Can an Old Healthy Cat Travel Successfully Internationally?

On 14 Mar 2004 05:05:37 -0800, (tioga 0630) wrote:

I may have to put my housecat on an airplane. This cat was relocated
twice successfully in her youth, but only locally, within a few miles.
She is now at least ten years old and perhaps older (she was either
young or a very skinny stray when we found her).

I'd almost rather die than face this relocation, and all the sites
I've read say not to tranquilize *and* fly at the same time. She has
been spayed, if that makes a difference. Short of ending my own life
(and I am not kidding when I say this, 'cause that's how much pain
anticipating my best friend's anxiety gives me), what can I do to make
sure she makes the international flight successfully?

I'm not entirely convinced she won't make it to the other country in
one piece and I'll be dead of a heart attack worrying about her. I'd
be grateful to hear from anyone on this group (and please, no comments
on my emotions--unless someone knows an antidepressant to ease Pet
Anxiety Disorder).

Thanks.

To add to the good advice already given, do fly with her in the cabin
with you under the seat. Get a soft-sided carrier. Those will scrunch up
enough to fit under a seat and can be pulled out to sit by your feet
during the flight.

Make reservations early for both you and the cat. There is a limit on
the animals permitted in the cabin.

Have a halter, leash and tags on your cat. You will be required to
remove the animal and carry it through the metal detector while the
carrier goes separately through X ray. Frightened cats have escaped in
airports.

Check with immigration of the destination country on required documents.
Don't depend on what the airlines tell you. A health certificate is
usually good for ten days and a copy of the rabies certificate will be
required.

BarB

"Annie Wxill" wrote in message
...

I think you made good suggestions, except for the "pain in the ass" part.
There is a big difference between being assertive and being
confrontational.
Being assertive in a firm but pleasant and polite way is more likely to
get
you the service you want, at least that has been my experience. I suggest
that the OP let the airline folks know she/he is anxious and this is a
first
time experience and she/he really needs the security of knowing what is
going on. People are more likely to cooperate if you allow them to feel
helpful instead of being bossed around.


True, but having worked in customer service, pretty much anyone asking for
something out of the ordinary is being a pain in the ass. When I said she
should be a pain in the ass, I in no way implied that she needed to be
confrontational. How she deals with people is up to her--she can do it
politely or not.

rona

--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

(tioga 0630) wrote in message . com...
I may have to put my housecat on an airplane. This cat was relocated
twice successfully in her youth, but only locally, within a few miles.
She is now at least ten years old and perhaps older (she was either
young or a very skinny stray when we found her).

I'd almost rather die than face this relocation, and all the sites
I've read say not to tranquilize *and* fly at the same time. She has
been spayed, if that makes a difference. Short of ending my own life
(and I am not kidding when I say this, 'cause that's how much pain
anticipating my best friend's anxiety gives me), what can I do to make
sure she makes the international flight successfully?

I'm not entirely convinced she won't make it to the other country in
one piece and I'll be dead of a heart attack worrying about her. I'd
be grateful to hear from anyone on this group (and please, no comments
on my emotions--unless someone knows an antidepressant to ease Pet
Anxiety Disorder).

Thanks.


A very real concern. Cats are not that adaptable.. Can anyone help this man...?

"tioga 0630" wrote in message
om...
I may have to put my housecat on an airplane. This cat was relocated
twice successfully in her youth, but only locally, within a few miles.
She is now at least ten years old and perhaps older (she was either
young or a very skinny stray when we found her).

Thanks.

I just realized that I did not address the issue of age in my original
reply. Only your vet could adequately discuss the issue of health with you
because your vet will know specifics about your cat's health. However, ten
years old really is not old for a cat that has been well-cared-for (and I am
sure yours has been). I made four trips (two round-trips) a year with my
first cat for many years. The last one was when he was 19 years old. He
was in the cabin with me for each trip, and that is important. His carrier
was under the seat in front of me, and he could look up and see me at all
times. I would lean over and talk to him frequently, but he also slept
through a lot of the trip -- with *no* tranquilizer (except for the first
time, which I mentioned in my original reply to you -- something I would
never do again). My trips were not as long as yours, of course. Each one
lasted about 3 hours each way.

MaryL

My vet doesn't consider a 10 year old cat old, if that's any help. Make
sure your cat can travel in the cabin with you. Check this well in advance
and you may need to contact more than one airline.

Good luck,
Barb

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message

I just realized that I did not address the issue of age in my original
reply. Only your vet could adequately discuss the issue of health with you
because your vet will know specifics about your cat's health. However, ten
years old really is not old for a cat that has been well-cared-for (and I am
sure yours has been).

Mary and Barb (and anyone else!). Reading all your kind replies, I
realized I omitted some very important information about Dorrie.

I was neither her original "finder" nor "keeper." I actually was a
cat...disliker until I sold my home and moved in with an elderly
parent last year. Dorrie was left with this parent and resided
primarily in the (cold) basement until I arrived. I started taking
care of her, and--well, now I almost love her more than I love life.

I trained her to live upstairs; she sleeps with me every night. Not
to be (WAH! WAH!) a baby, but the situation is very complex. The
parent in question is extremely difficult to live with and fairly
unkind. Being unemployed and by training an English teacher, I have
applied for work overseas. I've jettisoned literally everything I own
except my laptop and Dorrie in order to accept work.

