Pussy cat quarantine laws for Australia

Hubby's getting sick of work, so we're considering moving back to Australia in the next year or so, depending on what happens with his work in the next 6 months.

So we've started looking at what's required. Crikey!!! So you need a rabies titer test which must be done by a US Govt. approved vet, and there needs to be 180 days between that test and the cat leaving Australian Quarantine, and minimum of 60 days from the test. So if the test is done and you fly them over 60 days after the test, they need to spend 120 days in quarantine. If you get the test done and fly over 6-12 months after the test, they only need 30 days in quarantine.

So you really need to do it minimum 6 months before when you plan to leave. So I'm most likely going to find a government approved vet so I can get the testing done on all cats ASAP just in case we do move back, then we'll get the testing done every year to be sure that requirement is up to date.

Once that is done and we have a date to go back, we apply for an import permit online, book them in to a quarantine station, book their flights, make sure all other vaccinations are up to date, then within 4 days of flying get them checked over by a Govt. approved vet to check for ticks, fleas etc and a general health exam. Then the day you fly you get another check done, and put them on a plane. They probably end up spending close to 24 hours in their carriers, and they sit in their pee/poop until they get unloaded at the other end It breaks my heart thinking about how scared they'll be

And it scares me thinking about how much it'll cost!!!

No wonder I've came across stories of this psychologically damaging cats.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever choice you make and that all your kitties do well.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

No wonder I've came across stories of this psychologically damaging cats.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever choice you make and that all your kitties do well.

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Great, thanks

What's worse - a scary plane flight, or being rehomed to people who may or may not take care of them the rest of their lives??

Originally Posted by sarahp

Great, thanks

What's worse - a scary plane flight, or being rehomed to people who may or may not take care of them the rest of their lives??

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Either you're misunderstanding me, or I'm completely misunderstanding what you wrote.

You made a post about how difficult taking your cats to Australia will be. How stressing it will be, that they'll be sitting in pee and poop, that they will be in quarantine (with strangers at that) and when I pretty much agree with you that it can be bad - you dislike that I agreed?

You're perfectly welcome to edit my post into saying only what you wanted to read. Because, honestly, I don't know what you wanted!

After this, I think I'm pretty much never going to reply to any of your personal type posts on here. Solves everyone's problems.

BTW: you may want to clarify in your first post exactly what you're looking for from people.

Sarah! i've done it and you can do it too!!!
Yes it is a lot of stress with paperwork but if you get it done early enough quarantine is only 30 days and depending where they are you can go and visit them two times a week although i did see them 4 times a week and they didnt say anything

their flights cost more than ours.... despite them being in cargo the whole time, the minute they leave the house and get to the airport and arrive in australia they get no food!

I was worried that they would be starving!!!

quarantine cost me more than the quote because the company i went through gave me an old price, so call up the quarantine station and ask before you make the booking.

My biggest fear was not being able to get a place in quarantine, i wanted them in melbourne but if that were to be full they would go to sydney then i would have had to pay extra flights for them to be flown down to melb


Another problem i encountered was even though i had the flu shots done for the kitties, i didnt realise they were expired by the time i got the government approved paperwork, the lady didnt either and nobody noticed untill three days later while i was here i had to fork out another $300 for the vet to come out to the quarantine station and give them the flu shot.

for two cats i spent just over $8000 AUD for flights, accomodation and vet bills.

if you have any questions pm me hun!!

p.s kaylee got depressed while being in quarantine because she thought i had left her forever, i didnt see her for the first week as i was packing up the last few things in Germany. she got her self so sick she was put on medication and with love she was back to normal!

and from what they had explained to me cats tend to not remember the flight as they lose track of time

I know i would have to take the cats like Fran did

My neighbours are going through the process now to move to Australia, and to have their dog shipped across it's costing them £3,000.00

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Either you're misunderstanding me, or I'm completely misunderstanding what you wrote.

You made a post about how difficult taking your cats to Australia will be. How stressing it will be, that they'll be sitting in pee and poop, that they will be in quarantine (with strangers at that) and when I pretty much agree with you that it can be bad - you dislike that I agreed?

You're perfectly welcome to edit my post into saying only what you wanted to read. Because, honestly, I don't know what you wanted!

After this, I think I'm pretty much never going to reply to any of your personal type posts on here. Solves everyone's problems.

BTW: you may want to clarify in your first post exactly what you're looking for from people.

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I just want to say that I understand Sarah's reaction to your post. She is very worried about her cats, how the move will affect them, the quarantine, etc. and your post just confirmed her fears and further worried her. I think I would have reacted the same.

I agree Sarah, it is better to take them with you than leave them with someone who may not understand or love them as you and Andrew do. They most definitely are going to be stressed, but with the love you two have for them, it will be OK in the end I'm sure.

Having said that, if you are ever looking for a good home for Smudgie . . . .

Thats ridiculous IMO.

