Here's what will change for pet passports when the UK leaves the EU

Once the UK withdraws from the EU on 31 January 2020, holidays and travel plans to Europe will remain initially unaffected, as the UK is still in the transition period.

So if you're worried about taking your four-legged friends with you on your travels post-"Brexit Day", you needn't be.

According to ABTA, "everything will remain the same" with regards to pet travel, "and you can continue to travel as you do now until at least the end of December 2020."

It's only if Britain faces the prospect of a no-deal Brexit at the end of the transition period that you might have to start thinking about your pet's travel plans.

Bearing in mind that the deadline of the transition period has the potential to be extended until 2023, those changes might be a few years off yet.

Here's everything you need to know about what could change:

What's the situation now?

Currently, all pet dogs enjoy free movement across the bloc, along with the UK’s estimated 11 million pet cats - and their owners, of course - under the EU Pet Travel Scheme (Pets).

As it stands, UK dog, cat and ferret owners can travel with their pets to and from other EU member states with minimal hassle.

A no-deal Brexit could set the cat among the pigeons, and UK holidaymakers who hope to take their pets away after the transition periof will likely be urged to start preparations early, or risk their animals being denied entry.