Moving cat to the continent

[CuteOrangeElephant]

Hello!

We are looking at moving to the Netherlands within the next 3 or 4 months. We have a cat that we are very attached to and that we would really like to take with us.

Does anyone have any experience with moving a cat and can give us some recommendations?

As we see it we have 3 options:

1. Take the overnight ferry. There are petfriendly cabins on some of the Newcastle ferries, I would have to enquire whether the cat can stay with us in the cabin or whether he has to stay in a holding area.

2. we drive from the North all the way to Dover to take the channel tunnel and then back up. Upside: we can stay with him at all times.

3. we can fly with the cat. Technically he's light enough to fly in the cabin, but he's a big boy and my husband is very nervous about doing this. It would also mean the cat would have very little space and we're not sure how to deal with toileting issues.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Option 1 - when we moved our cat in 2010, the cat had to stay in the car on the ferry Hull to Rotterdam so we opted for the channel tunnel - not sure the rules have changed

Option 2 - this is what we did. The plan was to let the cat out of the carrier for toileting but we ended up with the litter tray on the parcel shelf and a free roaming cat after driving and discovering how unhappy he was in the carrier. If you choose this option, make sure the cat is prepared for 'nice' long journeys and won't cry all the time. We also overnighted in a hotel that allowed cats.

Option 3 - would be the easiest but am not sure if your cat would fit in a small enough carrier and there are limits on airlines and airports if you go this route. We ended up paying 1000's as the rules changed for Brazil and we ended up having to send the cats cargo instead of in the cabin with us. I think the idea is to feed minimal food and water to sort the toilet needs.

Good luck - we found option 2 was less stressful than expected moving from West Yorkshire to Switzerland and option 3 was our only option for Brazil to West Yorkshire

I've been back and forth from Ireland to Spain via UK, quite a few times, on Brittany Ferries, with 2 cats. They have pet rooms and welcome cats, maximum of 2 per cabin, I think. When I first started, the cats had to stay in the car and there'd be scheduled visiting times to feed them and clean trays, etc. I hated this, but no option. I would've preferred to fly with them, but it always seemed so complicated, with no direct flights. But, at least I had my car with me in Spain.

If you go by ferry, you'll have to have a travel size carrier for him, not the small one for a visit to the vet. Don't forget his passport!

Thanks!

We'll be travelling from West Yorkshire too :) .

With the pet cabin, how does that go logistically with litter etc?

We've discovered a fourth option which is a dedicated pet transport company. Depending on price we may choose this as the cat is going to stay with my sister for a bit anyway.

The cabins I've stayed in were two beds and shower room, very ordinary. When they say pet cabins, you imagine something pet orientated, but they're not. There's no carpet, which is good in case of accidents, but not very luxurious . You'll need to bring your own litter and tray, bin bags and cleaning paraphernalia. The rooms aren't huge, but there's just enough room for the travel box, litter tray and cat food bowl. You might be able to book on line, but sometimes you have to phone to reserve pet cabins.

Hmmmm. We'd be travelling with our two year old and this does not sound very attractive! Maybe we should book a separate hut for my husband and the cat

Might be a good idea

I’ve flown a cat in cargo long haul twice (not an option for in-cabin). They don’t get food and limited water. We had to put an absorbent pad down in the bottom. Our vet said that cats actually do fairly well as they tend to just hunker down. They loaded her on last and off first and took her to a handling facility where they took her out and attended to her needs. We were airborne for 11 and 9 hours respectively and she was none worse off for the experience. Her crate had to be big enough to stand up and turn around. We also did a multi-day loooong drive with her in a car and she was fine for that too. She didn’t want to eat during the drive anyway and she mostly drank on stops. The joys of moving country multiple times.... Your cat will be fine for the duration of your travel however you go, I’m sure.

We have traveled transatlantic a couple of times using dedicated pet transport company
It is quite pricey but very hassle free.

I've always wondered why they don't freeze in the cargo section.

The pet relocation company wanted 1182 pounds! Back to the drawing board

My friend did option 2 for relocation to Switzerland. Two cats, but no kids

YetAnotherSpartacus the area the animal's in is kept heated, hopefully

I did this in reverse from Brussels to Cornwall last year when we moved back. Have done it twice now....

I drove from Brussels to Hampshire, via the tunnel, and then the boys had a night in a cattery, and ds and I stayed in a hotel. The next day, after they'd had a good 17 hours out of their boxes, I picked them up and did the last 4 hours of the drive. They then had another week in a cattery, where I went and saw them each day, til the house was sorted enough for them to come home.

You could drive from W Yorks to Dover breaking the journey and put the cat in a cattery overnight. Rinse and repeat for a night at Dover/Folkestone. Tunnel the next day, and then straight through to Amsterdam. It took from 0900 Belgian time to 1700 UK time for us the first day. I stopped two or three times to give the cats a drink, and check if the towels in their boxes annexed changing, but they were fine. It's about 3.5 hours from Coquelles, where the tunnel is in France to Amsterdam, via Ghent and Antwerp and you avoid Brussels and the Ring.

For humans we normally did the ferry, but with the cats, it was the tunnel as it's shorter, and you are with them.

I know £1200 is a lot of money but if they do everything for you it’s worth it.

It’s one less thing to think about.

True.

I think we've decided on the pet cabin on the Newcastle ferry with booking an extra room for me and toddler DD. It is the most cost effective option since we are already making the trip anyway.

You can take the boat from Harwich to Hook of Holland and they accept cats.
But they go in the cattery for the journey.

Cheap way of travel (but fabulous boat) though and about 8 hour sailing time.

And you could take a big truck with loads of your stuff at the same time too.

@BobbyBlueCat

Is there an actual cattery or is it a space shared with dogs too?