Oh, man, do I feel silly. You typed up a huge thing for me about traveling so far and I should have been 1k miles. :oops: (Michigan to Florida) Thanks for all you did, though. Wow, I really feel badly....
Aww, how sweet. :) How do you travel with your cat? We are going to be moving 11K miles and I am not sure how we should transport our kitties.
Wow, that's quite a journey. :)
I guess the first question would be where are you traveling to/from? Many countries have quarantine restrictions, which means your pet may end up in a kennel for anywhere from 30 days to six months (yes, six months), even with fully documented health records, including a full history of rabies shots. For a traveler, that seems extreme, but countries do what they must to protect themselves from new diseases/infections that can be carried by animals. This can be incredibly stressful for an older animal, of course, so you'll want to research that and take it into consideration.
No matter where/how you're traveling, make sure you have documentation that shows your cat/dog is up to date on vaccinations and your current rabies tag. With a major move like you're doing, it would be a good idea for your vet to type up a lifetime history of vaccinations/etc, not only so you can show it to any potential quarantine officer, but also so you can present it to your new vet at your new home.
Beyond that: if you're moving 11K miles, then I'm going to assume it's a move that requires flights. Most airlines charge an extra pet fee for allowing the pet in the cabin; I think American (who I usually fly with my cat with) is up to $85 each way. (That being said, my cat carrier looks like a piece of luggage, not a carrier, and most people don't even realize I have a cat with me except when I get to security and I have to carry her through the metal detector.) Also, most airlines permit a maximum of 2 pets in-cabin per flight, which probably has to do with allergies more than anything.
The longest I've ever dealt with my cat on a flight is about 10 hours. Cats are easy to travel with because the smallest-sized animal carriers easily fit under an airline seat. Some airlines, such as Southwest, do not allow animals in-cabin; and some do not allow them on flights at all. Generally, most airlines require you to keep your pet in-carrier for the duration of the flight; I usually take my cat into the bathroom at least once or twice during the flight so see how she is doing and allow her to stretch and to calm her down a bit. (My cat becomes a prolific drooler when she is scared; during flights, the amount of drool she produces rivals that of Hooch of the "Turner & Hooch" movie.)
Also, cats, unlike dogs, cannot be easily taken for a short walk or understand if you take them out of their carrier that you want them to have a potty break, so be prepared with a blanket backup (or two) if they have an "accident". (There are absorbent square/rectangular liners available that make good carrier liners as well.)
If you're traveling with your pet in the car, make sure you take regular breaks for dogs, or with cats, that you have a small litter box available (you can buy a "disposable" litter box for about $3-5). My cat never can be tempted to eat or drink while traveling, but it is a good idea to keep water/food/treats handy.
How does your pet travel when you're taking them to the vet? If they yowl and cry in the car for the whole trip to the vet, imagine being accompanied by that for hours. :) Vets can prescribe a mild tranquilizer which may or may not be helpful for your pet.
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A negative story about my cat while traveling: I was traveling home from a month's work assignment in California, and of course I had my cat with me. I had been seated in the airport at the gate area, across the aisle from an older woman and her husband for at least half an hour, when my cat let out a single meow. The woman suddenly recoiled in her seat and demanded of me, "Is there a cat in there?" I said yes. She then went on, her voice rising considerably in pitch in volume, about how "deathly allergic" she was to cats and how "that beast" better not be on her flight. (Now, I'm not doubting her allergies, but she had sat within five feet of my cat for at least half an hour already with zero signs of a problem.) Her husband gave me a sympathetic look and we compared tickets; fortunately, I'd picked a seat in the rear of the cabin, and they were far in the front. I removed myself (and my cat) from her immediate proximity and never heard another peep about it.
A positive story about my cat while traveling: when my Christmas breaks are particularly lengthy, I take my cat with me to my parents' home. On more than one occasion, I have seen children crying or throwing tantrums in the airport. In those cases, I ask the parent if the child is allergic to animals (very important) and if they are not, I offer to show the child my cat (in carrier only). I can guarantee you that the sight of a cat or a dog will immediate placate even the wildest of howling, crying children, and you will have some very grateful parents (and fellow passengers). :)
Ya almost have a "push-me-newf-you" sorta thing going there. ;)
There is no almost to it!
They are big leaners.
They like to lean against you near an unlocked door so you will go tumbleing out and down stairs and then they look up as if saying"What?"
Newf's are like a cross between a Clown and a Bear.They are just downright silly but in a loving,hairy,slobber filled way.
They also love to sit in your lap while driving,not so practical.
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Last edited by AVService; 03-24-2008, 03:28 PM.
Reason: Added Picture
Aww. Remember: you are encouraged to bring your dogs with you when you visit our store in Seattle. Riley and Lily may or may not be there, but whether they are or not, the store is a dog (and kid) friendly place.
And for those who enjoy amazing pictures of animals, I highly recommend: The Daily Coyote.
This is Rogue. She'll be 15 next month - I got her just a year after college, when I moved to Raleigh, NC - and since then, she has been with me to live in CT, IL and CA, as well as the occasional visit to FL and MI. :)
Aww, how sweet. :) How do you travel with your cat? We are going to be moving 11K miles and I am not sure how we should transport our kitties.
Awwww all these wonderful pictures!! Here's me, adding mine --
This is Rogue. She'll be 15 next month - I got her just a year after college, when I moved to Raleigh, NC - and since then, she has been with me to live in CT, IL and CA, as well as the occasional visit to FL and MI. :)
BTW brantrox, I think that black and white picture is just great. It should be a postcard or something.
Thanks for the comments on Georgia. She does seem to get a lot of remarks from strangers on her features, especially the one white lucky foot. It's a shame she doesn't really like to be petted for long periods of time because I think she'd be a great therapy dog based on the response we get. Wish we could take credit - all we do is feed and walk her.
Like I need an reason to show off pictures of Georgia. OK, here are some that I don't think have been shown yet.
This is a classic. It's out of focus but it's so funny we keep it. It's right after she finished a yawn. Georgia is very very vocal when she yawns. It's very cartoon like. Until I took this picture I had no idea she made this funny face also.
This one is just funny. I impressed myself that it came out.
This is one of the best shots I took. She's holding a tree root she dug up and has a guilty look on her face. I think if you blew up the image you could see me in the reflection of her eyes.
This isn't such a good shot but it shows how she can be a happy dog when you get home.
Finally this one shows her body shape which is classic mutt. It would be better if she were standing but I don't have one like that yet. She is a crazy mix for sure. We hope to get a DNA test to find out exactly what she is. You can see her lucky paw in this one.
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