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Entry 496Filed under Breeding

Liebchen the Adventure Cat: What Traveling the World With a Cat Really Takes

Erin Geldermans says Liebchen has traveled to 15 countries, but his story is one cat’s experience. Learn what to consider before traveling with your own cat.
4-minute read By Animalso Team
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Yes, it is possible to travel widely with a cat—but Liebchen’s story is one cat’s experience, not proof that every cat will enjoy the journey. In a Catster interview published September 15, 2026, his owner, Erin Geldermans, described a confident cat who has joined her on hikes, camping trips, road journeys, and other outings since kittenhood. She says they have visited 15 countries. Whether travel is right for another cat depends on that individual animal’s temperament, comfort, and the demands of the trip.

Who is Liebchen, the adventure cat?

Erin Geldermans told Catster that she adopted Liebchen, a rescue Maine Coon/Siberian Forest Cat mix, at nine weeks old on September 24, 2020, while living in Aspen, Colorado. The interview describes Geldermans and her partner, Melchior Leemeijer, as based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Liebchen as six years old at the time of the September 2026 feature. Geldermans began sharing their hikes, explorations, and camping trips with friends and family on social media.

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In that interview, Geldermans reported that she and Liebchen had visited 15 countries and planned to visit more. That number is her account, not an independently verified travel record. She describes him as curious, confident, and adventurous, and says he enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, biking, camping, skiing, and road trips. She also says she was reluctant to leave him at home and that they settled into a travel routine because he had been included in outings from kittenhood.

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Does Liebchen’s story mean cats generally like to travel?

No. Liebchen’s apparent comfort is specific to him and to the relationship and routine Geldermans describes. FOUR PAWS cautions that many cats are territorial and may prefer familiar surroundings; temperament matters, and owners should change plans if their cat does not tolerate travel. A cat that hides, resists handling, or becomes distressed should not be pushed to imitate an adventure cat.

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Geldermans has also described a hands-off approach to activities and filming. She told Catster: “I never force Liebchen to do anything. I don’t sit him down, move him, pose him, force him… I let him do everything himself, I let him move how he wants to, go where he wants to, and actually be a cat.” She says she gives him plenty of rest, and that some days they do not film at all. Those details matter: a polished travel photo cannot show how a cat feels throughout a trip, and an outing should be shaped around the animal rather than a desired image.

What should you consider before traveling with a cat?

Start with your cat, not the itinerary. Consider whether your cat willingly enters a carrier, copes with new places and sounds, and can rest during the proposed journey. The length and mode of travel, time available for acclimation, safe carrier fit, and rules set by transport operators and destinations all affect the decision. There is no universally suitable travel approach or carrier for every cat.

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  • Comfort: Look for the cat’s demonstrated response to handling, the carrier, and short practice outings. Do not assume that enjoying a harness or a backyard means the cat will tolerate a long trip.
  • Journey demands: A brief car ride and an international flight present different challenges. Plan around the actual duration, stops, and opportunities for the cat to rest safely.
  • Secure transport: Use a carrier that fits the cat and can be secured for the journey. A harness is optional for a cat comfortable wearing one; it does not replace a carrier when one is required.
  • Rules: Check the transport provider’s current requirements and the destination’s entry rules for the exact route before booking.

How can you prepare a cat carrier for travel?

Cats Protection recommends making the carrier familiar at home, choosing a sturdy handheld carrier, and securing it in the car. It cautions that backpack carriers may not provide enough room or feel stable. VCA veterinary guidance on flying with a cat also discusses carrier choice and acclimation. Make the carrier part of ordinary, low-pressure home life well before travel rather than introducing it for the first time on departure day.

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If you plan to use a harness, VCA recommends getting the cat accustomed to it before travel. Use one only if your cat is comfortable wearing it, and follow the airline’s carrier rules: a harness is not a substitute for a secure carrier where the carrier is required. Airline policies, cabin dimensions, and other requirements vary, so confirm them directly with the airline.

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What paperwork is needed to take a cat into the EU?

Requirements depend on where a journey begins and where it is going. The European Commission’s Your Europe guidance lists microchip identification and valid rabies vaccination among common requirements. Travel within the EU generally uses an EU pet passport; arrival from outside the EU requires an animal health certificate, with possible additional conditions depending on the origin country. The Commission’s 2025 explainer says an EU animal health certificate for arrival from outside the EU should be obtained from an official state veterinarian no more than 10 days before arrival.

These are route-dependent rules, not a substitute for checking the current official requirements for your itinerary. Confirm the rules for the departure country, transit points, and destination before booking, because requirements can change.

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What can Liebchen’s example teach a prospective cat traveler?

Geldermans’s account suggests that Liebchen’s trips grew from a routine established while he was young, and that his apparent enjoyment and freedom to opt out guide what they do. It does not establish that travel is enriching or suitable for every cat. If your cat’s response says the trip is not working, the caring choice may be to stop or make other arrangements at home—not to keep going for the sake of an itinerary.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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