along with the animal. This happens when there is a danger to others.

Short distances on the train can be covered without additional containers, keeping the cat on a leash and under constant supervision.

And regarding questions about how to transport a cat on a long-distance train , the following rules must be observed:

• Long-distance trains are considered to be routes over 700 km. The cost of tickets for an animal depends on the distance of the journey.
• A separate ticket must be purchased for the animal, the cost of which will be found out at the ticket office at the time the passenger issues the ticket.
• If the ticket was purchased online, then 2 hours before departure you can purchase a ticket at the railway station ticket office.

Modern high-speed trains do not allow animals to be carried along with passengers. There are special carriages for them, for which you need to purchase a ticket. The luggage with the cat is handed over to the conductor, and they themselves go to the passenger carriage. The cost of such a ticket for a pet is 1.5 times higher than the standard tariffs for transporting an animal.

Around Russia with large animals

On trains, large dogs are transported with muzzles and a leash: in a separate compartment of a compartment car, except for luxury cars, under the supervision of their owners or accompanying persons with payment of the full cost of all seats in the compartment without additional payment for their transportation, while the number of passengers traveling in The compartment for dogs and their owners or accompanying persons should not exceed the number of seats in the compartment.

Transportation of large animals in the carriages of JSC FPC

Trains of other carriers

Large dogs can be carried on trains of all categories not related to the formation of JSC FPC. They can only travel in a separate compartment of a compartment carriage, except for luxury carriages, with the condition that all seats in the compartment are purchased. The dog must be muzzled and on a leash. The passenger is required to pay for all seats in the compartment; there is no additional payment for transporting a dog on the train.

Rules for transporting animals

There are also rules on how to transport a cat on a train, based on issues of preliminary preparation of the pet.

Here they highlight:

• It is required to be vaccinated against rabies, upon which veterinarians issue a certificate. Its validity does not exceed 30 days.
• It is recommended to clean the animal of parasites. 1-2 weeks before vaccination, a deworming remedy is given.
• If the cat has not been vaccinated for several years in a row, a double vaccination is required 20 days apart.

Vaccination will be required if the question arises of how to transport a cat on a train abroad. While a vaccination passport may not be required within the territory of Russia, you will have to obtain one to travel abroad. A vaccination passport is required to transport an animal in business class and high-speed trains across Russia.

How to prepare your pet for a trip

When receiving a veterinary certificate, you should consult a doctor on how to properly prepare your animal for travel on public transport. If the trip is long, your veterinarian may recommend preventative vaccinations to strengthen the immune system.

To avoid various unpleasant embarrassments on the train and eliminate possible inconveniences, it is recommended to prepare your cat for the trip in advance. For this purpose, it will be necessary to carry out the following activities:

1. Feeding _ 1.5-2 hours before departure on the trip, the pet must be fed and given water. The animal should be fed moderately, otherwise it may vomit on the train.
2. Medicines . A couple of hours before the trip, it is recommended to give your pet a sedative. It is better to consult a veterinarian about choosing an effective and safe medicine. The most commonly used sedatives for animals are Stop-stress and VetSpokoin.
3. Fees . You need to get ready in advance, because in a hurry, important things can be forgotten. It is recommended to carefully check the availability of documents for the animal.
4. Peace of mind of the owner. Pets are sensitive to the mood and state of the owner. The owner should behave calmly and not be nervous, then the cat will be calm.

Documents for transporting a cat

It is necessary to carefully consider how to transport a cat on a train in Russia, regarding the required documents.
Until 2020, having a veterinary passport for an animal was mandatory. Without it, it was impossible to purchase a train ticket. Now there is no need for this, although the relaxation does not apply to all cases:

• The Russian border crosses with a cat only if it has a veterinary passport and a stamp indicating that it has been vaccinated.
• In business classes and high-speed trains, where the cat is placed with other animals, conductors require a veterinary passport.
• Transporting a cat to an exhibition also requires the presentation of a veterinary passport.

It follows that it is better to obtain a veterinary passport for the animal in advance and vaccinate it. This will protect your pet from infection on the road.

What to take with you on the road

Most owners, when going on a long journey for the first time, do not know what they need to take with them for their animal.

