Moving to the UK with cats

[evuscha]

Dear experienced cat owners

I have just got a confirmation to relocate to the UK (due to career) from another EU country and I am of course taking my two cats with me (they are 3 and 4 years old). I therefore have a set of questions that I would love your help with if possible?

• I´m taking them by car, it´s a 15-hour journey, do you have any experience of how to keep them calm during the trip? They are not huge fans of their travel boxes even for a 2-hour trip but I figured this is less stressful than airport etc
• as for formalities, I assume they need to be microchipped, vaccinated and have an EU pet passport...anything else?
• how to look for a flat that allows pets? They are house cats, well behaved, but many ads seem to say no pets :-/
• catsitting: is there any service you are particularly happy with in west/southwest London? Or is it better to just post an ad and find an individual to come and check them? (I am a bit paranoid about this one already)

Thank you so much in advance!

I'd try either Pet Remedy or Feliway spray in their boxes. Can you get a really big carrier for them? Little cat boxes and 15 hrs is not a good mix. They need space for food, water, a bed and a litter tray, for a start.
The PET travel scheme requires them to be Idchipped and vaccinated for rabies at least 21 days before travelling. They then need to be wormed by a vet and an entry made in the passport just before travelling (I think within 48 hrs but please double check).
A lot of rental properties don't allow pets. I guess if you contact estate/letting agents directly they may know if landlords are flexible on this one?
Can't help on the cat sitting but if you register with a vet once you arrive they may well be able to recommend someone local.

Thank you, all good points! The really big carrier is a good idea along with Feliway. I did consider flying but with the travel to and from the airport and all the time there plus noisy flight etc I reckoned a car is a safer option for them.