Pet Travel Scheme Us
Any advice on traveling by plane with my pet?
So, I’m a British citizen and will be moving back there from California.
I adopted my cat here in the US and plan to take him with me back to the UK [I'll be moving end of this year/start of next], I’ve done a lot of research and he qualifies to travel under the PETS scheme, which means he won’t have to suffer in quarantine, as long as all of the requirements are met.
Does anyone have any tips or things I should consider? Has anyone gone through this before?
My cat means everything to me, so I want the best for him!
Thanks everyone, I feel very reassured now.
I’m sure he’ll be fine, just confused about whats going on!
The flight is about 8-9hrs which is long, but there are no stops and its usually an overnight.
Sometimes the microchip system used in the US is different than the one used in Europe. As you adopted your cat in the US, check with your vet that his microchip is ISO standard, otherwise you’ll need to provide your own scanner to read it. The DEFRA web site has further information you may find helpful.
I don’t know if you’ve had any thoughts on whether to transport your cat in the cabin or as cargo. When I moved to Cyprus from the UK, I brought my 17 year old cat with me, and airline regulations stated she had to travel in the hold. I was a bit worried about this, but was assured that it’s a heated, lighted area away from the suitcases. My vet in the UK advised against sedation of any kind. He explained that it can make them very disorientated, and if there is any air turbulence during the flight, that she wouldn’t be able to steady herself in her carrier. (Apparently minor injuries can happen this way.)
She was fine after 5 hour flight, and I was surprised at how quickly she settled into our new home.
Later on, I moved to France for 8 months and this time she was allowed to travel in the cabin. I was able to purchase the seat next to mine, so that she could use the same large carrier that we’d used for cargo. Not all airlines will allow you to do this, and many insist that the carrier must be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front. Again, she was not sedated for the flight. She was always a noisy car passenger, so I was worried she might become vocal, but she didn’t and was even relaxed enough to sleep for part of the flight. She was just as well behaved on the return journey to Cyprus.
The link below will allow you to check the pet travel policies of individual airlines. Many of them only permit one pet to travel in the cabin per flight, so if that’s your preference, book well in advance to ensure he’s guaranteed a place in the cabin.
http://www.pettravelcenter.com/page_items/itemList/49
If you transport him in the hold, the link below has helpful advice on air-travel and choosing a good carrier. (Furrari make good ones)
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/travel2.html
If my jet-set granny cat coped with 3 flights at her age, I’m sure that your cat will be fine too.
Hope all goes well with your move.
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