6 month rule

I'm posting like a fiend lately!

Ok, I have a question.

We are trying to get out a little early, I got the cat's their rabies shot on March 25th. The vets here said that I can't fly until Sept. 25th, but the DEFRA website said 6 calendar months. I tried calling them today but its a bank holiday so they are shut.

Anyone have any experience with this? I dont want the kitties in quarantine if we are wrong. We called the USDA vet down in Austin and she just read me what was on the DEFRA website. I just want to make sure before we do anything because everytime I assume something, its wrong!

Thanks!

Maybe I am being really stupid and missing something..but isn't March 25-Sept 25 six calendar months?

That would be 180 days...6 calendar months would be anytime in September. At least thats my understanding of the process.

I understand one calendar month to be from the date in one month to the same date in the next month. So January 3rd to Feb 3rd would be one calendar month and so on.

I understand one calendar month to be from the date in one month to the same date in the next month. So January 3rd to Feb 3rd would be one calendar month and so on.

This. I interpret "6 calendar months" as 6 full months from the date. March 25, April 25, May 25, June 25, July 25, August 25, and September 25. If you could travel anytime in the 6th month, they would say so. (And the reasoning behind it is that rabies has a 6-month incubation period, so they want to be sure that your pet didn't get bitten the day before the vaccination was given and then not show symptoms until the very end of the incubation period.)

Unless something has changed in Defra's interpretation, when planning to bring our cats over, I checked and our vet checked with them to ensure we were interpreting correctly and one calendar month was as defined by HG and equestrianerd.  Our cat's rabies titer was on April 15 and we made reservations to fly with them on Oct 16 -- that extra day was just for wiggle room on our part.

 

okay maybe i am wrong because i am just starting to research the PETS process myself but i thought now you can travel within 21 days of the shot?

okay maybe i am wrong because i am just starting to research the PETS process myself but i thought now you can travel within 21 days of the shot?

Not until January 1. If your pet won't be moving until 2012, that is true (though you still need all the paperwork, obviously). Until then, the current rules (and 6-month period) apply.

i am such a spazzed... i looked at that post for days but for some reason that big ol January 2012... i kept thinking July... 2011... UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH lol

I'm with everyone else, I view 6 months as 6 FULL months from the date, not the month.

Thank you guys! We would've booked our flight before that full six months! Don't know what I was thinking...wishful thinking I suppose!