Many areas of Lisbon are quite urban, so your high-rise kitty may find that their “outdoor time” is mostly limited to the balcony. On the flip side, there are also plenty of quieter neighborhoods with single-family homes and leafy gardens, where your feline friend can relax in the warm sunshine or find a cool, shady hideaway.
How your indoor/outdoor cat settles into their new life in Lisbon will partly depend on the type of housing and neighborhood you choose. And as every cat lover knows, while our feline companions have many wonderful qualities, enthusiasm for change is rarely one of them. Most cats would rather avoid moving to a new house down the street, let alone starting over in a brand-new country. That means relocating to Portugal will require extra care and planning on your part to help your precious cat make the transition as smoothly and positively as possible.
Plan ahead
There are many ways you can support their adjustment, moving forward at the slow, careful pace they prefer. There are also several things you’ll want to do on your very first day together in Lisbon. Reviewing those steps in advance will set you up to give your cat calm, reassuring experiences from the moment they arrive.
There are a few practical details you’ll want to understand for yourself as a pet parent in Lisbon, too. For example, if your furry family includes more than just a cat, be aware that you are not allowed to have more than four pets in your home. They can all be cats, but if you decide to add a dog later on, the legal total is still four. This rule applies regardless of the type of home or neighborhood.
Your pet will also need to be registered and licensed. You can take care of this at your local Junta de Freguesia (parish council office). Registration is done once, but licenses must be renewed annually. You’ll be asked to show proof of a valid rabies vaccination. That should be straightforward, since the import paperwork for entering Portugal already includes a rabies certificate. While a microchip is not required for licensing cats, your pet will already be microchipped to meet the import requirements.
You'll be joining a country where pets are increasingly part of the family. Pet ownership is on the rise in Portugal, and more than half of households now include at least one pet. There were about 991,000 cats in 2012; by 2017, that number had climbed to roughly 1.5 million. Along with this growth, the government now recognizes pets as living beings rather than simply “objects” someone owns. You already know you’re a devoted cat parent, but it’s reassuring to know your new neighbors and fellow residents share that caring mindset.
One key difference from the US is that pets may have more access to public transport. If your cat is up for a little adventure by bus or metro, they may be allowed to ride along. They'll need to be in a carrier (or on a leash). And if seats are limited, you’ll be expected to hold the carrier on your lap - which, realistically, you’d probably do anyway.
A Portuguese story every cat-lover will appreciate
If you’re thinking about creating a one-of-a-kind “cat house” for your cat, this heartwarming story from the mountains of southern Portugal might spark some ideas. Back in 2015, a veterinarian in the town of Monchique was troubled by the large number of stray cats and the tough conditions they faced outdoors.
After treating two stray kittens, Dr. Ana Silva watched them head straight for an old washing machine sitting in her yard, waiting to be hauled away. “So I put in some blankets,” she recalls, “and they never left.” That moment inspired a creative solution.
She founded a non-profit called Aqui Há Gato (“Here Is a Cat”), with a mission unlike any other: placing discarded washing machines and dryers around town so stray cats have sheltered, weatherproof places to sleep. Local schoolchildren and cat-loving adults decorate the appliances, turning them into cheerful, protected hideaways. Dr. Silva hopes to see her idea spread throughout Portugal.
Whether or not you decide to build a washing-machine “McMansion” for cats in your new Lisbon home, with your patience, planning, and love, they're very likely to settle in and feel at home in their new surroundings.
