Bringing a Cat from Cyprus to Germany: What Applies at Entry

Cyprus is in the EU, so the Union's common rules apply to the journey to Germany. Even so, you cannot simply take a cat with you: it needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport, and the vaccination alone takes at least three weeks. Here you can read what applies in detail, from what age a cat may travel, and why an adoption needs more than a holiday trip with your own cat.

The essentials

• Always needed: microchip, valid rabies vaccination and EU pet passport.
• Order: the chip first, then the vaccination.
• Waiting period: the vaccination is valid no sooner than 21 days after the primary vaccination is complete.
• Minimum age: cats are vaccinated from 12 weeks at the earliest, so a cat can come to Germany from about 15 weeks at the earliest.
• Adoption: if the cat changes owner, a veterinary examination, an official health certificate and a notification in the EU's TRACES system are added.

What every cat needs

Microchip

The chip makes the cat clearly identifiable, and its number is in the passport. It must be implanted or read before the rabies vaccination: a vaccination dated before that does not count.

Rabies vaccination

An official or authorised vet vaccinates the cat once it is at least 12 weeks old. The vaccination becomes valid no sooner than 21 days after the primary vaccination is complete. Boosters must be given while the previous vaccination is still valid; otherwise the waiting period starts again.

EU pet passport

The passport is issued by an authorised vet. It contains a description of the cat, the chip number, the rabies vaccination and the contact details of the keeper and the vet. Passports of the previous model remain valid as long as the rabies protection is recorded without gaps.

From what age may a cat travel?

Some EU countries admit young cats from other EU countries that are not yet fully protected. Germany does not. With a minimum age of 12 weeks and a waiting period of 21 days, a cat can therefore come to Germany from about 15 weeks at the earliest.

Your own cat or an adoption: two different routes

Travelling with your own cat

The simple rules above apply to journeys where the cat is neither sold nor changes owner. It travels with you or with a person you have authorised in writing; you must then travel yourself no more than five days before or after the cat. At most five animals are allowed.

Adoption through an animal welfare organisation

A cat that moves to a new home through an organisation in return for an adoption fee does not legally travel as a pet. Even for charitable work, the stricter rules for movements within the EU then apply:

• The cat comes from an establishment registered with the authorities; a shelter or assembly centre needs approval.
• It has a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and its own pet passport.
• An authorised vet examines it no more than 48 hours before dispatch.
• An official vet issues a health certificate and notifies the authorities at the destination through TRACES.

German animal welfare law comes on top of this: anyone who brings animals from abroad to Germany for a fee, or places them there, generally needs a permit under § 11 of the Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz), even if based abroad. This permit is in place for our adoptions.

We take care of the examination and the papers before your cat flies. How an adoption works with us and what it costs is explained in Adopting a Cat from Cyprus.

Found a cat on holiday?

This happens often in Cyprus, but unfortunately you cannot take the cat home overnight. Before the flight a vet in Cyprus must chip and vaccinate it, at least 21 days must then pass, and for a kitten the minimum age of about 15 weeks applies. Airlines also have their own rules for animals. Write to us through the contact form and we will tell you what is possible in your case.

What happens if something is missing?

If there are doubts during a check, customs call in the official vet, who decides what happens next. In the case of breaches of animal health law, the authority can secure and isolate the cat until the requirements are met; if there are signs of a contagious disease, it also considers stricter measures. So take the papers seriously: a missing vaccination cannot be made up for on the way.

After arriving in Germany

• Register the chip: the chip only helps if the number leads to you. In Germany this is free, for example with TASSO or FINDEFIX.
• See a vet: a first visit in the first few weeks gives you clarity and a vet to turn to.
• Keep an eye on the vaccination: if you want to travel with the cat again, the rabies vaccination must stay valid without a gap.
• Local rules: there is no nationwide obligation, but some federal states and municipalities require neutering, identification and registration for cats that go outdoors. Our cats live without free outdoor access; if in doubt, ask your municipality.

Frequently asked questions

Does the cat have to go into quarantine?

The rules above for journeys within the EU do not provide for quarantine if the papers are complete.

Does the cat need a rabies blood test?

Not from an EU country such as Cyprus. The blood test is intended for returning from certain countries outside the EU.

Can a friend bring the cat for me?

If it is your own cat, yes, as long as you authorise them in writing and travel yourself no more than five days before or after the cat. For an adoption, a flight buddy does this with us, and we prepare all the documents.

How soon can a cat come at the earliest?

If it has not been vaccinated yet, it takes at least 21 days from the vaccination. For a cat that already has all its papers, it mainly depends on the next suitable flight.

Any questions?

These rules reflect the position in November 2026 and may change; the veterinary office (Veterinäramt) can give you a binding answer. Feel free to write to us through the contact form, or meet the cats looking for a home right away.