Need a pet-friendly taxi for a local journey or airport transfer? Travelling with a cat or dog does not have to make the journey complicated. With a little preparation and the right vehicle, Ladybird Taxis & Airport Taxi can help make pet travel more comfortable for owners, animals and everyone travelling with them.
Whether you are taking your dog to Heathrow, travelling with a cat in a secure carrier, arranging a veterinary journey or collecting an animal from an airport-related facility, pre-booking gives us the opportunity to understand what you need and plan the most suitable taxi.
Tell us that you are travelling with a cat or dog when booking, along with the number of passengers, luggage, carrier or crate size and your destination.
Pet-Friendly Taxis for Cats & Dogs
Pets are part of the family, and there are plenty of occasions when they need to travel with you. That could mean a short trip across Camberley, Frimley or Farnborough, an appointment with a vet, a move to a new home or a much longer airport taxi transfer.
The key difference with pet travel is preparation. A normal passenger booking may only require a pickup address, destination and passenger count. When a pet is involved, it helps us to know what type of animal is travelling, whether it will be inside a carrier or crate, how much luggage you have and whether you need additional vehicle space.
Giving these details when you book means we can plan your journey more effectively and avoid surprises when the taxi arrives.
When Might You Need a Pet-Friendly Taxi?
- Travelling to or from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted or London City Airport.
- Taking a cat or dog to a veterinary appointment.
- Collecting a pet following treatment.
- Moving home with your pet.
- Travelling to kennels, catteries or boarding facilities.
- Pet grooming appointments.
- Visiting friends or family with your animal.
- Travelling to a railway station, hotel or other onward connection.
- Specialist journeys associated with animal travel at Heathrow.
If you have a more unusual journey, speak to us before booking. The more information we have in advance, the easier it is to determine whether we have an appropriate vehicle available.
Travelling With a Dog in a Taxi
Dogs vary considerably in size and temperament, so there is no single vehicle arrangement suitable for every journey. A small dog travelling in a secure carrier has very different space requirements from a large dog travelling alongside several passengers and suitcases.
When booking, tell us the approximate size of your dog and how it will travel. If you are heading to an airport with suitcases, a larger estate, MPV or other suitable vehicle may be preferable depending on availability and the total space required.
Before your dog gets into the taxi
- Give your dog an opportunity for a toilet break before a longer journey.
- Use an appropriate lead, carrier, crate or restraint for the journey.
- Bring water for longer transfers.
- Keep any travel documents you require somewhere easy to reach.
- Let us know in advance if your dog is particularly large.
- Tell us about any unusually large crate or specialist travel equipment.
For nervous dogs, familiar bedding or another familiar item can sometimes help make a journey less unfamiliar.
Travelling With a Cat in a Taxi
Cats will generally be safest and easier to manage when transported in a secure, suitable carrier. Even a normally calm cat may react differently to an unfamiliar vehicle, road noise or a busy airport environment.
Make sure the carrier closes securely before leaving home and check that its size can be accommodated alongside your passengers and luggage. For airport journeys involving a larger travel crate, tell us its approximate dimensions when arranging the taxi.
Useful items for a cat journey
- A secure and appropriately sized carrier.
- An absorbent liner or familiar blanket.
- Water for longer trips where appropriate.
- Any paperwork required for the onward journey.
- Cleaning supplies in case your cat becomes travel-sick.
If you are preparing for a longer trip, our guide to Travelling with Cats & Dogs Made Easy provides additional practical advice for planning the journey.
Pet-Friendly Airport Taxi Transfers
Airport journeys need more planning than most local trips, particularly when an animal is travelling as well. Flight times, terminal arrangements, luggage, carriers and the additional time involved in preparing a pet all need to be considered.
Ladybird provides pre-booked airport taxi transfers for Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, London City and other airports on request. If your journey involves a pet, mention this when making the booking rather than waiting until collection day.
Your airline, animal travel agent or relevant animal handling facility should confirm the requirements for the animal’s flight. Your taxi booking covers the road journey, so share the correct collection or drop-off location with us when booking.
Pet Taxi Transfers to Heathrow Airport
Heathrow is particularly important for passengers travelling with animals because not every pet-related journey ends at a passenger terminal. Depending on your arrangements, you may need transport connected with a specialist animal reception or handling location rather than a standard terminal departure or arrivals area.
Ladybird already supports pet-related journeys associated with Heathrow, including transfers involving Heathrow Animal Reception Centre and Animal Aircare Ltd at London Heathrow. When arranging one of these journeys, provide the exact location and any collection information you have received so that the trip can be planned correctly.
For ordinary passenger-terminal journeys, you can also see our dedicated Heathrow Airport Taxi Transfers information.
