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Ryanair and Cats: No Cabin, No Hold — Here's What to Book Instead

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Ryanair does not allow cats — or any pets — on any of its flights, in the cabin or the hold. The only exception is trained assistance dogs, which are accepted in the cabin on certain intra-EU/EEA and domestic routes with advance documentation. For pet cats, there are no exceptions by route, fare class, or animal size. If you're planning to fly with your cat and Ryanair is your default airline, here's how to find a route that will actually work.

If you've already booked Ryanair — your options

Finding out your airline doesn't accept cats after you've already bought tickets puts you in an uncomfortable position. There are three routes out.

Option 1 — Rebook with a cat-friendly airline

This is the most direct path — but it's more complicated than it sounds, and the reason why is explained in the section below. The short version: the airlines that allow cats in the cabin (Lufthansa, KLM, Air France) mostly operate from different UK airports than Ryanair does. Switching airlines may mean switching your departure airport too.

On the Ryanair rebooking itself: if Ryanair made a change to your flight — a schedule shift, route change, or cancellation — you're likely entitled to a refund or free rebook under UK261 consumer protection rules. If you're cancelling a booking you made voluntarily, Ryanair fares are non-refundable — you will not receive the fare back. Government taxes are sometimes reclaimable separately; check your fare conditions in your Ryanair account. Expect no refund unless Ryanair initiated the change.

Option 2 — Travel by ferry

For a significant number of Ryanair routes — particularly UK-to-France, UK-to-Ireland, and UK-to-Spain crossings — ferry travel is a genuine alternative, not a consolation prize. Three operators currently allow cats in pet-friendly cabins:

DFDS allows cats and dogs in dedicated pet-friendly cabins on their Newhaven–Dieppe and Newcastle–Amsterdam routes, among others. The pet supplement is from around £20 per pet each way on some routes, in addition to the cabin cost — confirm exact pricing for your route during booking. Policies verified from DFDS.com, May 2026.

Brittany Ferries offers pet-friendly cabins on several routes including Portsmouth–Caen, Portsmouth–Cherbourg, and Rosslare–Bilbao. Pets travel in the cabin with you overnight, which is genuinely less stressful for a cat than a flight. Availability is limited and books out on summer routes — reserve early. Policies verified from Brittany-Ferries.co.uk, May 2026.

Irish Ferries offers pet-friendly cabins on the Dublin–Holyhead route (James Joyce vessel) and on the Dublin–Cherbourg route. If your Ryanair booking was for a Dublin or Cork departure going to France or the UK, this is worth pricing directly against the airline option. Policies verified from IrishFerries.com, May 2026.

One note on paperwork for UK–Ireland routes: the position varies by direction and jurisdiction, and is more nuanced than many sources suggest. Travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain is the simplest — no pet passport or health certificate is required. Travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland requires a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (no rabies vaccination needed). Travelling from Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland by ferry still requires an Animal Health Certificate, as Ireland is an EU member state. Check the current DEFRA and destination-country requirements before booking, as these rules can change.

Option 3 — Book a licensed pet transport service

If your travel dates are fixed and you can't change them, a licensed pet courier service can move your cat separately — by road, ferry, or approved cargo where available. This is the most expensive option and works best for moves rather than holidays, but it exists.

The airport problem — why Ryanair alternatives are harder to find

Here is the part that no aggregator result bothers to explain, and it's the most important thing in this article.

Ryanair operates primarily from secondary airports: London Stansted, London Luton, Dublin, Manchester, Edinburgh, and a network of regional and continental bases. The airlines that allow cats in the cabin — Lufthansa, KLM, Air France — do not fly from Stansted or Luton in any meaningful way. They operate from Heathrow, and occasionally Gatwick.

The other carriers that do fly from Stansted and Luton — easyJet, Wizz Air UK, Jet2 — also prohibit cabin pets. This is not a coincidence. These are all low-cost carriers with operational models that don't accommodate live animals in the cabin.

What this means in practice: if you're booked on Ryanair from Stansted or Luton, there is no scheduled airline at that airport that will take your cat in the cabin. Switching airlines means switching airports. For most UK passengers, that means adding a trip to Heathrow or, for some routes, Gatwick.

Whether that's practical depends on your specific journey. Heathrow is reachable from central London in 40–60 minutes by Tube or train — from a Stansted or Luton address, it's typically 90 minutes to two hours including connections. Factor that into the cost comparison.

From Dublin and Cork, Aer Lingus is the obvious candidate — but Aer Lingus does not allow cats in the passenger cabin either. Pets travel as cargo via IAG Cargo on hold-only terms. For Dublin departures, ferry is typically the more practical cat-friendly option.

Cat-friendly airlines on UK-to-Europe routes

For passengers who can get to Heathrow or Gatwick, the picture is much better. Here are the main options as of May 2026.

(All information verified directly from airline and operator sources, May 2026. Confirm your specific route and booking class before purchasing — policies change without notice.)

For most UK-to-Europe routes, Lufthansa and KLM cover the widest network from Heathrow and have the clearest cabin pet policies. We've covered both in detail: see our Lufthansa cat-in-cabin guide and our KLM cat-in-cabin guide.

Note: Vueling does fly from Gatwick but its cabin pet policy explicitly excludes flights to and from the UK (and Iceland). UK passengers cannot use Vueling as a cabin pet option.

Cabin pet spaces are allocated per flight and cap out — typically at one or two animals. Once you've identified an airline and route that works, search flights and check cabin pet availability early. These spaces fill before cheap seats do.

