Process if Cat doesn't travel within 5 days of me.

I feel like a complete idiot. I made a huge mistake.
I adopted my cat from a shelter in 2015. She had her first on the record rabies vaccine in October of 2015. Last year I got her a 3 year booster.
I was about to call my vet to set up her pre-flight appointment and realized there's a two month gap between her original vaccine and the new one, and from what I understand since her most recent vaccine is now considered the primary vaccine, but since she got it over a year ago means it's no longer valid in the eyes of the UK.
I am so upset, I've been preparing for this for the last 2 years and I was so sure I did everything right. Now I'm 99.9% sure she won't be able to join me right away. 

Does anyone know the process and added costs if my cat doesn't fly within 5 days of me. I already got her in with the vet for a new shot, but the earliest she could fly is September 15th and I'm flying on the 2nd.

My cats came in two batches and the both batches travelled outside of five days.  I used an agent to receive them into Manchester Airport and do the processing and they handled it all.  There was no problem.

From what I understand, you won't have any issues if you use a pet transport company. If you do it on your own, the 5 day rule comes into play. The only airline that I know that will let you book without a transport company that I know of is Virgin (I think SAS might also, but the rates were just as expensive as a transport company). I have checked with these companies and they all require a company to handle the transport:
United
American Airlines
British Airways

It may be worth seeing about flying your pet to Holland or France (I don't think they have the 5 day rule, but don't quote me on that) then driving to the UK. It is also much cheaper to go with this option.

United

United used to allow you to do it yourself, then they stopped that and made you use a pet transport company but we just heard from someone who is in the process that they have started again to allow individuals to transport their own animals. 

United used to allow you to do it yourself, then they stopped that and made you use a pet transport company but we just heard from someone who is in the process that they have started again to allow individuals to transport their own animals. 

That's great news! I am picking up my cat next weekend in Paris since United was my only option to England and I had to make plans when they were not allowing any pet bookings at all. I'll make a thread about my experience once she arrives safely!

That's great news! I am picking up my cat next weekend in Paris since United was my only option to England and I had to make plans when they were not allowing any pet bookings at all. I'll make a thread about my experience once she arrives safely!

That's great!  The details of pet travel are more difficult to keep up with than the visa regulations, it seems! 

After a very stressful month, I'm happy to say my little Spinelli arrived into London on Monday! She was a little shaken at first, but once we got home it didn't take her long to explore the flat and give me some quality cuddle time.

All of the stress was totally worth it.


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Fantastic update!  It's done now and you never have to do it again.  Just enough the purrs and love. 

After a very stressful month, I'm happy to say my little Spinelli arrived into London on Monday! She was a little shaken at first, but once we got home it didn't take her long to explore the flat and give me some quality cuddle time.

All of the stress was totally worth it.


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Look at those eyes! She's saying "don't try to pull anything like that again"!   

Congratulations!!!