Bringing My Cat Home

[Morgane26]

Hello everyone.

So we currently have a cat that we found in China 3 1/2 years ago. We are soon (in 1 1/2 months) going back to France, our home country.
To bring her home, we looked up at what we needed for her to have (injections and stuff) to go to France. She now has rabbies protection and did some blood tests (we don't have results yet). However, these were the conditions to take AirFrance, and we think that we may take China Eastern.
So my question is: what do we need to do to our cat so that she can return with China Eastern company safely?

Thank you for your help.

[Prudie]

No offence but nobody on here is likely to know that (unless they are expert googlers). The best thing to do is ask the airline. They'll have very clear rules on animal transportation.

[woofgang]

Be warned that not all airlines will carry animals. You really need to ask the airline directly.

[Buenchico]

Most airlines won't carry any pets at all; you need to make separate 'freight' arrangements for them.

If China Eastern carries pets (which I can find no reference to on their website), their staff in China or France should know the answer to your question:
http://en.ceair.com/about/lxwm/index.html

http://fr.ceair.com/muovc/newsite/main/fr_FR/Static_pages/Contact.html

The general rules about importing pets into France though will be those imposed by the EU, rather than by any particular carrier. They're explained here on the website of the French Embassy in Beijing:
http://www.ambafrance-cn.org/Importation-dans-l-Union-Europeenne

[Morgane26]

Well thank you for you quick

I know that it is not easy to find that information but we are a bit desperate...
We know that they accept animals because we already saw papers in the plane which said that there needed to be a procedure to take them from one country to another.
We could try to contact them, but it's China so I think that we won't understand each others, as usual...
We'll do as best as we can, thank you for your answers

[Prudie]

I don't know where you currently are but the airline has UK offices which will obviously be able to tell you in English:
London Town Office:
Add: 37-39 George Street, London W1U 3QD
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected](for English only)
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 0900 – 1700 (closed on weekend and UK bank holidays)
Heathrow Airport Office:
Add: Room4005, North East Extension, T4, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow TW6 3FB
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected](for English only)
Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 1500 – 2300

[jourdain2]

We lived in France until a year ago. Can't help with the airline - Prudie has given good contacts - but you absolutely must have the results from the blood tests confirming that she is rabies-free. You must also ensure that she has been treated for worms, ticks, fleas etc. As these certificates will be in Chinese (and I know the French beaurocracy well) you must have official translations of them (an official stamp always helps). There will be time limits between dosage for worms etc. and arrival in France. Your vet should advise.

It sounds a lot, but it can be done. What you don't want is to arrive in France and your cat is rejected. I have learned to err on the side of too much paperwork when dealing with French officials. Bonne chance! We managed to bring ours to UK from France and that was complex, too. :)

[Morgane26]

Okay so we found out that China Eastern didn't take animals... We are then going to take AirFrance.

Thank you for your help everyone!