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Original poster

Bringing home a kitten from a European holiday.

58 replies

Methe · 11/08/2015 15:50

We are currently camping in the dordogne. On the first day we were 'adopted' by a ginger and white kitten. He's about 16 weeks old and seems in good health. There are actually two kittens here but the other one has obviously found herself another family. We've not been feeding them of anything but are always in our tent. I woke up with the g+w one curled up in the crook of my knee this morning.

This kitten is really lovely and I'm tempted to look on to what it would take to being him home. I have two cats already, what's another one? It kind of feels like fate. The site owners have said that they are "just strays" and don't seem bothered about them in the slightest. I've seen several dead kittens by the side of the roads too.

Wwyd? Am I stupid to even consider it?

Bringing home a kitten from a European holiday.
OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 11/08/2015 18:51

But none of that applies if the op can arrange for the cat to be looked after in France for 21 days post rabies and chip, then it can travel freely to the UK when it's convenient

Tiptops · 11/08/2015 19:12

If you can find a local person or a standard cattery that will keep him safe until the 21 days are up then pop back for him I don't see why it couldn't work. A rescue centre may help you out.

The journey may be stressful for him but the alternatives of being left in France sound horrible. Short term stress for a comfortable lifetime in the UK seems like a no brainer to me.

Verbena37 · 11/08/2015 19:34

Slightly strange point but how do you know the kitten wouldn't have a cool, outdoor, free ranging life if you left him there? He could have brothers and sisters he goes off to when you're not there etc. he isn't definitely going to be ran over or drowned. It sounds as if the campsite just let them stay around there.

Frenchfemme · 11/08/2015 20:23

Where are you in the Dordogne? There is a (no kill) cat charity just over the border in Midi Pyrénées called Chats du Quercy chatsduquercy.fr/en - they may be able to advise you and may even temporarily home him for you (for a donation of course).

SuperFlyHigh · 11/08/2015 20:59

Verbena he's too old to be drowned (they generally do that first few days of kittens' lives) - he may well be run over but that was because what the OP has seen happen to other cats. The French are nuts and don't stop for animals. they are also famously (particular where my parents have a holiday home) non animal lovers. labradors etc are hunting dogs, there's a field nearby where they breed/keep them. the horse that was abandoned by a spoiled rich kid recently was a hunter horse but didn't hunt (luckily it was rescued).

SuperFlyHigh · 11/08/2015 21:01

also the campsite may not want another cat as a pest-control service which means the cat would then hang around and in winter wander and if not neutered father more kittens. he would probably try to get taken in by a local family or become a farm cat.

TalkinPeace · 11/08/2015 21:08

Are you sure he does not actually live at one of the neighbouring houses but knows a cushy deal when he sees it?

Fluffycloudland77 · 11/08/2015 21:09

I'd get him quarantined and keep him. I couldn't leave him behind to face winter on his own.

MrsNuckyThompson · 11/08/2015 21:11

My dad and step mum did this many moons ago and brought home one of the loveliest cats I've ever met. He lived to a ripe old age and was no trouble. He was about to be drowned.

My only concern in this scenario is what happens to the other kitten if not adopted?

SuperFlyHigh · 11/08/2015 21:14

I don't think many people realise this but sadly not a lot of French rural people have animals as pets. they're there for a purpose. probably the rural way.

the cats in the next house in the hamlet where my parents have a holiday home - all farm cats - a little bit tame but generally rodent catchers.

dogs - hunting companions. their neighbour does have a Yorkie but he's 92 (not the Yorkie!).

also vets there are very expensive and French and English people have told me this - a lot of people can't afford them for their pets.

timtam23 · 11/08/2015 21:50

He sounds adorable & i don't think I could bear to leave him behind (I have heard lots of sad stories about what can happen to cats in rural France - from an acquaintance who lives there)
The most doable option would seem to be vet check, microchip, rabies vaccine, into cattery in France for 21 days then transport somehow to UK...it still sounds very complicated but I think I would have to try (although my DH would think I had completely lost my marbles)
Please let us know how things go Smile

Fluffycloudland77 · 12/08/2015 19:11

Well I'm not going to France after reading this. I'd come home with 43 new cats.

