What to Pack in Your Pet Travel Kit: Documents, Supplies, and Comfort Items
The Documents Folder: Non-Negotiable
Keep all travel documents in one waterproof folder, separate from your own travel documents so they can be handed over quickly at border inspection:
- Original health certificate (AHC or national equivalent)
- Import permit (where required)
- Microchip documentation (or the passport showing chip number)
- Vaccination record
- FAVN titre test certificate (where required – AU, NZ, Japan, Hawaii)
- Rabies vaccination certificate
- Any breed-specific documentation (for restricted breeds)
- Airlines’ booking confirmation for live animal cargo
Digital backup: Photograph every document and upload to cloud storage. This has saved multiple pet owners when originals were lost or damaged.
Crate Preparation Kit
- Absorbent floor pads (bring spares for after quarantine or on connecting legs)
- Clip-on water bowl
- Frozen water supplement that thaws slowly and provides water without a spillable bowl
- Live animal sticker kit (most airlines provide, but bring your own as backup)
- Cable ties for crate security (IATA requires the crate to be securable from outside)
Comfort Items
- A recently worn, unwashed item of your clothing to place in the carrier or crate
- A familiar toy (check: nothing that can be destroyed and swallowed)
- For cats: a small spritz of Feliway pheromone spray on the bedding, 30 minutes before crating
- For dogs: a favourite chew that keeps them occupied for the initial loading phase
Health Kit for After Arrival
- 1 to 2 weeks of regular food (familiar food reduces digestive disruption after a stressful journey)
- Any regular medications
- Your home vet’s contact details and medical records
- Contact details of the recommended vet at the destination
- First aid items: saline wash, tick tweezers, bandage material
A Note on Food and Water During Travel
For flights under 8 hours, most healthy adults do not need food or water during the actual flight. For longer journeys:
- Offer a drink of water in the last 2 to 3 hours before travel
- Attach a label to the crate with feeding instructions if your pet is on a schedule or medicated diet
- Do not withhold water for more than 4 to 6 hours
Information accurate as of May 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carry originals of all documents: health certificate, import permit, microchip documentation, vaccination records, and titre test results (if applicable). Store digital copies in cloud storage as backup. For Australia and New Zealand, also carry the DAFF/MPI import permit and quarantine booking confirmation.
Yes. Bring a small amount of your pet’s regular food in a sealed bag. For cabin travel, a few treats accessible in your hand luggage help with settling your pet. For cargo travel, tape a small sealed bag of food to the top of the crate for the care instructions card – this allows airline or cargo handlers to feed your pet if there is a significant delay.
Inside the crate: a recently worn, unwashed piece of your clothing (familiar scent), an absorbent floor pad (waterproof-backed), and a small amount of water in a clip-on bowl. Attach a second frozen water supplement on the outside that can be accessed by handlers if needed. Do not include food bowls inside the crate as these become projectile hazards during turbulence.