Emigrating with a pet? Admin- sorry if off-topic!

[LondonWelsh 0]

Hi all

First off, admin I'm sorry if this is off-topic, please let me know if it's not appropriate/remove!

I am hoping to emigrate to Indianapolis in September. Unfortunately we have to move from the house we are renting now in London in June, so we are hoping to send our cat over with my mother in law when she visits late May.

I've written to the email address on https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/import-live-animals/ct_import_live_animals to ask for advice and have also found this page about moving to Indiana with a pet http://www.in.gov/boah/2437.htm

Does anyone have first hand experiences of this?

He is a healthy 3yo male neutered, micro-chipped cat fully vaccinated to UK recommendations.

As there are no direct flights London-Indianapolis he will have to fly into Chicago which is of course in a different state, and then I expect my father in law will drive my mother in law and cat down to Indy from there.

Any pointers very gratefully received!

Many thanks in advance!

LW x

[Abby&Colin 40]

Hi all

First off, admin I'm sorry if this is off-topic, please let me know if it's not appropriate/remove!

I am hoping to emigrate to Indianapolis in September. Unfortunately we have to move from the house we are renting now in London in June, so we are hoping to send our cat over with my mother in law when she visits late May.

I've written to the email address on https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/import-live-animals/ct_import_live_animals to ask for advice and have also found this page about moving to Indiana with a pet http://www.in.gov/boah/2437.htm

Does anyone have first hand experiences of this?

He is a healthy 3yo male neutered, micro-chipped cat fully vaccinated to UK recommendations.

As there are no direct flights London-Indianapolis he will have to fly into Chicago which is of course in a different state, and then I expect my father in law will drive my mother in law and cat down to Indy from there.

Any pointers very gratefully received!

Many thanks in advance!

LW x

Get a rabies and vaccine certificate or record with your vets signature on it proving he is up to date with shots that becomes your cats passport. That is what I did for my dog and I had no problems I called the crossing to see what they requires and that was it !

[Ontarkie 14,222]

~~Moved to Moving to the US and Your New Life, from DCF - as this topic comes up often here.~~

[LondonWelsh 0]

Get a rabies and vaccine certificate or record with your vets signature on it proving he is up to date with shots that becomes your cats passport. That is what I did for my dog and I had no problems I called the crossing to see what they requires and that was it !

Great, thank you!

Sorry for ignorance, what's the crossing?

I assumed a pet passport was a different document!

Would you mind me asking where you flew into? Thanks so much for your reply.

[Boiler 45,501]

There have been plenty of threads, and specialised companies that do this. Be prepared for sticker shock.

[LondonWelsh 0]

There have been plenty of threads, and specialised companies that do this. Be prepared for sticker shock.

Thank you fellow Welsh person. I had to google sticker shock which isn't a great start

I'm pretty DIY so if there's a way of avoiding companies which charge to do things we could do ourselves I'll probably do that (money is a big issue here!)

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Customs and Border Patrol info here http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pets_3.pdf

Check your airline website as well. I remember reading some previous discussion that animals were not allowed to travel at certain times of the year...too hot or too cold. Also they will often give kennel requirements to travel on their airline.

[Boiler 45,501]

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Bringing_Pets

[AMZJ 61]

Vaccinate against rabies, unless kitty is coming back to the UK it does not need a pet passport. Need a letter within 2 weeks of flight stating that kitty is all healthy and fit to fly. All shots up to date. I used a flying company for my dog. They picked her up at the house and delivered her to DC where my friend picked her up. they handled all of the documents and the crate. They were fantastic and it took a lot of stress out of a very difficult time in my life. I would really recommend using a pet agent as it takes so much stress off you. It was £1200 for a large dog. I think it would be less than that for a small cat.

[LondonWelsh 0]

Thank you all so much for the really useful links.

It looks like we'll need to get info from the vets to say he's up to date with vaccinations and good to fly within 10 days of his flight, and be very specific with which airline he's going back on to make sure he meets their requirements.

I wish we could afford to do it through an agency but sadly money is very tight here!

LW x