The cat or ferret must accompany the owner
Non-commercial movement of pet animals means that the movement of the cat or ferret is caused by the movement of the owner and that the cat or ferret during the movement is under the direct responsibility of the owner.
Furthermore, the cat or ferret must not be intended for sale just as the ownership of the cat or ferret must not be intended to be transferred to another person.
Non-commercial movement of a cat or ferret may take place up to five days before or after the the movement of the owner.
If the movement of the cat or ferret cannot take place at the same time as the movement of the owner, but within the time limits mentioned above, the movement of the cat must take place under the responsibility of another person authorised by the owner to move the cat on his/her behalf.
The authorisation must be in writing. For this purpose the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has created a model that you are welcome to use. Remember to let the authorisation accompany the cat or ferret during its movement.
Authorised person means a natural person and could be e.g.:
- Your spouse.
- A friend
- An employee at an animal transport company.
Get the Form for Authorisation
If the movement of a cat or ferret is not caused by the movement of its owner or the movement takes place more than five days before or after the movement of the owner, the movement of the cat or ferret must comply with the requirements for commercial import.
Import and Export of Animals
The movement of the cat or ferret must also comply with the requirements for commercial import if the cat or ferret is moved with the intention to be sold or of transferring the ownership of the cat or ferret to another person.
On request you must be able to document that the movement is non-commercial
Commercial import of pet animals often takes place fraudulenty disguised as non-commercial movement. Therefore you may be asked to document that the movement of your cat or ferret is indeed non-commercial.
On request from the competent authorities (Police, Customs or the Veterinary authorities) you may be asked to document that the movement of the cat or ferret is non-commercial and is caused by the movement of the owner.
Proper documentation can be hotel reservations or invoices, boardingpasses, flight or train tickets etc. which clearly indicates that the movement of the cats or ferrets is caused by the movement of the owner.
Your cat or ferret must have a valid identification
The cat or ferret must be marked with a microchip or by a clearly readable tattoo applied before July 3, 2011.
The technical requirements of the microchip must comply with ISO Standard 11784 and apply HDX or FDX-B technology and be capable of being read by a reading device compatible with ISO Standard 11785.
If your cat's or ferret´s microchip does not comply with the ISO Standard
Then the owner or the authorised person must provide the means necessary for reading that microchip at the time of any verification of the marking on request from the competent authority.
The maximum number of pet animals of the species dog, cat and ferret you move may not exceed five
The maximum number of pet animals of the species dog, cat and ferret that may accompany their owner or an authorised person during a movement may not exceed five animals in total.
However, that number may exceed five animals if the following conditions are met:
1) The movement of the pet animals is for the purpose of participation in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events or in training for such events.
2) The animals are accompanied by written documentation that they are registered either to attend such events or with an association organizing such events.
3) All the pet animals are more than six months old.
If the pet animals do not meet the conditions mentioned above they must comply with the requirements for commercial import.
Import and Export of Animals
Be careful when buying a kitten or ferrets
It is not irrelevant from where you buy or get a kitten or ferrets.
Buying a kitten or ferrets should be an informed decision and not a hasty impulse.
If you search for a serious breeder you will minimize the risk of buying a kitten or ferret that is sick or brought up under bad conditions.