Moved the cats yesterday

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

So, just wanted to let everyone know, our US kitty and our Canadian kitty are now in their new home. The officer didn't even care about the cats, really, didn't see them, didn't ask for vaccinations, nothing. All he was concerned about was the food. He had me get out of the car and to the trunk and look at the packaging to see if it was made in the US. If it was, then I could bring it, if not, they'd have to incinerate it. Looking at the packaging for the Purina One all we found was that it was imported by a company in Missassauga, and stated nothing of where it was manufactured.

So, if you're bringing pets over, the food must be made in the US and in it's original packaging. At least according to the CBP officer I had last night.

[MandE 0]

yay for the reuniting of the kitties!!

I'm glad you were able to bring Canadian kitty over safe and sound. Does she/he travel well? I am bringing my cat over, too, and I am considering getting something for her to calm her down. She doesn't even travel well to the vet that is 15min away!

And thanks for the tip on the pet food. In the past I've traveled with my dogs and I always bring Milkbones with them. I've never had a problem with the treats, but maybe actually food a whole different story.

[Flames9_RN 358]

When we travelled with our cat from VA to Florida last Xmas. We took our cat in and the vet prescibed acepromazine 10 mg (only gave 1/2 a tablet) Worked charms!!! She was just drowsy, but very lovey, which is unlike her!! Maybe we should alawys keep her drugged up!! The trip was around 14 hrs, and the 1/2 tablet worked. And once it wore off, she had no problems!!

[MandE 0]

acepromazine... I'll have to keep that in mind Thanks Flames!

[trailmix 77]

When we travelled with our cat from VA to Florida last Xmas. We took our cat in and the vet prescibed acepromazine 10 mg (only gave 1/2 a tablet) Worked charms!!! She was just drowsy, but very lovey, which is unlike her!! Maybe we should alawys keep her drugged up!! The trip was around 14 hrs, and the 1/2 tablet worked. And once it wore off, she had no problems!!

Hey does anyone know what is up with the pet food thing, I don't get it, Canadian pet food, U.S. pet food, what possible difference does it make? Why can't you take it across the border?

Edited November 13, 2007 by trailmix

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

When we travelled with our cat from VA to Florida last Xmas. We took our cat in and the vet prescibed acepromazine 10 mg (only gave 1/2 a tablet) Worked charms!!! She was just drowsy, but very lovey, which is unlike her!! Maybe we should alawys keep her drugged up!! The trip was around 14 hrs, and the 1/2 tablet worked. And once it wore off, she had no problems!!

Hey does anyone know what is up with the pet food thing, I don't get it, Canadian pet food, U.S. pet food, what possible difference does it make? Why can't you take it across the border?

Do you want a logical answer? I don't think there's one to be had. The CBP officer muttered something about BSE (aka mad-cow).

[trailmix 77]

When we travelled with our cat from VA to Florida last Xmas. We took our cat in and the vet prescibed acepromazine 10 mg (only gave 1/2 a tablet) Worked charms!!! She was just drowsy, but very lovey, which is unlike her!! Maybe we should alawys keep her drugged up!! The trip was around 14 hrs, and the 1/2 tablet worked. And once it wore off, she had no problems!!

Hey does anyone know what is up with the pet food thing, I don't get it, Canadian pet food, U.S. pet food, what possible difference does it make? Why can't you take it across the border?

Do you want a logical answer? I don't think there's one to be had. The CBP officer muttered something about BSE (aka mad-cow).

Well, logical would be nice, but I think the BSE answer is probably as good as it gets when we are talking about government regulations.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Kitties rock!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

When we brought our six cats from Ontario to Atlanta we were advised by the vet not to drug them, so we didn't. Two of them meowed almost constantly, one was extremely stressed out that she developed a urinary tract infection and the others 'endured'. I found I had to cover up the windows at the side of the van by their seats, though, because everytime the shadow of a transport truck came by, the 'sunk' low into their crates as if to get away. Stopping the shadow made a big difference. We did the trip in 2 days stopping to 'rest' the cats and let them out of their crates to use the litterbox and have some water every 2 to 3 hours.

