Cats in Belgium: rules and travel

Kittens must be chipped and registered in the CatID database before 12 weeks old since 1 November 2017. Cats changing hands, including free ones, must also be registered.[2]

Compulsory before 12 weeks old (Flanders).[3]

Cats must be neutered before sale or adoption (since 1 September 2014). Kittens born after 1 April 2018 must be neutered before 5 months old. Exceptions apply to licensed breeders and cats going abroad.[2]

Kittens may not be sold or given away before 12 weeks old. No outdoor curfew found; keeping a cat indoors that is used to going out is advised against.[2]

The same new EU Regulation will in time require privately kept cats to be microchipped and registered, with a longer phase-in than dogs. Farm cats are exempt.[4]

EU Regulation 576/2013 applies: pets travel with their owner, a maximum of five per trip, with a microchip, a pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination.[5]

Pets must have a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks or older and valid 21 days after the primary course, and an animal health certificate (or a pet passport when coming from a listed country). Unlisted origins must enter through a designated travellers point of entry. Maximum five pets per trip.[6]

Needed only for pets arriving from non-EU countries that are not on the EU list. Blood is taken at least 30 days after the first rabies vaccination and at least 90 days before the certificate is issued, with a result of 0.5 IU/ml or more from a designated lab. Pets from listed countries do not need it.[6]