To take my two cats to live in Bangkok?

[TheBossofMe]

I have two cats - both not in the best of health and requiring long term medication. I have been offered a great job which requires relocating to Bangkok, and probably living in an apartment (no garden), whereas the cats are used to living in rural Surrey. Neither uses a litter tray, and one in particular likes the great outdoors very much. And it would limit the choice of apartments very much.

I would rehome them via the RSPCA, but because of their health problems, the RSPCA think they would not get rehomed and may be put down. Plus, I love them, as does the whole family, and would like to take them with me.

So what do I do? Am I being selfish by trying to take them? Would they adapt? I can't bear the thought of them not having someone to love them. Both have already been rehomed twice, but are gorgeous and friendly and very much part of our family.

Ask your vet what he thinks about their ability to travel and resettle. He knows more about their health.

If they are physically capable, I don't see why they couldn't come with you. They may have trouble settling at first, but with lots of love and attention, they will get over it.

If it does come down to having to rehome DO NOT give them to the RSPCA. MAny rescues work with 'foster' families who would take in older cats, without them having to go into rescue. Vallhala knows more about the rescue side of things, if you need to go down that route, hunt her out for advice.

Vet thinks give it a go - her POV is that they will probably be put down if I try and rehome them here, so its better to try and accept that they might not adapt and need to be put down in Thailand instead. Physically, she thinks its not a problem, but can't predict mental adaptation. I think one will adapt, but am really worried about the other one. I'm almost crying at the thought of letting them go, let alone being able to face the fact that this might happen.

I don't think YABU. We're looking at moving abroad and will definitely take our pets with us when we move.

One thing we are worried about is the quality of vetinary care where we are going. Keeping pets at home isn't very popular in our destination so we're not sure how is it will be to access a good vet.

Have you done any done your research to make sure that they will have good care and access to all their medication when they get there?

Do you think they would cope with being in quarantine, My friend took her cats to Australia and I think they were in quarantine for six months? I might have that wrong , so if some one knows better feel free to correct me !

Quarantine in Oz - from the UK - is 30 days, kingprawn. It may be different if the animal is going to Oz from elsewhere.

I don't think two unwell cats used to being outside are going to adapt to living entirely inside in a foreign city. Rather than the RSPCA have you spoken to the Cats Protection League?

So sorry about this, I know how difficult it is, and I can't offer advice about taking cats overseas: I left my two cats in America when we moved to China. They were older, and I just didn't want to stress them out...the flight alone would really have upset them tremendously. Plus, vets in China, even in Shanghai, were not the best, so you have to consider that, as well. Also, you and your family will want to travel while in Bangkok...so you have to consider that part...catteries aren't common in Asia, so you'd be left without care for them while you were away.
It is terribly difficult to think about being without them, but please think about the cats, and not just about the sadness of losing them. It would be so unfair to stress them out, and cause them undue trauma, just because you would miss them.
Do you have ANY friends or family here who could look after them for you? It's awful, but that's where my cats went...to a good friend, and I was so happy about that (esp. since my older cat died within a few months of me going, and that would have been a horrible thing to have happen in China).
I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I hope it helps you to think about it some more. Good luck (and congrats...Thailand is AMAZING)!

Give it a try, they will adapt to being inside, I have dragged my cat from Sydney to Singapore, back to Sydney, to London and soon to be back to Sydney.

She is cross for about a week after I get her back but she goes to her usual spot on the bed and gets over it.

They have nothing to lose if it is likely they will be put down anyway.

The "quarantine" period for Singapore to Oz involved a 6 month lead in, so she lived with us was checked monthly for bugs and then was in actual quarantine in Australia for 1 month. This can change though so check it out ahead of time.

Take them. They will love the weather and i bet you wouldntleave your kids behind?!!! If it doesnt work out for them theres always the option to bring them back to the u.k and have them rehomed (not by the RSPCA)

If you negotiate a good expat package, your employer will obviously pay for your relocation and accommodation and you could request a house instead of the apartment. Depending on where in Bangkok your office is the choice should be OK. However, as mentioned before, they will be spending some time in quarantine.

Avoid the RSPCA, imho they are the worst animal "welfare" organisation around. They have inflexible adoption rules and put animals down at the drop of a hat. Personally I think it would be a tough move for older and infirm cats, but maybe speak to a smaller local rescue, or Cats Protection about rehoming them. They will be much more helfpul than RSPCA.

