Job Discussion Forums

[Sekhmet]

In my homesick phase when I first got here, I stupidly adopted a street kitten, hoping he would make me feel better!!! Unfortunately, he did, and now I can't bear to leave him behind when I go back to the UK... I've looked into the whole DEFRA thing, and it doesn't look too hopeful. It seems like the only way you can import an animal into the country without it undergoing 6 months quarantine is for it to have originally come from the UK...
He is fully vaccinated and neutered, and we're working on finding a place to get him chipped. The thing is, he's still young, and I think 6 months in quarantine would be too hard for him (sorry - sentimental-ness)
Can anyone help me out with any suggestions?

[dmb]

Leave it at a good home in Alex. I would never put any pet in quarentine for 6 months.

[Teacher in Rome]

Sekhmet - I completely sympathise with your predicament. Street kittens have a way of insinuating themselves into your heart - and once there, they cannot be dislodged.

How old is your cat? Do you think he is old enough to be left with a good home, or do you think he is still at a clingy stage? I'd be tempted not to go back to the UK for a while, just to give him a little time to "mature" enough to be comfortably left with new owners.

The other thing you could try is to emigrate to a different European country. They have just introduced pet passports here, which in theory mean that you can carry pets around the EU, providing they have full vaccination history etc. The sticking point is getting into the UK, which has much more stringent requirements concerning rabies. Perhaps a little sojourn in the EU would be a stop-gap solution?

[travellingtefler]

Hi Sekhmet

I have an adopted cat - one of the reasons I'm still in the ME.

After a long investigation of the quarantine issue, the only thing you can do is to get your cat microchipped and maintain the injection record - your vet will register your cat on the identichip database and they will confirm registration.

Your options are to go to Europe or Bahrain for six months (remembering to update your details on the database (that costs a fiver)) and then take the cat into the UK.

An option I thought of (and am still trying to arrange) is to get someone trusted who lives in Europe to foster the cat for six months so you drop off the cat and update registrations) en route to the UK and return near the end of the period to get the necessary tests done and take the cat back. I had an informal arrangement with a former colleague to do this but she took a job in the Far East.

If anyone knows of any legal way to bypass the quarantine - I'd love to know. However - maybe we'll meet in Europe or the first one there can foster the other's cat.

Good luck

[Sekhmet]

Yeah, that was what I was worried about... The major problem is that here in Egypt, people are totally not pet-friendly. I've just about got used to the fact that there are more stray animals than people living in Alex, but still, I'm not planning to add MY cat to that number.
Most of my friends are either teachers (living with their families) or not animal-lovers. I don't know all that many ex-pats, and the ones I do know tend to leave after relatively short periods of time. The one consolation is that I'm certainly not leaving here until May at least, and potentially hanging around for a few years - therefore I have plenty of time to think!!
He's only about 5 months old (I think!!! Being a street kitten, it's hard to know!!), and still in the sleeping curled up next to you phase. So I really wouldn't be happy about just leaving him with new people!!! I just got to thinking about it because I'm going back home for Christmas, and am struggling to find him a home for 2 weeks...
I think you're right about the EU idea. I was thinking about doing some teaching in France, so this might be a good way of going about it!!!
Thanks for the advice...

[dmb]

I/my flatmates fell for a street cat about 5 months ago. We took her in and sorted out all the jabs. but because we were out all day we decided to get her a 'friend' so we got another kitten, 3 months younger. At first they fought quite alot. But now they are best friends and inseperable. I'm not planning a move. But maybe, if while it is young, get it a friend and so, if you had to leave it would atleast have a best mate to go through any upheavel

[travellingtefler]

Hi

I just thought of a way you can find out about vets that do microchipping - contact the identichip people (www.identichip.co.uk).

As for the vacation periods - I found a trustworthy lady (who works elsewhere else as a housemaid) and she is delighted to come in and do the feeding, cat litter change etc when I'm on leave. She has the numbers of all my friends so she can call them if a vet visit is needed. That way the only thing that changes for the cat is you not being there and you can go on leave with peace of mind.

Also - I have travelled from post to post within the ME with few problems - apart from getting arrangements made at the desk. No-one in any airport seems to know what to do.

Quite simply (I think), you make arrangements for an import license at your destination (your school can arrange that for you), then you present the paperwork plus the cat's papers at the desk.

All the desk has to do is to check which flights have air conditioning in cargo and check with the pilot so that he knows you're travelling with live cargo. Once this is arranged - you present yourself plus cat (in his/her travel box) at the desk on the morning of the flight, they weight the cat and charge you excess baggage.

Most airports will let you keep the cat with you until the last minute and at the end of the flight, you pick the cat up at the baggage terminal.

Biggest problem is keeping people away from the box - they are fascinated - don't suppose many people in the ME travel with animals - especially street cats.

[Sekhmet]

I'm seriously considering going to France for 6 months. I think it might be the easiest way. But then, if I can find a good home for him (and it would have to be a GOOD home), then I might be forced to leave him here - logistically, 6 months in France might not be possible.
DMB - I loved the idea of getting a friend for him - only problem is my housemate wasn't too keen on the idea!! She can cope with one, but I think 2 would be too much for her!!!!
Anyways, I'm still looking into possibilities... [/quote]

[Signor]

What about tt's idea of a foster home - any Europe based readers want to volunteer or know of a place that could help?