Transporting cats on a train in Russia Russian Railways

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 2021 - there are two pieces of legislation in force 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.

Changes in the transportation of cats on trains in Russia from January 2021

You can only travel with a cat in hard compartment carriages.

However, such difficulties with registering a pet were valid until January 2021.

According to the updated rules for transporting pets on Russian Railways, conductors no longer have the right to demand a veterinary certificate from the cat owner.

But, as practice shows, it is best to insure yourself against possible misunderstandings and waste of nerves associated with bureaucracy, and provide your pet with a full set of veterinary documents.

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.

In which carriage can you transport a cat?

To transport your pet on a train, you must not only have all the necessary documentation and a box for your pet, but also adhere to the rules for transporting animals in various types of transport. If the trip is carried out on the Sapsan train, then there are separate seats for cats, which are located in the third and eighth cars, where economy class passengers travel. For business and first class, you can travel with your cat in the third carriage. It is worth considering that the weight of the box and the cat should not be more than 10 kg, and the dimensions should be within 120 cm. If the trip is on the Swift train, then you can travel with the cat in class 2B carriages. One person can carry no more than two pets, the total dimensions of which are no more than 180 cm.

If we are talking about the Lastochka train, then you can travel with your pet in carriages 2 and 3C. For such passengers, special seats are provided in carriages 5 and 10. If a traveler wants to travel in more comfortable conditions, you can take a luxury room and pay extra for keeping a cat in it. If the train is “Swallow Premium”, then there are much more places for traveling with animals in the fifth carriage, in addition, you can purchase a ticket for a luxury carriage if you travel together with your pet.

If you need to travel on the Allegro train, then the places for transporting cats are located in the sixth car. In this case, it is impossible to agree on the transportation of animals in superior rooms. Pets must be in specialized containers with dimensions of 60x45x60 and no more. When buying a ticket, it is very important to clarify several times that the trip will be carried out with a pet. Tickets can be ordered either online, on websites that also have corresponding columns that provide additional services, or purchased at a stationary ticket office at the station.

As for the payment for transporting a cat and its location, this situation differs in different carriages.

In a shared carriage where passengers travel while sitting, an additional fee will be required for a pet. The conductor must check the documents and ticket for the animal.
Cars 1 and 2B, 2 and 3Zh - you can carry a cat in them at no additional cost.
In a reserved seat carriage with berths 3D and 3U, you will need to pay for a pet.
In a four-seater compartment car, where there are sleeping places 2K, 2U, 2L, 2N, transportation of a cat will also be paid, and in this case it is necessary to provide all documentation for the animal.
In double compartments SV, 1B and 1E you can carry your pet free of charge.
In the double luxury compartment, where there are places to lie down and a shower 1A, 1I, 1M, you can also travel with a cat at no additional cost.

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 documents for transportation

The rules for transporting cats state that the airline must be warned in advance that the passenger is flying with his pet. This must be done at least 36 hours before the flight. You must have certain documents with you, without which the animal cannot be brought on board the plane.

Documents for transporting a cat in Russia

The rules for transporting cats on an airplane in Russia set standards that are a little more loyal and simpler than transportation on international routes. For domestic flights you need to have:

Veterinary passport. It is issued by a veterinary clinic, it indicates all the mandatory vaccinations that the animal must have.
State certificate No. 1. It can be obtained from the State Veterinary Station.
Certificate of completed microchipping.

Documents must be completed in advance. An animal that does not have mandatory vaccinations, according to current legislation, cannot be allowed on board the aircraft.

Documents for taking a cat abroad

If you are planning an international flight, the documents must be as follows:

international veterinary passport;
certificate of the value of the animal (exporting animals from the Red Book and those with a special status is prohibited by law);
certificate of breeding value;
veterinary certificate No. 1;
the animal must be microchipped;

The latest certificate must be exchanged at the check-in counter at the airport and instead obtained from an airline employee an international veterinary certificate, which is accepted by all countries of the world, wherever the passenger flies. This document must be kept and presented at the airport of arrival. If there is a return flight, this document will also be required.

Interesting read: everything about Turkish Angora cats.

What vaccinations will be needed?

Transporting a cat on an airplane requires vaccination. The pet must have had a rabies vaccination within the last year, but no less than 20 days before the flight. According to EU requirements, this period is 21 days. It is worth using a drug that does not contradict veterinary standards in the country of arrival. A veterinarian will help you choose one.

It is also necessary to have marks about panleukopenia. A special sticker with the date, drug, signature and stamp of the doctor is placed in the passport. The animal must undergo anthelmintic treatment.

Question to the expert

Do all countries have the same standards for transporting cats?

Depending on the country, there are other requirements. Before purchasing a ticket, you must find out all the current requirements and pass them. It is better to do this in advance, preferably a month before the upcoming flight.

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 2021, 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.

High speed trains

You can familiarize yourself with the rules for transporting animals on the Russian Railways website

The carriage of cats is permitted in the following classes of high-speed trains:

"Sapsan" - paid in first and business class in special seats in the carriages. No more than one animal per issued ticket and no more than two per carriage. In a meeting compartment, you can carry no more than 1 animal per seat free of charge, but no more than 4 animals per compartment.

"Strizh" (Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod) - free in class 1E, free in class 1E with the purchase of other seats, paid in class 2B without purchasing additional seats.

"Allegro" - paid in carriage 6 (seats 65-68). You can carry a maximum of two cats per cage. There is a fee of 15 euros per pet.

“Lastochka” and “Lastochka-Premium” - for a fee in specialized places in 3, 5 and 10 cars. No more than one seat per ticket and no more than two animals. Collection 150 rubles.

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.

What animals can be transported?

The train cabin allows only pets. Bees, wild and agricultural fauna are provided with a luggage car. Feeding, watering, care is carried out by the owner, the carrier company only deals with delivery.

Pets have two conventional categories: small and large. Each requires compliance with its own railway transport rules. Small pets include those transported in boxes, containers, cages, baskets, and other adapted containers, the total size of which in height, length, and width is less than 180 cm. A large pet is considered to be a pet for which a carrier of a given size will be small.

Guide dogs travel free of charge in any type of carriage.

Small dogs are transported in a carrier

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.

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

Conditions required when transporting pets

Small animals must be transported in carriers or any other container, the total size of which in three dimensions is less than 180 cm. Small sizes are characterized by hand luggage; almost any place will do. Large ones must be muzzled and on a leash. The owner monitors sanitary and hygienic conditions independently.

A guide dog (in common parlance “guide dog”) is not required to have documents, not even a ticket. The only mandatory conditions:

dressed collar;
presence of a muzzle;
be on the floor, next to the owner accompanied by her.

The bag is also suitable for transporting small animals