Holidays with pet - how do I bring my cat back to the UK?

[JustStark]

Morning!

I need help. My DH is Italian and we are planning to go to Italy for summer (we will stay there for a couple of months, we both can work from home, so boarding or pet sitter is not an option)

Our cat is fully vaccinated, microchipped and with a pet passport, but while I have no problems with flying out of the UK it seems that there is a restriction about pets flying back here.

Do you know if there is an airline that allows pet to flight back? Or if it's the flight the problem and it's ok if we travel by train?

One of those pet travel company asked me for 1,200gbp to flight the cat, and I simply don't have that amount of money!

I've tried to contact that gov pet travel scheme helpline and they are closed until Monday.

Any idea appreciated!

Leave cat here with a friend or in a posh cattery?

Don’t take the cat, it’s unlikely to enjoy either the journey or the holiday

Thanks, we considered that , but I am concerned it might be cruel to leave her for two months! No matter how posh the cattery, it's a long time!

There must be a way to bring her back, I've seen so many people flying out of the UK with cats and I'm sure they all brought them back!

I wouldn’t risk it either. It must be really frightening for a cat to be in a aeroplane.

I’d look for a posh cat hotel too. A FAB approved one.

Poor cat, can't you drive to Italy & back?
I wouldn't subject my cat to a plane ride unless I was emigrating for good.

I go on holiday by plane (usually) 4 or 5 times a year and have literally never seen a cat either at the airport or on a plane, where have you seen this?
Look for another option, your cat will hate it

Kinder to leave her in a cattery than put her on a plane .. animals die in transit ! Better still find someone to house sit your house and her!

Far kinder to put her in a posh cattery. It would be incredibly stressful for her to fly. A permanent move is one thing. A holiday would be cruel. Plus you run the risk of loosing her. My parents stayed in a cattery for a month and he was fine. My two have a great time at their cattery, and would also be fine for a couple of months. Do your research and find the right place and they'll be fine.

Please don't take your cat on holiday. She will be so unsettled with all the travelling - and then eight weeks later will need to do it all over again!

Find someone who can house-sit and look after the cat, or pay for her to go to a cattery or kennels.

but I am concerned it might be cruel to leave her for two months! No matter how posh the cattery, it's a long time!

Don't be, your cat will far happier staying here. Cats gets very stressed by travelling and being away from their own environment. I would never put an animal through international travel no matter the circumstances.

It’s cruel to take her. A pet hotel would be much better.

A pet-and-house-sitter would def be the best bet for the cat (and for your house).

There are websites to advertise yourselves on or to look for someone. It’s probably easiest if you live somewhere desirable, but I believe quite a lot of people are happy to do it for little or no money.

www.housesittersuk.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_ez2BRCyARIsAJfg-kstGCddGcJTKCYW6Im-8TsroDEFR7Lm_xLGXf-4H4w12FCMVgyZYtgaAi9wEALw_wcB

From the EU may be different, but my experience of flying with pets is they need to fly cargo into the UK.
Have you looked at trains and ferries, and the associated rules for that?

Within Europe you should be able to fly her in a carrier under your seat - but it does depend on the carrier and route, otherwise train travel might be better. Just make sure she's well habituated to the carrier. When are you going?
Once we Brexit pet travel will be much less predictable.
www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/approved-routes

Please also bear in mind that once in Italy you will need to keep your cat indoors for two weeks at the very least. I've always suggested significantly longer than this. Is the place that you're staying set up to do that- can you leave all windows and doors closed to prevent escapes?