The following list of items will help:

• Container for transportation. It is required, but a container means a carrying bag, a basket, a house and other items in which the animal will be comfortable. An important condition is that the pet must be in the “house”, so it is recommended to check the condition of the zippers and locks.
• First aid kit. A first aid kit for an animal should contain essential supplies - antidiarrheal and painkillers, antiemetics, antiseptic, bandage and cotton wool.
• Tray with filler. It is recommended to take a special filler that absorbs urine odors.
• Dry diapers are disposable. They are put in a container so that the cat can relieve itself - animals on trips do not always go to the tray after being dropped into it.
• Wet wipes and plastic bags. Will be needed to clean up after the animal.
• Bowls for water and food.
• Leash, collar or harness. Even if you don't keep your cat on a leash, it's a good idea to do so when traveling. The animal may become frightened at the station and run away.
• Warm small blanket. The cat will need it for an overnight stay. It is recommended to take an unnecessary blanket or one that can be easily washed, in case your pet uses it for other purposes.
• Toy. A favorite toy in a container will help your animal cope with stress.

When it comes to toys, you should not purchase a new item before traveling. It should remind your pet of home. Let it be a favorite sock or string, but it gives the cat some protection.

Sedatives for cats

If your pet is nervous on the road or behaves inappropriately, it is better to use sedatives. The list of effective means includes:

• Fitex are special drops that are easy to give during a trip. It is better to use them before boarding the train so that the animal can calm down and endure the journey more easily. It is better to give drops a month before travel, since the product has a cumulative effect.
• Stopstress is a faster and more pronounced effect. It is not addictive, it is recommended to give it in drops.
• Fospasim is a homeopathic remedy whose action is aimed at eliminating fearfulness, panic, stress and aggression.

You can contact your veterinarian in advance and explain the problem of the animal’s behavior on the way. In extreme cases, a specialist injects the cat with a sleeping pill. The cat will sleep for a long time.

Veterinary certificate and travel document

As of 2020, you cannot skip visiting the veterinarian before traveling. The certificate received from him is valid for five days. Consequently, the visit is planned on the eve of the trip.

For foreign countries, two certificates are required:

• in Russian;
• in the language of the country you are going to visit.

Very often the second one is done in English, since it is considered international.

The required vaccines are given no later than one year in advance.

Unfortunately, there is no approved list of vaccine names that are required to be administered. Each carrier may have different requirements.

On the road

Others also need vaccines for:

• Rhinotracheitis;
• Calcivirosis;
• Panleukopenia.

You can simplify your preparations by using a universal injection. Worm prevention is also carried out shortly before such an important day.

A separate ticket cannot be purchased. Instead, they take a baggage receipt. You can pick it up at the checkout or apply online. It is necessary to present the ticket upon boarding.

Useful tips

Transporting a cat on a train is difficult for owners, since during the entire time people are worried about the condition of their family member. You can make the animal’s fate easier by following these recommendations:

• You cannot limit your cat's access to water. Place a bowl of water in the container and constantly monitor its contents.
• At stations you are required to walk your cat. A leash is used for this. Walk with her as far as possible from large crowds of people, but observing safety precautions.
• During a walk, you need to check whether the animal has gone to the toilet. If not, health problems may arise. Sometimes the animal does not go to the toilet, eat or drink during the trip, which can last up to 3 days. In this case, immediately upon arrival you need to contact a veterinarian and explain the situation. The doctor will prescribe treatment to eliminate dehydration and restore the functions of the urinary system.
• For food, it is better to take dry cat food on the road. But if your pet has not tried it before, it is better to keep the same food and provide it on the train. Otherwise, you may experience stomach and intestinal upset.

Monitor your cat's condition closely during the trip. If the situation allows, you can remove the animal, which is on a leash, from the container and hold it in your arms. Or put him to sleep next to you if you know for sure that he won’t run away. To avoid funny things, it is better to tie the leash to the train table.

In addition to our article, we recommend reading the story of one traveler with a cat. You will find a lot of useful information in it - https://pikabu.ru/story/v_poezd_s_kotami_4974906

Condition of the cat after transportation

After the move, the animal, of course, continues to experience stress. This happens not only because of the transportation itself, but also because the animal ends up in a completely new place for it, in a new apartment.

Basically, the behavior of the animal is as follows:

• refusal to eat for several days (1-3 days);
• refusal to go to the toilet (up to 24 hours after moving);
• the animal does not make contact with the owner, hides under the sofa or in another secluded place.

After 2-3 days, this condition passes and the cat begins to behave as usual. After a week, Mars had already completely settled down - his appetite returned, he began to go to the litter box and behave like the master of the house.