Moving abroad with cats

Research and planning

1. Is your cat allowed?

This may seem a strange question to pet owners in the UK, the US, or many other locations, but it is a serious consideration for some moves. Country such as Singapore, for example, doesn’t allow cats in certain residential types, and some landlords may not necessarily allow pets. You need to know where you will live before you can be sure your cat is welcome.

Also, not all cat breeds are qualified to travel. Many countries don’t accept incoming certain cat breeds that have wild heritage, such as Bengal or Savannah cat crosses. Most of us have common domestic breed cats, but if you are not sure about your cat breed, be sure to check on this.

2. Compare travel options

As soon as you know you’re moving, get to work figuring out how you’re going to be traveling and which airline you will be traveling with. Planning and working out the kinks in advance will give you a lot of relief, and this will free you up to focus on all of the other things that you need to get done.

Find out the length of travel for your travel options. Would they be less stressed sitting on a train with me rather than being put on a plane? Or was it easier for them to just get there in the fastest route possible?

Pre-move preparation

1. Gather all Required Documents

Moving overseas with cats gets tricky because of different regulations and policies based on the country. While some countries make it really easy to import your pet, others have some strict requirements.

Most, if not all countries will require:

• Latest vaccine records
• Veterinary verified health certificate
• Rabies vaccination certificate or waiver
• Microchip

Some countries, but not all, will require additional:

• Rabies blood tests
• Pet passport
• Import license

This should be done in advance as some countries have a waiting period between when the paperwork is filed and the animal is allowed to enter the country. You should also find out if there is a mandated quarantine period.

2. Talk To Your Vet, And Find a New One

Visit your local vet to discuss your upcoming move. Your cat should be examined to make sure that they’re healthy enough to make the trip, update all necessary vaccinations and health information, and you can also discuss some best practice advice that can help with your cat’s anxiety during travels.

Equally important is that you have a vet lined up in your new city. Then, start the process of transferring your cat’s medical information as early as you can. So that when you arrive at your new destination, your vet will have everything your cat needs before your first appointment with them.

3. Update microchip details

A new home and environment won’t immediately be relaxing for your cat. With all the disruption of moving day and lots of open doors as you move in boxes and furniture, it can be easy for your cat to run out.

So, we recommend getting a new tag or implanting a microchip with your new address and telephone number and putting them on right before the move. If your cat is microchipped, make sure it is up to date with your new address. That way, if they escape at any point during the move, you can easily trace their location.

4. Finding the right crate

If you’re planning on moving somewhere far away, you need to find a safe and comfortable travel crate for your furball. There is a good rule of thumb for an optimal crate size is by adding 4 inches to the height and length of your cat.

Without fanfare and as far in advance of your move as you can, place the crate out and stick a toy and give them some treats while they are in there. This gives your cat a chance to investigate the space at their own pace and can help associate it with a safe and positive experience. While you’re at it, spray the crate with some calming pheromone spray that you can use during the move too.

As you get closer to the big day, start to encourage your cat to spend a little bit more time in the carrier by feeding them some meals in there, and making the crate part of playtime. With enough conditioning, the crate should become a lot less scary—and a lot more comforting.

5. Let them get used to moving supplies

When it comes to packing, there is one great thing about it – cats love carton boxes. Before getting into the nitty-gritty of packing, do leave out a few boxes and other packing supplies for your cat to explore. When they do start examining them, give your furbaby some treats or praises with the presence of the moving supplies to create positive associations with the items.

Of course, the unfamiliarity with packing supplies could be an additional trigger for stress. In that case, spritzing some calming pheromone spray on them from time to time will be just enough to alleviate your cat’s anxiety. When the time comes to get started with packing, they’ll be less anxious with all these weird new items taking over their space.

Moving Day

1. Don’t overfeed your cat hours before departure

In order to minimize the chances your cat gets sick as much as possible, try giving your cat little doses of food before traveling. But don’t starve them either.

During the move, your cat’s stomach can get upset due to stress. Train your cat to get used to it by going on a strict diet several days before the trip and cutting down on the amount of food – that measure can prevent unpredictable events while traveling, especially if your animal is prone to getting sick in those situations.

2. Keep Your Cat Safe During the Flight

In addition to reducing meals, there are other measures you should take for your cat’s comfort and safety throughout the journey:

• Avoid traveling during extreme temperatures
• Avoid traveling during the peak holiday season
• Use direct flights if possible
• Use tranquilizers only if your vet prescribed them
• Food and water bowls/access
• Documents, proof of vaccinations and rabies, and any ID tags or names attached to the crate
• Pee pad lined on the bottom of the crate

Settling down

1. Introducing them to their new home

When movers arrive with your belongings, separate the cat again in a safe room or space to keep them from harm’s way during moving in. Set their litter box on one side of the room, with food and water on the other side of the room before allowing them to step out into the room.

The idea is to let them acclimate to a small area of the house first so that they start to get comfortable with the new smells before exploring further. However, remember to cat-proof your new home first before allowing them to expand their territory.

2. Check-in

Pay close attention to your cat during their first days and weeks in your new home. If you notice signs of stress or acting outside of their normal behavior, consider taking a step back or if things get serious, call the vet.

Still nervous about moving abroad with cats? Crown Relocations can help

We understand that your pet is an important part of your family, therefore put the best care and attention into coordinating their move, to ensure a smooth and efficient service from collection through to delivery to your residence at the destination.

Crown Pet Relocations Service can also help you with everything from making sure you follow all the pet import rules to arranging your pet’s travel. We can even escort your pet through customs and complete customs and other paperwork. It is our priority to ensure a safe and less stressful move for both you and your pet.