Need advice: ever moved to another country with a pet?

[Phillycat]

My husband and I are moving to France in September. We have two adult, neutered cats, one male, one female. I've read differing accounts of how exactly to move them: some books say to tranquilize them, some say don't. Some say to stow them in the pet area of the hold, some say to take them on the plane with you.

Also, any advice/information you have about pet visas/passports, vaccines, bloodwork, etc, would be much appreciated.

I'm starting this process now because I want to be well ahead of the game. I know some things must be done six months in advance. Thank goodness France doesn't require quarantine, but if any little thing is wrong on the paperwork, they won't be able to enter the country with us, and that means I'll be turning right around and coming back here too, because I'm not going without them.

Have you done this? Thanks in advance! :hi:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. if you can take them on the plane with you.

if you tranquilize them and travel they could get hurt when they plane sways etc.

lisa's dog had some terrible injuries when she tranquilized it and it travelled in the pet area.

[Phillycat]

2. I've also read tranquilizing them can be dangerous if they're in a very hot area

because they can't pant, and cool themselves. Cats pant too. I'd like to have them with us in the main area of the plane (some airlines let you put them under your seats) , but I'm concerned they will cry the whole flight cooped up in their crates if they're not sedated. I'm not sure what to do.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. i think if you are carrying with you, you can sedate them.

i would sedate my cat because she woudl get sick from all the crying.

but if they are going to be stowed away its best that they have all their faculties.

[distantearlywarning]

4. Regarding tranquilizers

I never moved to another country, but I did take my two little fuzzyheads 2500 miles in a moving van and a compact car.

Before we went, the vet gave us some mild sedatives for them. These were pills, and they kept them from howling and getting really frantic, but didn't "tranquilize" them to the point where they couldn't stand up or withstand the movement of the vehicle. They weren't knocked out or completely high, just calmer. It was like Xanax for cats.

So maybe that kind of thing would be the answer?

[Phillycat]

5. I think that's what we're going to do, try a gentle sedative.

Like Benadryl or something. I want them to sleep as much as possible through the journey. Thanks. :)

[Darth_Kitten]

6. Maybe ask a vet.......

:) Good luck!

[Phillycat]

7. Oh, we are. They have appts March 1st.

I just always get so much good advice from DU, thought I'd try here as well!

Thanks. :)

[Phillycat]

8. Kick?

[pitohui]

9. you've got to talk to the airline and to the french embassy

each of you may be able to take a cat in the cabin of the airplane, at least i've seen one pet in a carrier in first class, but only the airline can tell you the exact procedure

you'll also need to know what to do with immigration to be sure the cats are allowed to enter without complications

i think the best source of advice is the french embassy, make sure it's current information

[crispini]

10. Make sure you do a trial run with the sedatives well in advance.

So you know if they work! And can get different ones if they don't. You never know how a critter will react.

[Phillycat]

18. We definitely will.

We've been lucky in that our cats are quite healthy, so they've never been on any medication, other than anesthesia after getting fixed. It will be interesting to see how they react! We're going to try a mild Benadryl-like antihistamine, I think. Not a full sedative or tranquilizer. Thank you!

[huskerlaw]

11. I second the advice to do a trial run

Give them whatever drug the vet prescribes and then take them for a drive just to see how they react.

I drove with a cat about 1500 miles and the "kitty Prozac" had the exact OPPOSITE of the intended effect. The damn cat went insane. He howled like someone was stabbing him. The second day, I didn't give him anything and he was much more calm.

Also, try to get them used to whatever carrier they'll be in so that it's at least somewhat familiar to them...and reward them any time you put them in it.

[pitohui]

12. yes i should have mentioned this myself

had a friend whose dog had a similar reaction to doggie prozac, however, another sedative worked just fine and they made the cross-country move most successfully

[Phillycat]

17. Yeah, I think we're going to try a mild antihistamine, if anything.

And we're totally going to try it at home first. Thank you so much!