When we moved down it was just after the time of the Mad Cow Disease scare and the complete ban on pet food going both ways across the border was in force. Leading up to the time of the move I deliberately made sure that I got food that was made in the US to bring across. The one exception was one cat who is so particular she would only eat one brand of one food. I couldn't buy any of it made in the US - and when I got here and purchased the US brand it was a different formulation and she wouldn't eat it. I had to scramble to find something else she would eat and it was a big concern for a while. Fortunately, I had brought enough of her 'Canadian' food with me to cover the time. I listed cat food on my list of items but they they didn't bother to check anything in the van (I even had phytosanitary certificates for the houseplants I brought in!)

Good luck travelling with your cat(s). The border guards only need to inspect them to make sure they don't look sick, but each State has their own separate criteria so you might want to check out those for where you are heading.

[Flames9_RN 358]

When it comes to "drugging" ur cat or any kind of drugs to any type of animal/person, one will get different answers! I believe many state when flying with ur animal its best not to drug them??? Before my vet prescribed the drugs, she did a physical of the cat to ensure everything was fine

[Earmuffs 1]

I traveled with my cat for 2400 miles in this car..

completely packed.. she did better than I thought..

[MandE 0]

those pics are awesome... that kitty gets around!!

[derekkj 0]

When it comes to "drugging" ur cat or any kind of drugs to any type of animal/person, one will get different answers! I believe many state when flying with ur animal its best not to drug them??? Before my vet prescribed the drugs, she did a physical of the cat to ensure everything was fine

Yeah, you probably will get different answers. Jenny was on kitty downers for her plane ride from Vermont to DC, but she was in the cabin with me and I was able to keep tabs on her. Cats who are sedated are not able to regulate their temperatures and breathing as well as cats who are not sedated especially at higher altitudes. Jenny apparently wasn't very well sedated though. We were on one of those turbo prop planes and while the engines were running I didn't hear a thing, but as soon as we landed and the engines shut down all you could hear was "meow", "meow", "meow", non-stop. I was a bit embarrassed.

I had a cat who loved to take cars rides because he had been doing it since he was a kitten and had gotten used to it. So I am trying to take Calvin on rides that don't end up at the vet whenever I get the chance. Ask me how it's going in another 6 months.

Earmuffs, those are great photos!

[kimmbo 0]

Great pics! When I first glanced at them, I thought those shoes were tied to the cat!..LOL..I was thinking that what a great cat you have to let you tie shoes to them...LOL

Thats about the size of car we have and we will be travelling from the Toronto area to Las Vegas (4 day drive) with 2 cats... were not planning on bringing alot of stuff in the car with us...so we will be bringing their couch (they have one of those foamy couches for kids that fold out and make a sofa bed) with us to put on the back seat..the back seats fold down, litter box will be in the trunk (they have used it before on our many trips over the border to Buffalo), the longest weve had them in the car is 4 1/2 hours (although we will be taking them to Montreal with us when we get our interview, about a 6 hr drive) and after about 1/2 hour on the road they settle down and fall asleep... not sure though how they will handle a 4 DAY drive.. they are both older cats so we will be making several stops along the way..We wont be sedating them, they have tried 3 different kinds of sedatives and they "come down" really hard...

my cats are both diabetic and I (we) take them with us everywhere...I just dont trust anyone to look after them like I would and they both sleep on the bed with us at night...awww...so yes I am one of those crazy cat ladies, in case you were wondering..LOL

Edited November 13, 2007 by kimmbo

[Toronto/New York 0]

Great pics! I see we have a lot of cat people here! this is great! We will be taking our 2 cats over the border (that is if we ever get our damn interview date) as well - it's an 8 hour drive to nyc so not too bad. I'm with you kimmbo - i don't trust too many people with my precious babies.