When was the last time you set about on a 30-hour one-way trip by car, plane, another plane, train, and another car with your truculent feline companion? For me, it was about a year and a half ago when my cat Topaz and I trekked across land and sea to settle into our new life together in Europe. At the time, I didn’t know anyone personally who had attempted such an ambitious feat, and the friends and family I informed about my decision looked at me with a mixture of confusion and concern. The kind of furrowing of the brow I’d expect to receive if I lived in a small cottage brimming with chaotic cats. Nevertheless, I persisted with my dream of living abroad with my firstborn son and began my YouTube-heavy research about moving to Europe with my American cat. (The CDC’s website helped a little, I suppose, but I’m a visual learner, so YouTube proved more obliging.)
So we were off, well-equipped with two checked bags, one cat-shaped carry-on, and a portable litter box I was terrified he’d use in-flight. During our 13 hours total inthe air, things went relatively smoothly. (I’d say the prior vet bills and bureaucratic shenanigans were the hardest part overall.) Only once during take-off did Topaz take us all by surprise. As soon as the wheels lifted off the runway, he let out a worrying yelp, warranting everyone in the plane to whip around in their seats. Worriedfaces quickly turned to expressive “awweee”s when they realized the source of the odd sound.
We landed safely, and I felt so proud to have the best travel partner in the world.
Upon arriving in Prague, I was happily surprised to meet several other Expats through various TEFL Worldwide meetups who had brought their furry friends along for the ride as well. So if you’re a proud pet parent hoping to move to Prague with a travel companion, or if you’re just someone who is entertained by how much pet owners will go through to give their babies a better life overseas, stick around- this blog post is for you.
Human: Calla
Dog: Sugar, Great Pyrenees
Calla and her super fluffy pup Sugar moved to Prague in September of 2024 to explore Europe and the adventures of Prague English-teaching as a family. Of her decision to bring Sugar along, Calla tells me, “It’s definitely stressful to relocate a cat or a dog and have to find sitters or trainers abroad. Sugar has behavioral issues and is a lot of work. But he’s my baby, and it was never not an option”.
Before the move:
Calla was initially against putting Sugar in the cargo hold of the plane, but after exhausting her research, she opted for it as the most accessible and cost-effective option. “I realized that I needed to do the cargo hold, so I researched airlines and basically decided Lufthansa was the most reputable,” Calla continued, “I went on blogs and joined a Facebook group for people who fly their pets, and everyone said, by and large, Luftanza and KLM were the best”.
The travel:
“The flight was really smooth. The flight attendants reassured me that the pilot knew and that the cabin was air conditioned and pressurized for Sugar.” Calla worried about Sugar the whole six-hour flight from NYC to Frankfurt and was anxious to reach her doggy as she bulldozed through customs. “He was really freaked out at first, but within half an hour after the flight, he was super happy and we went for a walk in the forest in Frankfurt.”
Settling into Prague:
Since arriving in their new Prague life, things have been great. “Having him here has been amazing, it’s like a sense of home, it’s made me feel anchored, permanent,” Calla smiles as she recalls, “Every time I walk him around Prague, I just look around at this beautiful city, and he’s running around off leash. It’s a very dog-friendly city and he’s thriving”. As for vets and other necessary dog-type stuff, Calla says it’s been simple. “I found an English-speaking vet really easily. It’s so much cheaper here compared to the US. There’s no shortage of dog walkers, sitters, and trainers who speak English.”
Human: Alexandra
Cat: Oppenheimer, Dangerously Cute
When Alexandra moved to Prague in February of 2025 to pursue the TEFL Worldwide teacher life, she, of course, had to bring along her kitty, Oppenheimer.
“I studied physics in college, and he was one of my favorite physicists to read about,” Alexandra told me when I questioned what baby name list she consulted upon adopting her cat, “He was smart enough to destroy the world, my cat is cute enough to destroy the world”. And when I asked her why she brought her world-destroying child to the Czech Republic, her answer was simple, “I was not going to be able to survive without her”.
Before the move:
“I had to jump through a lot of hoops,” Alexandra explained, “I had to overnight a lot of paperwork around the United States”. In addition to a medical examination and updated Rabies vaccination for your pet, a health certificate is needed when flying into Europe from the United States within 10 days of departure.
The flight:
Alexandra told me how nervous she was before the flight, as she had no idea how Oppenheimer would react to being 30,000 feet in the air. “She was fine for the first nine hours, and then in the last hour, she was not enjoying herself,” she continued, “I had her in the cabin with me. I was really worried taking her over because she is a very talkative cat. But she just slept the whole time”.
Settling in:
Upon their arrival, their pet-friendly Airbnb was there to welcome them, “Finding our Airbnb was really easy. I really lucked out that it was a five-minute walk from a pet store”. While finding Airbnbs that are pet-accommodating is generally problem-free in Prague, finding housing proves to be a bit more challenging. Alexandra agreed, saying, “Searching for an apartment can be a little tricky. I’ve definitely been turned away from a couple of apartments because they don’t want pets”.
My advice when you’re house-hunting with a pet in Prague: make a Facebook post of you and your pet looking the cutest possible and let the apartment hunting groups know how awesome you’d both be as roommates!
Of course, when I asked Alexandra how her experience was overall, she met me with a big smile, “Absolutely worth it. My quality of life is much better because I have her here despite the few bumps to get her over”.
And now, a quick word of advice from my cat is who is about to walk across my keyboard:
oko09EUWNn b yts ra ip ijfo’’’’’’’lm kLWIDHWUDFHfnkjjj
Thank you for your profound insight, Topaz.
So emBARK on your moving abroad journey with your furry friend, that is, if you’re brave enough.
Oh, and some important tips to keep in mind:
- Airlines may ask for different or additional paperwork. Check with them!
- Talk with your USDA-certified veterinarian, they’ll be a big help.
- Airlines won’t fly pets in the cargo hold in July or August due to heat concerns, so plan your trip wisely.
- Register your pet in the Czech Republic once you arrive and get your pet an EU passport within four months of your arrival.
- Facebook will be your best friend to find other expats with pets and more advice on pet travel.
- And of course, reach out to the lovely coordinators at TEFL Worldwide, who will get you in touch with one of our many pet-loving alumni to share more about their experiences.
Join an upcoming TEFL course where in just 4 weeks you and your own fur-baby can be enjoying the city of Prague and beyond!
TEFL Worldwide was awarded as the Top TEFL Certification Course of 2018 and 2019, the Best Teach Provider in 2020, a Finalist for Innovation in Alumni Engagement in 2024, and in 2025 – the Top Rated TEFL Course in the Czech Republic!
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