From what I have learned in school and through some texts, the rabies virus presents itself in symptoms from between 10 days to 6 weeks in cats? Why then would they need 120 days in quarantine instead of maybe a month at most?

You would think that a valid health certificate from a US Govt approved vet would be enough to say "Hey this cat is healthy and rabies free!"

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Either you're misunderstanding me, or I'm completely misunderstanding what you wrote.

You made a post about how difficult taking your cats to Australia will be. How stressing it will be, that they'll be sitting in pee and poop, that they will be in quarantine (with strangers at that) and when I pretty much agree with you that it can be bad - you dislike that I agreed?

You're perfectly welcome to edit my post into saying only what you wanted to read. Because, honestly, I don't know what you wanted!

After this, I think I'm pretty much never going to reply to any of your personal type posts on here. Solves everyone's problems.

BTW: you may want to clarify in your first post exactly what you're looking for from people.

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As an outsider reading this, I took it the same way Sarah did. Yes, she already expressed great concern about her cats' welfare during this but you went a little further by stating that they could be psychologically damaged by it.

Sarah, there have been a few members that have done this and the cats have been just fine. Fran already posted and I know Kellye went through this as well.

It's smart that you are already looking a few steps ahead and in the long run, this will make things go a little smoother.

Thanks guys. I know it will be fine in the long run. Lily and Smudge will be able to share accommodations which will help them immensely, and Stumpy will be on her own, but she'll be fine. The quarantine accommodations are pretty nice. They have tall enclosures with ramps that zig zag to the top of the enclosure where they can sit above the enclosure and watch the goings on - Stumpy would probably spend most of her days sitting up high watching everything.

strange_wings - as the others said, hearing that this psychologically damages cats is definitely not what I needed to hear. I read it as though I was doing a bad thing by taking the cats with me and putting them through that.

It does not psychologically damage cats - my cats are fine! They are still the same as they were before they left the US.

It was expensive, but so worth it. We were able to visit them in quarantine - that was the hardest part but that was me - I didn't like leaving them there. They loved the attention of the facility staff, so it was no problem, they were great.

If you can afford to send them, by all means, do it.

Are you still planning to do it yourself or through an agency? I had to do it through an agency that specialises in NZ and Australia and they were very good and very patient with me.

the cats will be fine.

I'm going to do it on my own. AQIS has an excellent step by step document on what you need to do. And it turns out my regular vet can do all the rabies testing which makes it all that bit easier.

Apparently if I want to fly Qantas from SF, I have to use a specific company, but I can still do it all myself and have them just do the flight part.

If I fly from LA, I can do it myself still, and pay only $485/cat for the one way fare, which seems very reasonable. So hopefully the transport company doesn't charge an arm and a leg for just getting them on the plane!

This may be useful for anyone who travels with pets. The Marchioro brand carriers have optional accessories including a grate to put on the bottom of the cage so if they pee they don't have to sit in it, and they also have "spill-proof" water bowls to put on the cage door.

Originally Posted by sarahp

This may be useful for anyone who travels with pets. The Marchioro brand carriers have optional accessories including a grate to put on the bottom of the cage so if they pee they don't have to sit in it, and they also have "spill-proof" water bowls to put on the cage door.

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I just had a look at the Marchioro brand - that is very similar to what I used. I still use them, they are quite good!

Originally Posted by Kiwideus

Are you still planning to do it yourself or through an agency? I had to do it through an agency that specialises in NZ and Australia and they were very good and very patient with me.

the cats will be fine.

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Which agency did you use?

Wow Sarah, I don't envy you one bit! I'd be beside myself with worry, having 2 CRF cats in quaranteen....and I wouldn't be able to stand to re-home them...no matter what.

FWIW...here's a document about flying with CRF cats (I know yours are healthy, so the CRF part isn't important.) There might be something helpful somewhere in this for flying your kitties. Good luck!

http://felinecrfhints.homestead.com/...gwithacat.html

Originally Posted by DoctorsPepper2

Which agency did you use?

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I used this company: http://www.iptlax.com/

A friend of a friend made a website when doing the papers herself http://home.vicnet.net.au/~catstuff/ few years ago now so information might not be the same now. The surprises section may have some tips for you.

Most people I know use a pet freight handler, to make sure everything is done right and you are not refused entry (as has happened sadly).

Wow... many vibes for you Sarah, for a painless and trouble-free process!
Amazingly, the process of bringing a cat to the US is completely uncomplicated:

Importation of cats

A general certificate of health is not required by CDC for entry of pet cats into the United States, although some airlines or states may require them. However, pet cats are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a cat appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense might be required at the port of entry.
Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States. However, some states require vaccination of cats for rabies, so it is a good idea to check with state and local health authorities at your final destination.
All pet cats arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements.

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http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal/dogs.htm

Originally Posted by carolinalima

Amazingly, the process of bringing a cat to the US is completely uncomplicated:

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Because mainland America already has diseases such as Rabies that are not present in other countries like Australia.

Requiring a health certificate should be standard though, bit surprised on that one.