Moving pets and pet movers.

My wife and I will be moving to the UK this September from California (She is returning to University). We need to move three cats. I am wondering about the average cost per cat as well as if we should use a pet mover and the cost of that.  Do others have experience with pet movers?  If so do you reccomend using one and if you do which one?

Also, I realize that I need to get the process started immediately in order to have them ready in time as I thought I needed six months but after looking around here it sounds more like seven will be needed. I will check out the forums but would appreciate it if someone could tell me the first step so that I can get this ball rolling ASAP.

Thanks!

First step: microchip and vaccinate. Nothing counts until puss has a chip.

I think the cost per goes down as the number of animals goes up, but it was well over $1K to ship my cat. I got some quotes on having it done for me first: for two cats it ranged from about $2,500 to over $5,000 (!). In the end, I decided to do it myself, because it seemed to me I'd have to do all the hardest parts anyway.

And so it was. The actual travel day wasn't THAT big a deal. It was getting all the paperwork just right in the months leading up to it...

Microchip is the first thing.  If that's already done, then it's the rabies vaccination.  If you are current, you could go to the next step, which is blood draw and samples sent to the FAVN lab in Kansas.  From the date of the blood draw (with successful results) you have to wait 6 months before your pets can travel

If none of these things have been done, the microchip can be inserted and the rabies vaccination given in the same day.  Just make sure the chip is first and the number recorded on the vax paperwork.  Then you have a little time to figure out how the rest of it works.

You have plenty of time to make it by September, but if you don't have the chip and vax, you need to get on that ASAP.

If you are prechip stage, you could make your life easier by getting an international chip.  It's not essentail to get into the UK, but to keep your pets maintained on the program so they can go back -  it helps.

I didn't do the transport company, so can provide no info there.

 

oh and it cost me $1600 in transport fees on BA, taking 3 cats from Atlanta to Gatwick in Sept 08.

I haven't moved yet, but I've started on the PETS process.  Like Stoatula, I looked into pet transport companies and it seemed like I would still have to do the hard parts and they were VERY expensive.  I'm doing it on my own (two cats and a dog).  I know some people on this site have found the transport companies very useful, though.

Just a clarification of what hollyberry said:  being current on your vaccination only helps if your rabies vaccination certificate has the cat's microchip number on it.  Without the microchip # on the certificate, it's a no go. 

If you do decide to go with an international standard chip, the only one I could find that's readily available in the US is the Bayer ResQ chip.  Not all vets offer it--I had to call around until I found one that did.  I also had to call around to figure out which vets were USDA certified--not all are.  While there is some debate about whether you need one for the first step, I would think it would be better to be safe than sorry.

also want to note that airlines can change their rules regularly. So, check everything yourself before you rely on past experience here. For instance when I moved in August 2007 I was able to transport my dogs from ATL to LGW via BA. Well in July 2008 you can't do ATL to LGW via BA in the summer. so things change. Be on top of all the info yourself and make sure you understand it to the letter (and the dots and crosses too).

I did not use pet transporters even though they are encouraged by BA. They were not required in July of 08 or Aug 07. (I have gone in both directions). Once you have the paperwork sorted then the whole airport thing isn't that hard assuming you have transportation and can measure your dog properly for a kennel. If you are detail oriented and can do it yourself you'll save alot of $$. That said there may be some airlines that require a pet travel agent. Just don't assume that recommend = require. Some recommend, some require, some probably don't have a stance at all. Make sure you know your approved routes for the PETS scheme and contact all the airlines during your waiting period.

Thanks for all the help so far. I found a vet that has the right chip and my vet turns out to be USDA certified.    The kitties will be chipped this coming Friday and vaccinated early next week.

Dh & I used a pet transport company called Airborne Animals. granted we were out a nice chunk of money but we knew everything was properly taken care of an we had nothing to worry about my cats were even delivered to our house in the UK.

I don't work for this company I just cant say enough good things about this company I would highly recommend them to anyone.    

airborneanimals.com or there number is 908-684-1844 I think they are in New Jersey.

If I had it to do over again, I would use a pet transport company. The paper work itself is a huge nightmare. And if you live in a small town where vets are unfamiliar with the pets scheme ,it is an even bigger nightmare.

Before we left, BA quoted me 1500.00 to fly my 3 cats. When we arrived at cargo, the price went up to 1750 because one of my cats had a bigger kennel.

Good luck to you and your kitties.

i wouldn't trust any vet, whether they claimed to be knowledgeable or not. The basic fact is that you alone will bear the burden if its not filled out correctly. You might be able to get your $$ back from a transport company but you still have the hassle of the issue at hand.

The paperwork is a little scary only because of the consequences if you get it wrong. However, the forms are not complicated, the rules are not many, again its just teh security of having someone look them over and handle transportation that you get from a service. If you have the cash, by all means use one. But it doesn't have to be a nightmare if you arm yourself with the proper knowledge before you start.

Also I have had many people claim that they have faxed their paperwork to DEFRA in advance for them to check over things to make sure all was in order. I myself called them about questions along the way and they were very nice and helpful.

Like the pp said, the quotes from airlines are just that, quotes. Until you come and they verify size of kennels, weight of everything and they know the current gas prices you can pay more or less. My quote actually went down with BA from LGW -> ATL. I was in total shock. I'm not used ot quotes going down, only up

We used a pet shipper and wish we used one from the begining of the process.  Which company you use probably depends on from where you are moving.

It was a bit pricey for our cat to be shipped with their help, but how much you pay is likely dependent upon how much you need them to do for you.  If you are travelling with the cats, it would probably be relatively cheap for them to take care of the vet visits, paperwork, etc (the company I used does that, btw.  They don't just literally ship animals).

We used a pet shipper and wish we used one from the beginning of the process.  Which company you use probably depends on from where you are moving.

It was a bit pricey for our cat to be shipped with their help, but how much you pay is likely dependent upon how much you need them to do for you.  If you are travelling with the cats, it would probably be relatively cheap for them to take care of the vet visits, paperwork, etc (the company I used does that, btw.  They don't just literally ship animals).

Legs Akimbo used the same pet shipper that Dh & I used. Airborne will travel to where your pet is located at thats what they for Dh & I. are cats were in Indiana someone from Airborne I'm not sure if they lived in Indiana or the flew to Indiana but they picked up our cats from the kennel they were in. an took them back to Airborne headquarters in New Jersey or New York I don't remember which one & our cats had there last minute Vet cat paperwork done then the next day our cats flew out of Newark into Heathrow. then someone dropped off our cats at our house after the cats cleared the pet center a couple hours later of course we had to pay extra for that but we didn't mind.