How I Travelled with My Cat from Luxembourg to Barcelona
Kati is my life — my first baby and the joy of our home. I’m talking about my cat, Kati, an 11-year-old British Shorthair who had to come with us when we moved to Barcelona. After spending a blissful month at our friends’ house in Luxembourg, it was finally time for her to discover her new home.
But getting there was easier said than done. Driving wasn’t an option — the journey is far too long — so flying it was. Luxembourg is directly connected to Barcelona by Luxair and Ryanair, but Luxair’s prices were beyond my budget, and Ryanair doesn’t accept animals on board (why???).
After searching for alternatives online, I found Vueling, a Spanish low-cost airline that flies from Brussels. Perfect!
Finding the Right Carrier
Next question: how would I carry her? My hard-shell carrier wasn’t allowed on board — Vueling requires a soft bag. Since Kati is a big girl (she weighs six kilos), I needed something sturdy and comfortable. I ordered one from Amazon, and I really recommend it — it worked perfectly.
The Journey Begins
My family was already in Barcelona, so Kati and I made it a girls’ trip — a two-hour drive from Luxembourg to Brussels.
When flying with a pet, even if it travels in the cabin, you must stop at the check-in counter so the airline can check the animal’s passport and carrier. At security, they ask you to take your pet out of the bag and hold them just like a baby. That was our moment of glory — the security agents had never been that nice before! Needless to say, Kati was the star of the day.
Everything went smoothly after that. We stopped for a coffee, and she stayed calm, watching the world go by. She’s a social cat who loves people, so she was quite fascinated by all the activity.
On the Plane
Once on the plane, Kati continued to charm everyone — the flight attendants adored her. During takeoff and landing, her bag had to stay on the floor, but for the rest of the flight, I could hold her on my lap.
Everything went perfectly… almost. The only thing I hadn’t thought about — and I’ll share this so you can learn from my mistake — was buying a pet diaper. I assumed that five hours wouldn’t be too long and that she’d be fine, but perhaps the stress got to her, and we had a little accident. Thankfully, the carrier was well-padded, and she chose a far corner, but still — not fun!
Despite that small mishap, Kati handled the trip like a pro. She’s now happily settled in Barcelona, exploring sunny balconies and new hiding spots.
If you’re planning to travel with your cat, my biggest tips are:
Check the airline’s pet policy early.
Choose a soft, well-ventilated carrier.
Keep your cat’s passport handy for check-in.
Bring a diaper or absorbent pad — just in case!
Kati’s first flight turned out to be a real adventure, and I couldn’t be prouder of my brave little traveller.