Choosing the Right Taxi When Travelling With a Pet
Vehicle space becomes particularly important when pets, passengers and airport luggage are combined. Booking solely on passenger numbers can underestimate how much room is actually needed.
For example, two passengers may normally fit easily into a standard car, but two passengers travelling with several suitcases and a large pet carrier could require considerably more luggage capacity.
Tell us about:
- The number of adults and children travelling.
- Whether you are travelling with a cat or dog.
- The approximate size of the animal.
- Whether your pet will travel in a carrier or crate.
- The approximate dimensions of large crates.
- The number of suitcases and larger bags.
- Pushchairs, wheelchairs or other equipment that also requires space.
This information helps us match the booking to an appropriate available vehicle. Ladybird’s wider airport transfer service includes different vehicle sizes for individuals, families and groups, so it is worth discussing your requirements before travelling.
How to Make Your Pet’s Taxi Journey More Comfortable
A calm journey usually starts before the taxi arrives. Try to have your pet ready to travel, the carrier secured and your luggage organised before pickup time.
- Book in advance. Tell the booking team that a pet will be travelling.
- Choose a suitable carrier or restraint. Use equipment appropriate for your animal and journey.
- Prepare before pickup. Avoid searching for leads, documents or carrier accessories when the vehicle arrives.
- Allow enough time. Airport journeys in particular should not feel rushed.
- Protect against accidents. An absorbent liner, towel or blanket can be useful during longer journeys.
- Keep essentials accessible. Do not bury important pet documents or supplies at the bottom of your luggage.
- Tell us about large equipment. Oversized crates can substantially affect the vehicle space needed.
Local Pet-Friendly Taxi Journeys
Pet-friendly travel is not limited to airports. Subject to advance arrangement and vehicle availability, you can contact Ladybird about local journeys involving cats and dogs across our service area.
Our wider taxi coverage includes areas such as Camberley, Frimley, Bagshot, Lightwater, Windlesham, Farnborough, Sandhurst, Yateley, Bracknell, Ascot, Woking, Guildford and surrounding parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.
This can be particularly useful when you do not want to rely on public transport with a pet carrier, when a dog is unable to walk a longer distance, or when you need transport to a vet, kennel, cattery or other appointment.
What to Tell Us When Booking a Pet-Friendly Taxi
You do not need to make the booking complicated. A few clear details are normally the most useful:
- Pickup: full collection address.
- Destination: terminal, hotel, vet, animal facility or other address.
- Date and time: including flight details for airport transfers where relevant.
- Passengers: total number travelling.
- Pet: cat or dog and approximate size.
- Carrier: whether one is being used and its approximate size if large.
- Luggage: number of suitcases and oversized items.
- Special requirements: anything else that could affect vehicle selection or pickup.
🐾 Planning a Journey With Your Pet?
Tell us about your cat or dog when you make the booking so we can check suitable vehicle availability and plan the journey with you.
Pet-Friendly Taxi FAQs
Can I take my dog in a Ladybird taxi?
Pet journeys can be arranged subject to suitable vehicle availability and advance agreement. Tell us about your dog when booking, particularly its approximate size and whether you are travelling with luggage or a crate.
Can I take my cat in a taxi?
Contact us in advance to arrange the journey. Cats should normally travel in a secure, appropriate carrier so they remain contained during the trip.
Do I need to tell you about my pet before the taxi arrives?
Yes. Please mention your pet when making the booking. This gives us the opportunity to check vehicle suitability rather than discovering additional space requirements at pickup.
Can you take pets to Heathrow Airport?
Ladybird provides pre-booked Heathrow airport transfers and supports pet-related journeys, including journeys associated with specialist animal facilities at Heathrow. Tell us the exact destination or collection point provided as part of your animal travel arrangements.
What if I have a large dog and several suitcases?
Give us the details when booking. A larger vehicle may be required depending on passenger numbers, the size of the dog, whether a crate is being used and the amount of luggage.
Can you collect a pet from Heathrow Animal Reception Centre?
Ladybird supports specialist pet-related journeys connected with Heathrow. Because these arrangements can differ from a normal terminal pickup, provide the exact collection details when requesting the booking.
Make Travelling With Cats & Dogs Easier
Taking a pet in a taxi should not need to be stressful. The most important step is simply to plan ahead. Tell us who is travelling, what pet you are bringing, how much luggage you have and where you need to go.
For more practical preparation advice, continue to our guide: Travelling with Cats & Dogs Made Easy.
For flights and longer airport journeys, visit our Airport Taxi Transfers pillar page for information about Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, London City and other airport transfers.
Ladybird Taxis & Airport Taxi
Pre-booked local journeys · Airport transfers · Pet-related travel
01276 850505
