Cats moving to Australia- what would you do?

catkins

tango wrote: »

Really ?? Lets not over react ..

Why is it overreacting? A couple of other posters have said if they could not take their pet they would not go.

I have moved abroad and then moved back if you care to read my posts and EACH time I have taken my pets with me not just cast them aside.

When I wanted to come back from abroad, bearing in mind I was very depressed because I hated living there, I would not come back because it would have meant putting my dog into quarantine. I could not bear the thought of him having to be in a kennel for 6 months. To be honest I don't think he would have survived it. A lot of dogs used to die in quarantine for various reasons. I could not have visited that often either.

As soon as the law changed on quarantine me and my husband came back. If the laws had not changed we would have stayed until our dog died.

zzzLazyDaisy

I could not put an elderly cat through such a long and potentially traumatic journey. It isn't 'just' the flight, it is the travel to the airport, the waiting time at the airport, being manhandled by strangers, going through baggage control and passport control at the arrival airport and then 4 weeks in quarantine. And if they survive all that, they have to become accustomed to the new climate.

I have a friend who took two cats to Turkey (about 4.5hr flight) the old one never really recovered from the journey and died two months after arrival. The younger one was fine. She has always said if she had realised how badly affected the older cat was going to be by the journey, she would have re-homed him before leaving UK.

So I would start advertising and looking for new homes now and I would have to be prepared to let them go as soon as I found homes for them. Give the cost of taking them with me, I think I'd also offer to pay for the pet insurance and vaccinations for, say, 5 years - but I'd try and re-home through a rescue centre that was willing to accept a donation up front for maintaining the vaccinations, and insurance (so it doesn't become a 'cash incentive'!).

Gigglepig

I think in this situation I would put to sleep (hard for owner, but avoids any stress or suffering for the cats) unless I could find a very good, quiet, permanent home for them where they were settled in plenty of time before the move, and I knew they would not be passed on.

OP don't worry too much,it sounds like you have plenty of time yet to search for a new home? it is a good idea to offer to pay the insurance etc if you have a family member who might take them but normally could not afford.

GwylimT

When I get a pet I get that animal knowing that I will be caring for him/her for their entire life, I wouldn't kill them because it might be a bit awkward when moving house, nor would I give them away. I very much doubt any decent vet would put a healthy animal down because it was an inconvenience to its owners.

Cats are designed to live in hot climates so they would cope very well and when they are too hot they find somewhere cool to lay, unless you have a hairless cat of course, if any of them are white a daily application of a water proof suncream on their ears will do the trick.

My mate from school moved to Aus two years ago, he took one cat who must have been at least ten and two elderly Labradors. I doubt they exactly enjoyed the journey, but they're all fine and the dogs are certainly enjoying being able to jump in a swimming pool whenever they want to!

Mojisola

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

So I would start advertising and looking for new homes now and I would have to be prepared to let them go as soon as I found homes for them. Give the cost of taking them with me, I think I'd also offer to pay for the pet insurance and vaccinations for, say, 5 years - but I'd try and re-home through a rescue centre that was willing to accept a donation up front for maintaining the vaccinations, and insurance (so it doesn't become a 'cash incentive'!).

My friend adopted an elderly cat whose owner was emigrating.

The owner advertised locally (without mentioning that she was willing to pay for future vet fees) and visited several people who responded. She chose my friend and the cat had several more very happy years with her.

The owner arranged with the vet to leave some money on account to cover future bills after which my friend paid - by then the cat was definitely "hers". I think if the cat had died before the money at the vet was used up, what was left was to go to a cat charity.

dandelionclock30

When a pet is transported on a flight, how do they ensure it has a drink of water all the time? Because the cage is being moved about a dish would be no good.
What happens because a cat or dog cant be without a drink for 24 hours. I cant see them having a high level of care on a flight.

O.P can you not find a family member or work colleague that will have them? Offer to help with the insurance/vets bills and food for a while like someone suggested. You will have to make it a good offer because there are a lot of unwanted pets at the moment.
If you cant find suitable homes for them then I would try to get them in at a shelter.

