PETS Travel Scheme

[BlooBerry]

Well, kind of grasping at straws here. Anyone in the UK travel with their cat(s) under the PETS travel scheme? Certain EU and non-EU countries allow for pet travel without quarantine.

My mother bought last minute tickets for us to visit her for an entire month in Canada. My husband and I are devastated, we don't want to leave Minoush behind. I worry about leaving him with a friend because I know they would probably have a window or back door open and the cat could get out. I feel super guilty thinking about putting him in a cattery We love him so much we can't bear the thought of leaving him for a month. My husband was going to ask a friend to stay at our home for the month but I have no clue if that will work out.

We would be flying there and back a month later, but it's so confusing regarding this PETS travel -I get the impression the pet can't re-enter the UK less than six months after the blood test? Ugh, I'm rambling now. I'm tempted to stay behind really and let my husband and kids go. I'll get to relax for a change.

[Howlinbob]

Whereabouts are you? He can come and stay at my house! We have a fully enclosed garden, and our lads wouldn't mind a visitor. He's totally gorgeous!! xxx

Seriously though, the best option might be for a friend to stay at your house for the month, if that can be arranged. That way Minoush doesn't have to leave his home.

[BlooBerry]

Haha, Howlin your garden sounds lovely, but I imagine Minoush will then not want to come back! He does have the sweetest personality, any other cat would've ripped my girls' faces off by now, so I have no doubt he'd get along with any other cats. I had to reassure my mother as she has a toy poodle, that the cat wasn't going to claw out its eyes LOL. I've just checked the Canadian requirements and it seems there doesn't need to be a blood test to confirm after vaccination or a waiting time. I've contacted the airlines as well to cross-check as it looks like they allow for small pets to travel in the cabin. I have to cross-check for return to the UK though as well. Ugh, what a headache!

I really don't know if it's worth doing all of this-my husband and I are such babies. LOL I'm not sure if our friend will be able to stay the entire month as his job is a bit far. Fingers crossed. I got a quote from a cattery just in case, and it's almost the price of a plane ticket for a month. LOL

[BlooBerry]

Ahh, nevermind, just found out that even though I could take him to Canada without restrictions, I would still need the blood test confirmation to re-enter him to the UK and there is a six month waiting period after the blood test. Ah well, gotta look at other options then.

[jckkerrison]

Yep you are right about the six months wait,sorry didn't pick up on thread yesterday or could have laid that one to rest for you straight away.
If you have a good cattery near by then I would make use of it,I think it is always us who have the guilt trip not the animals,if they are in there a day or a month time means nothing to them so can be sure that they are not crossing off the dates on the calender until you come home.
You can always take favourite bed & toys with you to leave so there is still a smell of home & that way there is also no chance of a door or window being accidently left open by any one anywhere.
For the first time ever, in a couple of weeks my mum & dad were going to have a couple of mine to stay at theirs,originally it was going to be Pansy & Bruce because they would not go anywhere if a door was left open but with Bruce now having his problem he will be going to the cattery as usual because I know that the lady there will pick up on him as quick as I would have done if he doesn't seem right.Thats trust in her !
I still think having a good reliable cattery to fall back on is a necessity {have been threads on here as you might guess} you never know when an emergency could crop up & you do need to use one & it takes one worry away if you know your little darlings have been to one before & know what it is all about.They don't always have to be the most ultra modern ones either,you want someone who will love your cat just like you,we are lucky with our lady & her husband ,they get spoilt rotten.
Good luck hope you can sort your babe out so you can enjoy your stay....x

[Peter Galbavy]

My boys are the same age and I would offer to look after him, but...

Good luck with finding a solution. I hear many conflicting stories about experiences ar catteries. If you do go down that route I suggest making sure you have a good and reliable freind or relative, who otherwise cannot look after him, visit regularly *and* have the authority to remove him from the cattery if there are any issues during his stay - either his tolerance or the cattery conditions and treatment.