Is it cruel to fly my shy cat internationally or should I rehome him?

Hello, thats certainly a long flight. Cats in general have the demeanor of being cautious about new environments, noises, and objects so it is not surprising he becomes very stressed under these conditions. You may speak to your veterinarian about having calming medication prescribed to Fuzz for the long journey. I would also check with your airline provider to ensure that cargo conditions are adequate for animals, temperatures can become very hot under there and may not be safe at all for pets. There are things like zylkene tablets and other sedatives your veterinarian may be able to provide you with. Make sure Fuzz has a good thorough physical exam during his health certification to ensure he is in good shape to travel a long journey. Best of luck and hope this helps.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It is likely not possible to get a cat used to travelling if it is so infrequent. Travelling can be stressful for cats, so I would only advise it if you have no options for pet-sitters or pet boarding in your area. If you do end up taking your cat with you, you can try a feline pheromone spray called Feliway, which is designed to help minimize stress. You can start spraying it in your house a few days before your travel date, and spray it in the carrier. Leave the carrier out for a few days in advance, and try putting some treats and toys in it to get her exploring and getting comfortable with it. If you are flying, check the airline for requirements for pets. Some require a health certificate within 10 days of travel, and require up to date vaccinations. If you suspect your cat will be very stressed during the trip, consider taking him or her to the vet to discuss the use of temporary sedatives to make the trip easier for them. I hope this helps!

I would not recommend such a journey in an older cat especially if her routine will be changed from a free ranging cat to an indoor cat as this would provide an ongoing environmental stress even after the journey. Contact local humane societies and shelters to see if they can help provide a foster home for her or inquire of your neighbours if anyone is willing to monitor her and take responsibility for her ongoing care and health needs as she gets older.

Wow, exciting move! Very thoughtful of you to be thinking about what's best for Selena. In my experience, animals are quite resilient and adaptable. While I'm sure the day or two of travel will not be her favorite thing, my personal feeling is that 1-2 days of stressful travel is worth it if it means she gets to stay with the human she's attached to. Of course, you'll need to get a health certificate from your vet saying she's fit to travel - and I recommend giving your primary vet a call before that and chat with them in case they have additional input based on her specific temperament and medical history. However, my input would be that as long as your vet thinks she can handle the trip, you should take her with you. I hope this helps!

I have clients who move abroad all the time and take their pets. Depending on where you move, the requirements can be extensive. Make sure you start investigating what needs to be done many months prior to the move and you should be fine. Cats usually travel well if they are well-adjusted to the carrier and you have plenty of time to work on that.

Here is a great article regarding traveling with cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/safe-summer-traveling-tips-for-cats/ You should also get the cats use to the crates so have the crates out for at least a week in advance. You may also try feeding the cats in the crate to create a positive association. If the cats become stressed out easily, you may discuss getting sedatives for them from your veterinarian. Make sure the cats are up to date on vaccines, have a record of their vaccines, you may also want a health certificate just to be safe and you may also want to microchip them (if this is not already done) just in case they escape. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

If Tigger is your boyfriend;s cat it would be cruel to leave him behind. It will take time for all the kitties to get used to each other, but time will help. Looks more like your boyfriend's mom wants to keep part of him at home....