Having said that, Dorrie has not been to a vet in 6+ years. As a
former stray, she is extremely frightened of strangers, and even I
have to guard my neck when I try to pick her up and carry her. The
sister who found her, rescued her, and had her spayed and given
routine initial shots, agrees that it might be useless to try to
transport her to a vet who is literally an earth-angel (the kind who
lets you bring your pet to him on gorgeous Saturday afternoons and
charges, like, ten dollars). This sister, who no longer lives with
our parent, is of the opinion the stress on Dorrie involved in picking
her up and sticking her in a car, let alone a carrier, would be at
least as bad as whatever ailment she might have. I do agree with
this.

When a previous poster on this thread warned that I'd have to remove
Dorrie from a carrier at customs, I got heartsick. Dor has never worn
a collar let alone a leash. She just "is what she is": a cat who was
born wild.

Anyway, those of you who are religious, please say prayers that God,
or Y--weh, Allah, Buddah, or Whoever will look on me in my situation.
I do not put Dorrie's life above mine (and my happiness has never been
less). On the other hand, God (or Y--weh, or Allah, or Buddah, or
Whomever) knows that Dorrie and Dorrie alone "rescued my life from the
pit." I can't be separated from her. Not to sound too weird, but
she's the only proof I've had for the past 12+ months that the
Almighty hasn't forgotten me.

Currently, TESL (teaching English as a second language) jobs seem the
only that can 1) get me away from a parent who no longer deserves
compassion, and 2) keep me gainfully employed in the vocation I
trained for. Dr. Phil and folk like him aside, God bless them, it's
impossible for me to mow lawns or flip burgers.

Okay-- Major apologies for this overly weepy tearjerker of a post.
The only reason I'm making it is because I cannot leave Dorrie. I'm
not a wimp; I just can't leave her. So please just say some prayers
for her and me. We're both middle-aged ladies who never had kids, and
now we have each other, and I will no more say goodbye to her and give
her away than I will say goodbye to myself.
As far as giving her back to the sister who left her with our parent,
my sister has other animals and for various reasons would be unable to
give her the care she needs. (That's actually where I entered the
picture to begin with.)

But I'm too embarrassed to read any replies on this thread, because
I'm afraid someone will write in and make fun of me. So if you have
anything more to say (and you've all been so kind), please email me.

tioga wrote:

Snip

1. Take your cat to the vet. While it may be stressful for her you NEED
to have her checked out. Do bloodwork to make sure she doesn't have any
health issues cropping up. I have many cats, some ferals, and some of
them hate the vet, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't go. Just like
children, their health and welfare is more important than what they may
like or dislike and I won't allow stress they might feel to stand in the
way of their getting medical care. Believe me, the cat will get over it
and be happy to be back home. You have to stop putting your emotions on
the cat because it doesn't help her or you.

2. With the influx of immigrants to this country, and the need for them
to learn the language in order to function in society, I'm surprised you
can't find something right here in the USA. I would think there would be
a real need for people that teach English as a second language and if I
were you I would start by calling the INS and local schools to find out
what's available or needed. You may be able to work out something with a
library, get space there or get some donated for your use a few times a
week, and start your own teaching gig. I don't think you have to resort
to moving out of the country to do what you do, and it sounds like you
have abilities that you can capitalize on.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

wrote in message
...
tioga wrote:

Snip

1. Take your cat to the vet. While it may be stressful for her you NEED
to have her checked out. Do bloodwork to make sure she doesn't have any
health issues cropping up. I have many cats, some ferals, and some of
them hate the vet, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't go. Just like
children, their health and welfare is more important than what they may
like or dislike and I won't allow stress they might feel to stand in the
way of their getting medical care. Believe me, the cat will get over it
and be happy to be back home. You have to stop putting your emotions on
the cat because it doesn't help her or you.

2. With the influx of immigrants to this country, and the need for them
to learn the language in order to function in society, I'm surprised you
can't find something right here in the USA. I would think there would be
a real need for people that teach English as a second language and if I
were you I would start by calling the INS and local schools to find out
what's available or needed. You may be able to work out something with a
library, get space there or get some donated for your use a few times a
week, and start your own teaching gig. I don't think you have to resort
to moving out of the country to do what you do, and it sounds like you
have abilities that you can capitalize on.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray



To add to what Megan has written: In addition to the need to have your cat
checked by a vet in order to care for her health properly, you will find
that you *must* have a rabies certificate and a health certificate in order
to travel with your can on any airline (or, at least, any that I know of).

Are you certified to teach in the public schools (any state)? If so, you
may have given up too quickly on finding a job. I am an educator and live
in Texas, and TESL is in high demand.

MaryL

"Barb" wrote in message
...
We have a ton of immigrants around here (NY) and they are always looking
for
ESL teachers but they want you to volunteer. (No pay!)

Barb



I'm sure that is true is many areas. However, ESL is part of the curriculum
in many Texas schools. TESL eachers (not volunteers) must be certified.
Here is the URL for the State Board of Certification. This link describes
the test framework for certification.
http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnli...024&height=768

The OP could click on items in the left-hand frame to look up requirements,
rules and other information.

I hope this helps.

MaryL

We have a ton of immigrants around here (NY) and they are always looking for
ESL teachers but they want you to volunteer. (No pay!)

Barb