SuperFlyHigh · 12/08/2015 19:36

it is a shame Fluffy the French are awful for this…

one year I went to Kefalonia and dumped on a mountainside road were some feral kittens obviously left to die and spitting like you wouldn't believe. It is almost kinder to drown them at birth really if they're unwanted. These poor mites would just starve to death and separated from their mum far too long.

Costacoffeeplease · 12/08/2015 19:40

This is why we currently have 14 rescue cats (inc 2 kittens I hand reared from 3 weeks old) and 2 rescue dogs Grin

BagelwithButter · 12/08/2015 22:54

you could contact this rescue phoenixasso.com/

English speaking in Dordogne - maybe they could help find a foster family for the 21 days you need.

Good luck!

fenneltea · 13/08/2015 08:00

I'd do as timtam suggests, find a vet and get the necessary vaccs and health checks and then cattery. There are courier services that will ship pets over and provide care who may well be able to help and offer suggestions; an example of one here:- www.uship.com/profile/expressleypets/ but there are quite a few companies doing this now.

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/08/2015 12:37

Someone on here has a cat from the emirates so it must be possible.

Original poster
Methe · 13/08/2015 15:52

I just wrote a massive post and lost it :(

Operation kitten isn't looking likely. Dh is very anti but I think this is due to the money rather than the practicalities. I will keep pestering and see where it gets me. If he softens his resolve at all I'll ring the Phoenix place and ask them as they look like the perfect people and are only an hour away from sarlat where we are.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 13/08/2015 19:22

Oh dear.

30 years ago I was a child, we had two cats. Dad said no more cats.

We went to a cat show and saw an adorable little kitten, he was for sale but dad said No More Cats.

The next day he capitulated and rang the breeder to buy the damned cat the wife and daughter would not shut up about. Cat had been sold!.

30 years later it is still something best not mentioned. Does he want that situation on his hands? 2045 and you still cant mention the ginger and white cat on the campsite.

timtam23 · 13/08/2015 23:01

Oh Methe he is such a cutie, I really hope you can persuade your DH...I know the whole idea sounds hairbrained but I think if you can save 1 kitten, why not do it...as long as it isn't carrying any nasty diseases...The cost of quarantine sounds prohibitive but if you can somehow arrange cattery/fostering then transport it to the UK it would be more reasonable
(My DH would be exactly the same as yours by the way!)

My rural French acquaintance has mentioned cats being poisoned, shot, basically treated as vermin...it is very sad.

Fingers crossed DH can be talked round & there is a way to proceed.

Frenchfemme · 14/08/2015 13:50

Any news on Operation Chatton? I have a cat basket poised ready to be deployed on a mercy dash to Phoenix if needed ... Currently feeding a tabby cat on my windowsill - we have 4 cats, none of them a tabby.

SuperFlyHigh · 14/08/2015 14:30

timtam - some French are quite nice to cats - if they're useful eg in catching rodents on a farm...

the level crossing man near where my parents have their holiday home had a cat (ginger and white) who was pet/rodent catcher until he sadly got a tumour I think on his eye - he was old anyway. so they are not all shot and poisoned.

I also read an article just now on how a few French don't like to spay/neuter their cats (cost?) which is daft really.

Dogs have it easier in France. I think cities are nicer for dogs.

Original poster
Methe · 14/08/2015 18:15

I asked the rep earlier on to find out what the owners had planned for them when the season ends. She said one of the receptionists is "soft for them" so that might come to something. She also said there were initially 3 but one was taken home by someone.

The kittens have spent the last couple of days sleeping on our beds being fed duck rillet! They did leave the tent once and went and shit on our Dutch neighbours clean washing Grin so far no presents for me unless you count the live mouse I have to extract by its tail on Monday night.

The weather is foul here :(

OP posts:
Frenchfemme · 14/08/2015 18:22

Sorry about the weather! Probably doesn't help to know that until last Friday it has been glorious - (too) hot and dry. I'll shut up now.

Original poster
Methe · 14/08/2015 20:24

Story of my life! All I can say is thank goodness the wine is so cheap.

Are you close to Sarlat? we came here last year and had rubbish weather too. I feel rather fed up :(

OP posts: