Relocation - need your opinions

kkh · Jun 5, 2008

Hi, I am new here, I need your opinions & experience on air-traveling with cat.
I am relocating to Hawaii in 3 months, currently waiting on my cat's 120 days quarantine clearance. I've been researching on which airline I'd fly with but can not quite decide on one. Seems pretty much all the major US airlines would not accept in-cabin animals to Hawaii except for service or emotional support, I'd have to transport my cat in either Cargo or checked-in which is my biggest concern & worry for me right now.

Is there anybody who's traveled with cat or other animal to Hawaii from the US Mainland?
Any input is appreciated. Thank you in advance

wendyr · Jun 5, 2008

I have never done this, but I can provide a bit of reassurance! A friend of mine moved from Canada to Ireland with her three cats about 10 months ago. Her cats are all seniors - I think the youngest is 14 - and she was very worried. They were transported as cargo and are doing great - adjusted to the relocation very easily. They had no real problems in transit - I think the oldest came down with an infection of sorts requiring a dose of antibiotics - but other than that, they are happy and healthy.

Hope others can provide more advice - but I know it is always good to read success stories...

goldenkitty45 · Jun 5, 2008

I'm sure due to the quarentine regulations that is the reason why you cannot travel on board with the cat and the animal has to go in cargo. He needs to be checked in more thoroughly then just walking off the plane.

I know when we were coming home from Hawaii (honeymoon) we had to go thru 3 security checks and we could NOT touch the luggage after it was scanned for drugs, etc. And you could only take "approved" boxed pineapples out - not ones you bought in stores in Hawaii.

I don't think you will get out of not having the cat in cargo.

mews2much · Jun 5, 2008

Hawaii is very strict. I have been there 4 times.

kkh · Jun 5, 2008

Originally Posted by wendyr

I have never done this, but I can provide a bit of reassurance! A friend of mine moved from Canada to Ireland with her three cats about 10 months ago. Her cats are all seniors - I think the youngest is 14 - and she was very worried. They were transported as cargo and are doing great - adjusted to the relocation very easily. They had no real problems in transit - I think the oldest came down with an infection of sorts requiring a dose of antibiotics - but other than that, they are happy and healthy.

Hope others can provide more advice - but I know it is always good to read success stories...

3 senior cats in cargo & they are all fine?

Was her flight non-stop from Canada to Ireland?
Did she sedate or give some sort of supplement to her cats?
Are they used to travel?

Sorry for asking so many questions.
My cat is not used to any kind of transportation. She gets easily freaked out even on a short trip in a car. I'm not sure if she could survive on the long-haul plane ride

kkh · Jun 5, 2008

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I'm sure due to the quarentine regulations that is the reason why you cannot travel on board with the cat and the animal has to go in cargo. He needs to be checked in more thoroughly then just walking off the plane.

I know when we were coming home from Hawaii (honeymoon) we had to go thru 3 security checks and we could NOT touch the luggage after it was scanned for drugs, etc. And you could only take "approved" boxed pineapples out - not ones you bought in stores in Hawaii.

I don't think you will get out of not having the cat in cargo.

I've visited there few weeks ago but I wasn't checked at all.
Maybe depending on airline?

I've heard some animals(smaller dogs, mostly) were allowed in-cabin to HI on international flights but they were not allowed to get off from aircraft with animals - airline reps took them out & transferred them to the quarantine station...

kkh · Jun 5, 2008

Originally Posted by wendyr

I have never done this, but I can provide a bit of reassurance! A friend of mine moved from Canada to Ireland with her three cats about 10 months ago. Her cats are all seniors - I think the youngest is 14 - and she was very worried. They were transported as cargo and are doing great - adjusted to the relocation very easily. They had no real problems in transit - I think the oldest came down with an infection of sorts requiring a dose of antibiotics - but other than that, they are happy and healthy.

Hope others can provide more advice - but I know it is always good to read success stories...

Do you know which airline she flew with?

laureen227 · Jun 5, 2008

Kiwideus's cats were in quarantine for 6 months when she moved [?] to Australia, so i know they were on the plane a long time. you might PM her for more info, since i don't know the whole story

wendyr · Jun 6, 2008

3 senior cats in cargo & they are all fine?
Was her flight non-stop from Canada to Ireland?
Did she sedate or give some sort of supplement to her cats?
Are they used to travel?

Sorry for asking so many questions.
My cat is not used to any kind of transportation. She gets easily freaked out even on a short trip in a car. I'm not sure if she could survive on the long-haul plane ride

Ask away! My friend and her husband were so worried about their cats - obviously the senior thing really played into it, but because you aren't with them, you can't comfort them and see how they are doing. Natural to be scared!

Yes - three senior cats. And they are doing amazingly well. My friend said that when they arrived in their new home here (after all that travel) they just got out of their cages, used the litter box and had some food and then curled right up to sleep. Threw off their system for a while (jet lag!) but they soon re-adjusted.