[Dangerously Amused]

13. I have flown with cats and dogs plenty of times.

The few times I had to fly with a pet carrier in the back with the rest of the luggage, I was worried sick about them the whole time because of some of the horror stories I've heard. And one time they forgot my kitty in the off-loading area. She kept not showing up in the baggage claim area and when I went to find out where she was, they said they had no record of her and was I sure I checked in a kitty carrier? Needless to say I was frantic. It took them about 25 minutes after I complained for them to finally find her. Never again! I will now pay extra to bring them on board if it comes to that.

So obviously my advice is to take the pet along with you as carry-on "luggage," and stow them under the seat. Both you and the pet will fly much better that way because you don't have to worry that they're all alone and sick or scared in a strange place with so many unfamiliar smells, sounds and other odd sensations (fluctuations in air pressure, etc.), or having to lay there in their own excrement or vomit (which has happened).

Also, FWIW, they are unlikely to cry when on board because they will already be a bit frightened by it all and their natural inclination is to quietly hide. I never had a pet make a peep when flying.

If you take them on board with you, just have clean-up stuff handy in case (as above) they puke or go potty. Also a fresh towel or mat for them to lay on, and a plastic bag to store the dirty linens until you can clean them. You might have to take the carrier into the lavatory with you so you can clean it out well without kitty escaping. The vet will advise you with respect to whether and when to withhold food before the trip.

The only time I've ever had to sedate a pet when traveling was because he would always get motion sickness and look just miserable the whole time. Then he just slept through the trip and it worked out a lot better.

One more suggestion (provided by a vet) which worked well for me: Depending on the size of the kitties, you may wish to have them travel together in the same carrier. As long as they are friendly toward each other in general, and can sit comfortably side-by-side in the carrier and have a little room to stretch if they wish, their presence will likely be reassuring to each other.

Good luck!


:hi:

[Phillycat]

15. Thank you so much!

I really appreciate all your information and advice. :hi:

[DS1]

22. just put the lid down before taking the cat out in the lavatory!

imagine the horror if he/she jumped and managed to slip through that little hole

:scared:

[Phillycat]

23. STOP IT.

:cry:

Thankfully, there will be two of us, so I could just take the cat out of the carrier and hand it to my husband, and go clean out the carrier by myself in the bathroom.

[Dangerously Amused]

24. Not to worry, I have only ever lost one or two small cats that way.

KIDDING.

[trof]

14. Airlines require 'health certificates' for pet cabin travel.

My daughter ran into this.
Statement from your vet that cat is free of disease and has all shots up to date.

Some airlines limit cabin cats to one per.
i.e. one in first class, one in business, one in coach.
Don't know if that applies anymore.

In the cabin in a cat carrier is best way to transport.
If your cat is OK in a 'carry bag' tranquilizer not necessary.

Baggage compartment is usually pressurized, but not all are heated. It can get damn cold in there.
But airlines will know which hold is OK for live animal transport.
Your cat may be subject to very high decibel jet engine noise while on the baggage cart/ramp awaiting loading. This can be very detrimental to dogs. Don't know about cats.

If at all possible, take them in the cabin with you.
Lucky you, moving to France.
Bon appetit!
:-)

[Phillycat]

16. I would never let my cats go in the baggage compartment.

I am one of those crazy people who treats my animals like they're my children. :) It's in the cabin or I don't go either, heh.

Yes, we are going to a USDA (!) approved vet for our statement of health, which will also need to be officially translated into French...getting the cats there is by far the most complicated part of this move. Of course, they are worth it. I sure hope it's not limited to one cat per coach section, because my husband and I will have to take separate flights in that case!

Thanks! :hi:

[DS1]

19. I'd dose mine up and take the shortest overnight possible

besides, if I bring an mp3 player with some very small speakers I can make him fall asleep listening to Tool. He's weird like that.

[Richardo]

20. janesez, this is off topic, but have you read 'Me Talk Pretty One Day'?

For some reason I'm equating you and Devid Sedaris as having the same experience getting accustomed to France.

:hi:


BTW: me ---> :( <--- envious

[Phillycat]

21. LOL! Totally!

I can only hope to be called a smelly, thieving Froggie by a Texan in giant gleaming white sneakers on the Metro. :D