Cats in Spain: rules and travel
Under the 2023 animal welfare law (Ley 7/2023) dog owners must take a free training course and hold liability insurance, and cats must be microchipped and neutered before 6 months. Details such as the course content, insurance amount and registration are set by regulations and regional or municipal rules.
Spain's autonomous communities and municipalities set many details, including registers, leash orders and local fees, so check the local council.
Registration and microchip
Microchipped cats are recorded in the national register, and unidentified animals cannot be transferred.[1]
Cats must be microchipped before 6 months of age, except breeding animals registered to a registered breeder (art. 26.i).[1]
Keeping rules
Cats must be surgically neutered before 6 months of age, except registered breeding animals (art. 26.i).[1]
Community (free living) cats must be microchipped, registered to the local authority and neutered, and councils run colony management programmes (arts. 38 and 39).[1]
Permanent mutilation is banned, including declawing and similar procedures, apart from vet certified therapeutic cases.[1]
Travelling to Spain with a cat
The pet travels with its owner and needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks or older and valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination, and an EU pet passport. Maximum 5 pets per vehicle.[2]
The pet needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (12 weeks or older, valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination), an animal health certificate valid 10 days for the entry checks, and a signed non-commercial declaration. It must enter through a travellers' point of entry. Maximum 5 pets per vehicle.[3]
Needed for pets from non-EU countries that are not on the EU list. Blood sample at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before the certificate is issued, tested at a designated laboratory, result 0.5 IU/ml or more. Not needed when travelling between EU countries.[3]
The EU entry conditions list no quarantine for pets that meet them.[3]
Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.