I personally wouldnt go to Australia if I had these cats.I would'nt consider dumping elderly pets who are part of my family. My cats are 10 and 11 and no offer would make me part with them because I love them.

I couldnt have a pet put to sleep then enjoy my new life in another country.I'd seriously hate myself if I had done that.

candytwinkle

I could not put an elderly cat through such a long and potentially traumatic journey. It isn't 'just' the flight, it is the travel to the airport, the waiting time at the airport, being manhandled by strangers, going through baggage control and passport control at the arrival airport and then 4 weeks in quarantine. And if they survive all that, they have to become accustomed to the new climate.

Thanks, that is exactly my concern. You put it a lot better than me.

I wish we could wait a few more years before we emigrate but unfortunatly there is a lot more to it.

Thanks everyone for your replies, it has given me lots to ponder over (Please keep them coming)

catkins

Gigglepig wrote: »

I think in this situation I would put to sleep (hard for owner, but avoids any stress or suffering for the cats) unless I could find a very good, quiet, permanent home for them where they were settled in plenty of time before the move, and I knew they would not be passed on.

OP don't worry too much,it sounds like you have plenty of time yet to search for a new home? it is a good idea to offer to pay the insurance etc if you have a family member who might take them but normally could not afford.

Have you got any pets? I can't believe you seriously think that 2 cats should be killed because their owner is going to another country. I doubt any vet would do this.

I would suggest that with so many cats and kittens in rescue at the moment and more ending up in rescue every day it will not be easy to find a new home for them regardless of how much time there is.

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

O.P can you not find a family member or work colleague that will have them? Offer to help with the insurance/vets bills and food for a while like someone suggested. You will have to make it a good offer because there are a lot of unwanted pets at the moment.
If you cant find suitable homes for them then I would try to get them in at a shelter.

I personally wouldnt go to Australia if I had these cats.I would'nt consider dumping elderly pets who are part of my family. My cats are 10 and 11 and no offer would make me part with them because I love them.

I couldnt have a pet put to sleep then enjoy my new life in another country.I'd seriously hate myself if I had done that.

I couldn't agree more with the bit I have highlighted.

candytwinkle

When I get a pet I get that animal knowing that I will be caring for him/her for their entire life, I wouldn't kill them because it might be a bit awkward when moving house, nor would I give them away. I very much doubt any decent vet would put a healthy animal down because it was an inconvenience to its owners.

"A bit awkward when moving house" "inconvienience to its owners" Neither of these are factual.

Please re read my post, I am in a situation where I need to make a decision on what is best for my cats. Im not a mad cat killer who's fed up of looking after my pets

Dimey

I would find an a new home near your home now - on their own territory. Ideally an old person who would welcome your elderly cats into their life.

I would pay the cats keep & vet bills so that elderly person did not have to worry financially and so I was fulfilling my obligation to my loved ones. I'd transfer over the coming months and visit them in the early days so the transition isn't too stressful.

Put to sleep is not an option for me. I don't understand how that could ever have been thought of.

I wouldn't fly them to Australia as I think being in the hold is dangerous and terrifying for a healthy animal let alone an elderly cat in poor health. If you do decide to take them then find an airline that will allow you to pay for them to be carried in with you in the cabin, in a travel carrier. I know Air France allow it to the USA. That way the cat can at least see you to be reassured. When in Australia I'd keep them in as house cats. It's too different an environment (poisonous insects, snakes & plants) that the cats are not instinctively born to be wary of while the local cats are.

If no airline allows you to carry them with you then please think twice about putting them in the hold and google about what happens to them and how awful it is for them. Does your vet think your cats could cope with the travel in their condition?

Edit- Oh I'm one of the people who would not leave my cats. I just wouldn't go. I have wanted to go travelling again for some time now but I will wait till my elderly boy has died before I do it. There's no way I'll disrupt his life or make him confused and sad while I go off. For those who don't have pets, for me - it would be like abandoning a child. Unthinkable.