importing cats/pets

[kelebek]

Has anybody managed to have their pets imported from abroad?

Interested to hear from someone who has.

Thanks in advance

[drchasuble]

When you say import do you live abroad and are coming back to the UK with your pet or are you buying an animal from a breeder abroad and need to arrange it to be imported?

[kelebek]

Hi,

I lived abroad but ive returned to the Uk. I want to import my cats from Germany to the UK.


Sorry for not explaining

[drchasuble]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pet s/index.htm

They have to be vaccinated against rabies and have all other jabs up to date. It's a bit of a hassle but a lot cheaper and less stressful than 6 months quarantine.

[kelebek]

Hi,

All vaccinatinations have been done. They will stay in Germany until may 2007 then I will have my cats imported to the UK after their final medical check ups have been done. What I need to know is if anyone has gone through the process of havng pets transported to the UK.


Thanks

[drchasuble]

Back in 1996 we brought our dog back from France where we had been living (this was obviously before all the pet passport malarky) and she had to go into quarantine which was quite expensive and stressful for all.
Since then with the passport scheme our dogs travel back and forth all the time.
24 hours before travelling back to the UK they have to visit the vet who worms and fleas them, checks the paperwork, stamps and signs and bob's your uncle.

[kelebek]

Thank you for your reply.

It is much easier now for pets to travel from EU countries to the UK. The reason they are in Germany is that they are both Turkish cats which I hand reared. I could have had them both flown to the UK but like you say they would have had to be quarantined. I didnt want that so they are both being fostered by a friend of mine.

I have contacted so many shipping agents and I have even considered travelling to Germnay to pick them up myself. Knowing my luck something will go wrong if I decide to go it alone.

One shipping agent has given me the option of having both cats imported by road..im unsure about the duration and stress it may cause my cats.

What is your opinion on this?

Thanks again

[drchasuble]

I guess it must come down to price too.
I'm sure it will be quite expensive to have them shipped as you will have to provide a proper animal container which can cost a lot.
It depends where in Germany you'll be collecting from and where you live in the UK but you can get so many cheap deals on the ferries and the animals are allowed to stay in the vehicle and don't have to be locked away.

[kelebek]

Unfortunatley I dont drive so I would have to fly into the UK with my cats if I decided to go alone with no shipper..

The airlines can provide an air crate but I have my own which I believe is IATA appproved. The cheapest quote I have had by air so far (including the use of a shipper) is �900 approx. To use a shipper by road its �700, but that includes crates and transport to my front door.

Im still debating whether to go alone but ive got plenty of time to decide I suppose. As long as I get all of my cats documents in order that has to be the most important thing on my list.

[lankeela]

�900! - I'd go and fetch them for less than that!

[kelebek]

If I was to go for them myself, i'd have to obviously pay for my own return air ticket, extra baggage for my pets, then I would have to pay for road transport/rail from a London airport up to Newcastle upon tyne.

It wouldnt be easy carrying 2 pets and I guess it will only add to their stress too. The journey from London to Newcastle itself would be 3 times longer than the flight from journey. At least if I have a shipper I know the job is going to be done properly.

[The Big Gill]

Apologies if this is straying away from your question, but have you considered returning with the cats on a ferry from Germany to Newcastle? You might be able to get a cabin to let them out in, reducing the stress of the journey.

[kelebek]

Unfortunately there are no approved sea routes from Germany. I have to use an approved route and company to be able to transport them back.

It was something I thought of myself but it isnt allowed.

Thanks

[The Big Gill]

Are there any approved routes from Holland or Denmark?

[happy_face]

There is a ferry company that sails from The Hook of Holland to Harwich and they allow pets. I've been trying to investigate as I'd like to move me and me pups to Denmark. And I don't want my pups to suffer stress so there'll be no flying. I have found out that I can drive to Harwich and take the ferry and then drive through Holland and Germany to Puttgarten.
I know you say you don't drive but don't you have any relatives, friends, work mates who would help. I'm sure if you said you gave them �500 for the trouble someone would help you out.
Could you not get a train up to Newcastle? Train rides are quite smooth and the sounds often make pets relax and as you won't be flying and raising any air pressure you could give your cats a small dose of something relaxing.

[kelebek]

Yes that is an option, I never thought of driving to holland..how long would that take from Germany?
I suppose all I would have to do then is ask my one of my mates to drive.

With regards to sedating my pets, it isnt allowed as ive already enquired about it.

[happy_face]

I didn't mean for you to fully sedate them but just give them something calming like DAP or like. Had no idea it wasn't allowed though.
If you go on (I can't remember which one) RAC or The AA routeplanner, they have a european one and you can put from and to destinations and it'll tell you how long it would take to drive. In my case I would then have to add a couple of hours on top as I can get lost on a roundabout :-)

[kelebek]

Apparently sedation/calming tablets could cause pressure on the heart when travelling (especially in an aircraft) and they may vomit. Being in darkness has a calming affect on pets so hopefully they will be ok.

Thankyou for all your help, it was all quite informative.
I will let you all all what I decide to do and whether I get my furballs back in one piece.

Linda