The Bridge to a New Life: Why My Madrid Cat Now Calls Malmö Home

Life has a funny way of coming full circle. If you had told me in 2012, when I first adopted my cat from SOS Felinos in Madrid, that we would eventually settle in Southern Sweden, I wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, he was a local street cat, and I was a foreign student in the Spanish capital. But sometimes, a single person—and a single bridge—changes everything. The "Oresund" Connection My connection to Malmö actually started long before I met my ex. Ten years ago, I visited a friend doing an Erasmus exchange in Copenhagen. He suggested we "cross the bridge" to Sweden. We spent a day exploring Malmö and Lund with a few beers and no real plan.

I left with a great impression of the area, never dreaming it would one day be my backyard. And he visited me last year when he was on vacation with his boyfriend!

A Whirlwind Romance & A Global Shift Fast forward to 2019. In the heart of Madrid, I met a Swedish-Italian man. The connection was intense; within three months, we were living together. When he told me he was from the Malmö-Lund area, I got excited—it was the only part of Sweden I actually knew. Then, 2020 happened.

When COVID-19 hit Madrid, the world stopped. Because of work, he had to return to Sweden. I promised I would follow. Leaving a city I had called home for about 10 years was a massive decision, but the biggest challenge was the traveler I’d be bringing with me. My cat had lived in Madrid his whole life; this would be his first flight ever.

✈️ Travel Tips: Moving Your Cat Across Borders 

Moving a senior cat from Spain to Sweden during a lockdown was stressful, but we made it. 

If you’re planning a similar move, here is my "Survival Checklist": 

The EU Pet Passport: This is your golden ticket. Since Spain and Sweden are both in the EU, my vet in Madrid issued an EU Pet Passport. It must include his microchip info and a valid Rabies vaccination (administered at least 21 days before travel).

- Airline Policy is Key: Every airline has different rules. Some allow cats in the cabin (usually if the carrier + cat weigh under 8kg), while others require them to be in the hold. Always call to "reserve" a spot for your pet immediately after booking your own seat, as there is often a limit of 2 pets per flight. 

- The Security Shuffle: At the airport, you will have to take your cat out of the carrier so the bag can go through the X-ray. Pro tip: Have him wear a secure harness and leash so he doesn't bolt if he gets spooked by the airport noise. 

- Register with Jordbruksverket: Once you arrive in Sweden, don’t forget to register your cat with the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket). Since 2023, cat registration has been mandatory in Sweden! 

- Comfort is Everything: Line the carrier with a piece of your unwashed clothing. The familiar scent of "home" will help keep them calm during the engine noise and pressure changes. 

Home is where the heart (and the Cat) is today, looking out at the Malmö skyline, it feels like destiny. The "day trip" I took ten years ago turned into a lifelong stay. My cat has traded his Spanish sunbeams for a cozy Swedish radiator, and honestly? He’s never looked more at home. We left a decade of memories in Madrid, but we brought the most important piece of it with us.