Ferry as a serious alternative

It's worth giving ferry travel a second look before committing to the airport-switching cost. For a number of destinations Ryanair serves — France, Ireland, Spain — ferry is competitive on total journey time once airport transfers and check-in are factored in.

The practical benefits for cats are real. There's no carrier weight limit, no security screening, no pressurised cabin. Your cat travels in a pet-friendly cabin overnight, which is about as unstressful as crossing a channel can get. Spraying the carrier with Feliway an hour before boarding helps settle most cats for the crossing. Brittany Ferries in particular has invested in pet-friendly cabin design — the cabins are sized for a pet bed alongside a human bunk, not just a corner for a carrier. For overnight crossings, a collapsible travel litter tray is worth packing — it folds flat and fits easily in a cabin bag.

For UK–Ireland travel, the paperwork position depends on your specific route. The NI–GB direction is the lightest — no health certificate or passport required. GB to Northern Ireland requires a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document. GB to the Republic of Ireland by ferry still requires an Animal Health Certificate, since Ireland is an EU member state. Check your specific route requirements against current DEFRA guidance before booking — but even where an AHC is needed, ferry avoids the pressurised cabin stress and carrier weight limits that flying imposes.

Before you rebook — three things to confirm

1. Cabin pet spaces on your specific route. Not every route operated by a cat-friendly airline allows cabin pets — some legs within a wider network are excluded. Call the airline's pet booking line or check the specific route on their booking engine before purchasing. Don't assume route-level pet approval from a general policy page.

2. Book the pet space at the same time as the ticket. On Lufthansa, KLM, and Air France, cabin pet spaces cannot reliably be added after booking. Some airlines allow it online up to a deadline; others require a phone call. Either way, don't assume you can add the cat later. Add it during the initial booking.

3. Carrier dimensions differ by airline. The carrier that passes Lufthansa's dimensions may not pass KLM's, and vice versa — the differences are small (1–2 cm in a single dimension) but are enforced at check-in. Check the exact requirements for your specific airline before buying a carrier. Our airline-approved carrier guide covers the major European airlines with specific measurements. Mr. Peanut's Gold Series is a reliable starting point that fits both Lufthansa and KLM under-seat requirements.

All policy details in this article were verified directly from airline and operator sources, May 2026. Airline policies and fees change without notice — confirm directly with your chosen airline before purchasing.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ryanair allow any animals at all?
The only animals Ryanair accepts are trained and certified assistance dogs, which are permitted in the cabin on certain routes with advance documentation. All other animals — including cats, dogs, and emotional support animals — are not accepted on any Ryanair flight, cabin or hold.

Can I put my cat in the hold on Ryanair?
No. Ryanair does not accept pets in the hold or cargo on any of its routes. There is no hold pet option available regardless of crate size, route, or fare type.

Do any budget airlines allow cats in cabin from UK airports?
No UK-based low-cost carrier currently allows cats in the passenger cabin. easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air UK, and Jet2 all prohibit cabin pets entirely. TUI does not allow pets in the passenger cabin but does offer pet carriage in the hold as cargo on some routes. To fly with your cat in cabin on a UK-to-Europe route, you need to use a full-service continental carrier (Lufthansa, KLM, Air France) operating from Heathrow. Note that Vueling flies from Gatwick but its cabin pet policy explicitly excludes UK routes.

Which cat-friendly airlines fly from Stansted?
None of the scheduled airlines operating regular routes from Stansted currently allow cats in the passenger cabin. If Stansted is your departure airport, your options are ferry travel or travelling to Heathrow or Gatwick to access cat-friendly carriers.

Which cat-friendly airlines fly from Luton?
As with Stansted, none of the scheduled carriers at Luton — Wizz Air UK, easyJet, Ryanair — allow cabin pets. Ferry or an airport change to Heathrow or Gatwick are the practical routes forward.

Can I get a refund from Ryanair if I need to cancel because cats aren't allowed?
This depends on whether Ryanair changed the flight or you're cancelling voluntarily. If Ryanair cancelled or significantly altered your flight, you're likely entitled to a full refund or rerouting under UK261 rules. If you booked voluntarily and are cancelling, Ryanair fares are non-refundable — you won't receive the fare back if the flight operates as scheduled. Government taxes may be reclaimable separately. Check your specific fare conditions in your Ryanair account.

How much does it cost to add a cat to a flight on a cat-friendly airline?
Cabin pet fees vary and should be confirmed directly with the airline at booking, as they change frequently and can depend on route. As a guide at May 2026: Lufthansa charges approximately €50–55; KLM's fees range from €70 to €500 depending on route; Air France fees should be checked during the booking process. These fees are in addition to your own ticket. Always confirm the current fee on your specific route before purchasing.

Does Aer Lingus allow cats in cabin?
No. Aer Lingus does not allow pets in the passenger cabin on any of its routes. Pets can travel in the hold as checked baggage on some European routes or as cargo via IAG Cargo. For Dublin-based passengers wanting to travel with a cat, ferry via Irish Ferries is typically the more practical option.

Once you've confirmed which airline and route works for your cat, the next step is booking early. Search cat-friendly flights on your route — cabin pet spaces are allocated per flight and typically fill before cheap seats do. The airlines that allow cabin cats operate from Heathrow and Gatwick; if switching airports adds meaningful cost or time, ferry travel from a port near you is worth a direct comparison before you commit.

If easyJet is on your shortlist as a Ryanair alternative, it's worth knowing that easyJet also prohibits cats in the cabin or hold — the same policy, for the same reason. Our full guide covers all the alternatives from easyJet's airports too.

For a full list of which airlines across Europe currently accept cats in cabin, with fees and weight limits in one place, see our guide to airlines that allow cats in cabin in 2026.