several questions about pet process

Long time no see on these boards!

I've read this thread: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=46708.0 and it's a good outline, but I still have some questions.

1. The OP there says the form is "easily googleable" but for the life of me I cannot find it. Since we are making an appointment for the cat to get chipped, we need to start filling things out.

2. Some of the comments imply that their pets were chipped and given the rabies shot on the same day, but I was under the impression that the chipping had to occur at an earlier date than the shot?

3. I have been trying to find out who is approved and certified, and it turns out only the head vet at our clinic is an APHIS-approved vet, and that's not usually who sees our cat. Now, if I understand things correctly, we can continue to have this process done through our "regular" vet, but the head vet must be the one to sign off on the forms (which I can't find!)?

4. It looks  like I left things too long for any shot at taking my cat with me when I move (probably hightailing it out of the US mid-June), has anyone here had their animal fly alone?

4a. BA World Cargo flies from Philadelphia, any idea on how to find out whether the animal can fly unaccompanied?

Sorry for these dumb questions, it's just that my parents will be handling this process for me as the cat lives with them right now, and so I need to be very clear about telling them what needs to be done.

Thanks!!!

1. The OP there says the form is "easily googleable" but for the life of me I cannot find it. Since we are making an appointment for the cat to get chipped, we need to start filling things out

Whatever you do, don't pay for the form.  It is available on the official EU website here:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/nocomm_third_en.htm

Scroll down to the heading "Document" and click on "here" to download the Word version where you see this text:
 "The forms in the various linguistic versions may be downloaded here"

The direct link to the document is:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/sanco10767r4_en.doc

It must be printed on one sheet, double-sided.

2. Some of the comments imply that their pets were chipped and given the rabies shot on the same day, but I was under the impression that the chipping had to occur at an earlier date than the shot?

Chipping and the rabies shot can occur the same day, however!!! the chipping MUST OCCUR FIRST.  Have the vet chip your cat, read the microchip number, enter that into the vet record (times and everything) and then immunize for rabies.  My vet also drafted a letter for me that accompanyed my official records attesting that the microchip was inserted and then the rabies vaccine was administered.  Peace of mind.  If your cat has been immunized previously and is up to date on the rabies immunizations, you CAN have the blood drawn on the same day (after the chipping and the rabies vaccination take place).  Recommendations to wait up to a month are to ensure that the antibodies level are high enough to "pass" the titer test. 

3. I have been trying to find out who is approved and certified, and it turns out only the head vet at our clinic is an APHIS-approved vet, and that's not usually who sees our cat. Now, if I understand things correctly, we can continue to have this process done through our "regular" vet, but the head vet must be the one to sign off on the forms (which I can't find!)?

I think it should be fine, however I would check with the official USDA vet for your area for confirmation.  Their signature verifies the qualifications of the official vet performing these shots, tests, etc.

4a. BA World Cargo flies from Philadelphia, any idea on how to find out whether the animal can fly unaccompanied?

Call them and ask.  Policies for stuff like this changes all the time.

Best of luck

1. Thank you!!! I had heard it was available online, but didn't know where. Thank you!!

2. Fantastic--I'm glad we can get it done the same day.

3. I tried calling the USDA office for our county, and they seemed completely and utterly confused by what I was asking. Maybe I was asking it wrong? I called Harrisburg (I'm in PA) to find out who was APHIS approved in our clinic, and it was only the head guy. Maybe we should just make the appointments with him, to be safe.

4. Good idea, thank you.

I had a version of the 998 in pdf version where you had to use a typewriter or write everything in--bless your heart, exjerseygirl, for sending a link to a Word version!