approved cat carriers for cargo

Hi all -- first off, this forum has already been so helpful to me, just in reading through some past posts (the PETS scheme for Dummies topics in particular are brilliant). We are possibly moving to the UK from NYC this fall, & we've already done a lot of reading (here, DEFRA's site, etc.) about what we have to do in order to bring our 3 cats over.

What kind of carriers have folks used to ship their pets via plane in cargo? I'm familiar w/the guidelines posted on IATA's website, but would like to see some brand names or something, just to be sure. I've seen the PetMate VariKennels mentioned as being IATA-approved (interestingly, all the websites that came up googling w/that term were UK websites; I guess US ones don't mention IATA specifically when they say "airline approved," which makes me nervous, because they could be making it up, heh). There are some examples of this model here: http://www.petmate.com/Departments/Product-Categories/Kennels.aspx?page=2 [nofollow]

Have folks used this one? Others? Also, I've read on this board varying bits of info re: how big the carrier has to be: 2 inches bigger than the pet's standing height? 3? I haven't seen anything that's more specific than "pet must be able to stand" on an airline website--has anyone else?

Thanks for any info. I know you all understand my paranoia! 

OK, now I found this thread:
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=25223.0 [nofollow]

that talks about some of the carrier issues. Still, I'd be interested in hearing if folks have links to sources that have the "3 inches above the pet's head" or whatever requirement, as well as any more general thoughts on carriers. Thanks!

Hi! Sorry I don't have any useful info to add (I'm not going to be moving over until 2010 so I'm not up to snuff on all my research yet) but I just wanted to say hi! And, I'm also going to be moving three cats when I move!!

Have you found that its difficult to find a place to live that lets you have that number of cats?

*wince* We haven't gotten to that step yet. I know it'll be hard, but I have faith it'll work out in the end -- because I know that people in the UK do rent & do have pets! The thing is, where we move to depends in part on where my partner goes for grad school, so we can't even start looking yet. He will be going over there this summer early to find a place, & then I'll come w/the kitties in the fall (when it's cool enough for them to fly, as well).

Have you found that its difficult to find a place to live that lets you have that number of cats?

I live in Bradford, and there are basically NO flats you can rent in the city and have a cat.  I was lucky and got my landlord to agree, but only because I have been living here for a year.

Hope you don't find this problem.