These cats were not used to travel either - she had lived in a small flat in Toronto for years and the only travel they had done was in a taxi to the vet (and this was done only if she had to take all of them - otherwise, she just walked with them in their cages). Even then they freak out and meow non-stop (I have been with her to the vet here in Cork...our feral kittens are better travellers in cars than her cats!).

I am pretty sure her cats didn't get sedated - because of their age- but I can double check when I see her. She did use some Feliway in their cages and gave them some Rescue Remedy in their little water dishes. The flight wasn't non-stop, as she had to go through London (I think it had something to do with the quarantine - they had to go through Heathrow to get the all clear). So, they flew from Toronto to London and then on to Dublin (where they then had to travel 3 hours by car to Cork!). When she arrived in London, they informed her the cats were fine (relief!).

My friend was really concerned about her cats surviving the flight - considering their age, disabilities (one is blind, one is deaf) and their dislike of travel. But, they did really well.

I am pretty sure they flew Air Canada. She did a lot of research and calling various airlines to see which one had the policies she was happiest with, and even then, when she got to the animal check-in, they informed her that her cages were not right (ugh!). They only had vents on three sides. Luckily, the kind Air Canada people drilled holes in her cages to make sure they met regulations.

I remember she said she had long discussions with her vet about all this (naturally - she was seeing him quite regularly with all the various vaccines they had to administer!), and he was really reassuring.

Let me know if you have any other questions- I can ask my friend for more details. Like I said, we discuss this quite often as my husband is only here in Ireland temporarily, so we might be doing a long journey with our cats at some point in the very near future....

kkh · Jun 6, 2008

Originally Posted by laureen227

Kiwideus's cats were in quarantine for 6 months when she moved [?] to Australia, so i know they were on the plane a long time. you might PM her for more info, since i don't know the whole story

Thank you, I sure will do so

kkh · Jun 6, 2008

Originally Posted by wendyr

Ask away! My friend and her husband were so worried about their cats - obviously the senior thing really played into it, but because you aren't with them, you can't comfort them and see how they are doing. Natural to be scared!

Yes - three senior cats. And they are doing amazingly well. My friend said that when they arrived in their new home here (after all that travel) they just got out of their cages, used the litter box and had some food and then curled right up to sleep. Threw off their system for a while (jet lag!) but they soon re-adjusted.

These cats were not used to travel either - she had lived in a small flat in Toronto for years and the only travel they had done was in a taxi to the vet (and this was done only if she had to take all of them - otherwise, she just walked with them in their cages). Even then they freak out and meow non-stop (I have been with her to the vet here in Cork...our feral kittens are better travellers in cars than her cats!).

I am pretty sure her cats didn't get sedated - because of their age- but I can double check when I see her. She did use some Feliway in their cages and gave them some Rescue Remedy in their little water dishes. The flight wasn't non-stop, as she had to go through London (I think it had something to do with the quarantine - they had to go through Heathrow to get the all clear). So, they flew from Toronto to London and then on to Dublin (where they then had to travel 3 hours by car to Cork!). When she arrived in London, they informed her the cats were fine (relief!).

My friend was really concerned about her cats surviving the flight - considering their age, disabilities (one is blind, one is deaf) and their dislike of travel. But, they did really well.

I am pretty sure they flew Air Canada. She did a lot of research and calling various airlines to see which one had the policies she was happiest with, and even then, when she got to the animal check-in, they informed her that her cages were not right (ugh!). They only had vents on three sides. Luckily, the kind Air Canada people drilled holes in her cages to make sure they met regulations.

I remember she said she had long discussions with her vet about all this (naturally - she was seeing him quite regularly with all the various vaccines they had to administer!), and he was really reassuring.

Let me know if you have any other questions- I can ask my friend for more details. Like I said, we discuss this quite often as my husband is only here in Ireland temporarily, so we might be doing a long journey with our cats at some point in the very near future....

Aww, that's right. UK & Ireland are also the countries that require strict quarantine, I almost forgot that. Animals need to be microchipped & rabies-free, correct?

That's definitely a hope for me hearing that 3 cats had traveled across atlantic in cargo & arrived safe. I guess I shouldn't be worried too much but I can not help when thinking of all the issues just as your friend & her husband did.

I've started contacting airlines, also checking on the airline complaint report on animal transportation. Some airlines have already responded to my inquiries but still my decision is pending.

Since I live in the Far South(FL), non-stop flight is not my option.
I'd have to transit somewhere in the continent anyways. Also, due to the season of traveling(tentatively end of Aug to first week of Sept), some airlines are under the summer weather embargo, thus may not be accepting any animal shipment

Feliway & Rescue Remedy, I see.
I actually started using Feliway(spray) & Comfort Zone with Feliway but I still don't see much change in my baby's behavior.
I've heard of Rescue Remedy, though.
Might as well give it a try to see if that works

Relocation - need your opinions

kkh

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wendyr

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goldenkitty45

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mews2much

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kkh

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kkh

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kkh

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laureen227

Darksome Duo!

wendyr

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kkh

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kkh

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