I'm in two minds about this.
If the RSPCA is saying they couldn't rehome them, it sounds like they are pretty old/infirm?
IME vetinary care in Thailand can be pretty hit and miss, although lots more people have house pets than they did say, 10 years ago.

Also, most apartments are pretty small. Have you looked to see what kind of place you would be living in?

Honestly, don't take any notice of the RSPCA. Their rehoming policy is really limited. Talk to some other organisations before you make your decision.
I know that we, the public, tend to think animal welfare=RSPCA, but many who are involved in animal rescue and welfare would use almost any organisation rather than them.

What Townfan said

Arizona - they are both pretty well, but Cat1 has a restricted pelvis so is on a limited diet and gets constipated sometimes requiring enemas, and Cat2 has a kidney condition requiring medicine. The RSPCA think the cost of this treatment (c£1000 a year if there is no insurance in place) will put people off. TBH, they have rehomed them twice and I got the feeling they just don't want them back.

I think I'll see if I can find a home with friends I know, and if not, take them with me.

I don't think that Thailand has quarantine for animals entering the country. FWIW, I wouldn't take cats with me but I am a hard bitch. I doubt that you'll find a vet for the treatment and when the time comes (if) when they need to be euthanised you will really struggle. Thais are Budddhist and the taking of a life is just not on. When we first moved to Bangkok, there was an elephant who had fallend down a hole in the road. Poor beast took ten days to die because nobody would euthanise him. Do some more research and you could contact Chulalongkorn university, I think that is where the school of vetinary medicine is.

OK, here's the update. I spoke to their old vet who knows them and their medical history really well, more than their current vet. She as a bit that I would even consider it - she thinks one might adapt OK, but is such a skittish scared little thing (possible history of abuse before coming to us) that she would totally freak on the plan. She also reminded me that said cat spends NO time inside when DD is around. Her POV is that this cat would fling herself off the balcony of any apartment to try and get away from DD (only 2, and a bit loud, cat hates loud noises).

However, the good news for this cat is that my sister adores her and wants to take her - she was about to get a cat herself - so one cat at least is going to a really lovely home (indoors still, but nice large apartment, no balconies, and importantly, no children or any chance of them. I think given that this is a good home and I know she will be really well cared for, its better for her to go there than face the trip abroad. And I can see her on Skype!

Its the other cat that is going to be more problematic. Vet thinks no chance at all that he will adapt to being an indoors cat, and she's worried that his digestive condition will get worse as a result of his refusal to use a litter tray for anything except weeing and throwing litter around in (he once went almost 2 weeks without a pooh when confined following an op, which made him really sick). So she's advising strongly against relocating. So I do need to find him a home. I'm asking neighbours, and someone has given me some contacts at various animal shelters - but I'll definitely give the RSPCA a miss, I think. If anyone has any suggestions other than Cats Protection, please do let me know!

You can always adopt once you get there. Thai cats have a bendy tail, initially I thought they had been broken, but apparently they are born like this. Soi dog rescue does rehome kittens and cats. As you can imagine there are plenty.

I adopted 2 cats in Dubai. Then we moved to HK 8 months later. Decided to bring them with us because they are young (despite the 4 month quarantine period) and in good health and there were no rehoming options in Dubai. Also, veterinary care/ kennelling/ pet sitting all very good standard.

I still have mixed feelings about whether it was the right thing to do as we dont have outside space. One is ok but the other obviously wants to be outside and it breaks my heart to see him sitting by the window staring out (he has actually tried to climb out of a 5th floor window- Dh managed to grab his tail). TBH, if I could find someone with a garden here to give him to I probably would (and tell DH he escaped).

If they old, I would probably have them put to sleep for the many valid reasons that posters have already raised.

Don't be emotionally blackmailed by people who say "you wouldnt leave your kids" Cats are not kids. You wouldnt have your kid put down if it got run over. Doesnt mean it's not the right thing to do to a cat.

I do feel for you. I had to rehome my mum's cats when she died. They were semi feral although they loved homw comforts you couldn't touch them at all. I contacted Celia Hammond who took them. they have a non destruction policy. They agreed with me that the RSPCA would have just put them to sleep. I sent them monthly donations to help with their upkeep, and used to visit them. Worth giving them a call.
www.celiahammond.org/

The other thing is Zylkene. A supplement with helps with stress. Mine are on this to help with recurrent cystitis and it really has helped. Cheaper from here than the vets.

www.viovet.co.uk/p2777/Zylkene__75mg_Capsules_-_Pack_of__10/product_info.html

HTH - good luck