Long haul packing planning

[NorthEndGal]

God that's a mouthful!
It's what I need though, and I stress when I think I've forgotten something. I'm trying to do it right this time, to plan carefully, pack thoughtfully and enjoy the trip.
I'm hoping for suggestions, so I can start making lists of what has to be done in advance.

We are moving in 4 months, 5000km away. The actual drive is just over 6000km.
Our household goods are being shipped, but I need to get the cats there, and they will need to fly with DS, 19, (who is also high functioning AS and stresses being away from us, and with big changes.)
Dh and I are driving the car.

I've never had to fly pets before, ds has never had to be the first to arrive in a new to him city, without us.
I do have an aunt and uncle out there who will help on their end.

Just a wee bit of planning....gulp
Suggestions welcome!

Is this a domestic or international move? Are the cats going in the cabin or the hold?

Re. the cats, if your DS is anxious (and even if he isn't), I'd try to find out exactly where the cats will need to be at departure and arrival airport. It can really vary, if they're travelling in the hold. At one place we had to check them at the outsize baggage counter (including taking the cats from their carriers so the boxes could be x-rayed: v stressful), at another it was a freight depot a cab-ride away from the airport. We've picked them up from beside the baggage carousel and also from a dedicated animal facility (again, a cab-ride away from the actual airport).

This was one of our biggest stresses on the actual day, so make sure DS knows what to expect.

If you're moving internationally, there will be pet import paperwork and procedures to complete. Even if it's domestic, check what your airline needs: most require a fit-to-fly certificate issued by a vet shortly before travel. Also check the airline's crate requirements, as it can be easy to get caught out, e.g. your carrier is deemed too small or inadequately ventilated or has the wrong fasteners.

Is it international? In which case get yourself on an expat forum. Loads of ladies there with packing lists. Or maybe repost on living overseas?

How long will the cargo take to arrive?? What are you sleeping on until the beds arrive?

I'd pack clothes, towels, sheets if needed immediately, paperwork, a very basic kitchen (plates, bowls, cutlery, chopping board, sharp knives, potato peeler, pans, frying pan), first aid kit, electronics (TV?) In the car. Let the packers do the rest. I'm guessing you are actually putting the big stuff on a ship?? Check the shipping rules- often no foods, toiletries, aerosols. Candles don't fair well if it's warm.
Check what might be hard to get in new location, and stock up.

Start clearing stuff out now. Charity shop, selling, binning. It all helps when you have to unpack it all!

4 months is ages! You will be fine. Getv the paperwork forthe cats started tho. That is the time consuming thing.

We are moving across Canada, so staying in the same country, one less thing to worry about.
The military moves our household stuff, no plants or liquids, so in prep I sold all my plants this weekend. Plus it made space to decorate for Christmas.

I am thinking the cats will have to go in the hold, as I dont think they are allowed in the same cage. Maybe a sedative from the vet can help

I should also mention, we are doing this drive in winter, so there is those extra challenges as well

And if we get there before the house stuff, we will have to stay in a hotel

Could you fly with ds to your new destination, leave him with family, fly back and drive with dh? That way he doesn't have to fly by himself.

Would it help ds to visit before you move in 4 months, even if it is just for a long weekend staying with your aunt and uncle so he knows what to expect?

Also, loads of airlines offer assistance for those flying with additional needs - have a look at the various airlines, what they offer in terms of help at the airport and what they can do to ease ds journey there. It may mean getting a slightly more expensive flight but it will be worth it. Phone the airport and ask about quiet areas he can use, etc.

There are companies that will arrange to move your cats, that might be a better option. I was talking to someone recently who had moved a cat and a dog from the U.K. to the USA and the company picked them up, had them in very nice kennels for a few days then put them on the flight and delivered them at the other end. Probably expensive but worth it for the peace of mind.

I will be flying out there on a week long househunting trip , but we are only covered for dh and I for the cost. Plus DS is doing school so wont be able to be gone too much. His school is done by online, and he has to have all his stuff (animation)

In theory, ds flies out first with the cats, and stays with aunt and uncle until we arrive 10 days later.
If there is someone we can hire to help with the cats , so there is less burden on him, we may do that.
He is super protective of the cats though, and wants to be with them as .uch as possible to make sure they are ok.

Also a tiny bit worried about getting caught on a closed highway, as often happens

These are all very helpful btw!

Ok, so the "shipping" stuff will be driven a similar route to you are driving. No ships involved?
No high temperature issues. You need to consider what might be affected by the cold tho!

Check the rules for flying with pets on the airline you will be using. I'm fairly certain the cats can share a carrier, but think they would need to be fairly petite cars to be able to fit in a carrier small enough for cabin use. You may need to book up front - there are only a limited number of pets per flight. I know the middle east has a maximum temperature that they will take live cargo. Is there a minimum temperature below which they will not take the cats?

Will keep thinkingl

Dh has just checked, cats can not go together, as there is a chance they could fight. Apparently even the most docile cats can loose their shit while flying.
They will be so sad without each other, I worry they wont be close by each other. They are twins, and are always together

I am trying to find about more about the cats now, so I can have this sorted so I can reassure DS.

I know the transport will get frozen on the way, so we cant have any live stuff, no liquids, no cleaners, etc

I have flown cats in the hold before, it is pressurised and heated, so the cats are quite safe.

Animal travel.com is a pet transport company. Unfortunately I can’t easily contact the acquaintance who shipped their pets, but if you can wait a couple of days I can find out from them who they used if it would help.

Your cats are adorable, by the way.

Thank you! Any info will help for sure, and also, yeah, they cute and they know it!

The hold is pressurized and temperature-controlled, but the max/min temperature restrictions relate to exterior conditions; getting the pets off the plane and to their collection point can be hazardous if it's very hot or cold.

Cats can't be sedated at all on a flight. It affects their ability to regulate body temperature, and most (all, I think) airlines will refuse to take sedated pets.

I've never used one of the door-to-door pet transport services, but only because we were on a budget. They are usually excellent, and take out a lot of the stress.

I think it's great that your DS wants to make sure the cats are okay, but tbh it's quite emotional dropping them off at the airport: such a huge noisy place and nobody really cares all that much about your pet. Both times I've left our cats there it's been really hard to walk away. (The cats did arrive at our destination with no ill effects whatsoever; it's just a stressful moment, and it would've been nice to have a trained pet professional handling it.)

I agree with LuYu, it is quite upsetting handing the cats over in the airport and seeing them disappear off into the unknown.