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Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Old Feb 24th 2020, 10:11 pm
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Default Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Hello,

Hoping I can get some advice!

I am a British citizen who is currently in Canada on a 2 year IEC visa. I am flying back next month and bringing my 2 rescue cats (who I've picked up whilst in Canada).

My flight is booked but getting the cats sorted is proving to be a nightmare.

Brief summary of experience to date is as follows:

1. Booked end to end (cargo and customs clearance, landing fees, etc) with Ladyhaye. Got a quote for £1100 for the 2 cats. Was assured that was the price and there were no extra fees. 2 days later they tell me the original quote which had been given less than 2 weeks before and was supposedly valid for 30 days was no longer valid and they were hoping costs by around £300. I told them I would not be using their services.

2. Booked a separate cargo and customs clearance through 2 different companies. As I am flying with Air Transat I used the cargo company they recommended but although price is good ($1k CAD for both cats for cargo only) they're really shady And insisting I give bank details over email or over the phone. Latter wouldn't normally bother me but there's other reasons i won't go into that makeme suspicious of them.

So - the cats are technically booked on the same flight as me and I have a waybill but stuck on payment (company I use for customs clearance I pay when collecting the cats at Gatwick).

can anyone recommend any other cargo companies that may work? I've emailed worldwide Animal Travel and Sea Air but both have come back *much* more expensive.

many thanks!
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Old Feb 25th 2020, 6:40 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Where I your travelling from? I just brought 2 dogs back to the UK and would be happy to share any info.
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Old Feb 25th 2020, 4:29 pm
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by ilovedymchurch
Where I your travelling from? I just brought 2 dogs back to the UK and would be happy to share any info.
Thanks for responding. I am flying end of March from Toronto to London Gatwick.
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Old Feb 25th 2020, 6:40 pm
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by VickyUK
Thanks for responding. I am flying end of March from Toronto to London Gatwick.
l used Embark - they do service Toronto. I'm not sure of their contact info, but just Goggle it.
Let them know that it was Max and Roxy's Mum that refered you, please!
It's a hassle to do it yourself and if it's not done right, they can refuse your pet entry. It is expensive, my 2 large dogs cost $5300!
let me know if l can be of anymore help.
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Old Feb 25th 2020, 11:51 pm
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

We’re moving our two dogs the other way from the U.K. to Canada later this year and we just called Air Transat direct and booked them on the same flight as us so could you not do the same?

Cost £180 per pet.

https://www.airtransat.com/en-GB/Tra...d-service-dogs
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Old Feb 25th 2020, 11:57 pm
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by crofty82
We’re moving our two dogs the other way from the U.K. to Canada later this year and we just called Air Transat direct and booked them on the same flight as us so could you not do the same?

Cost £180 per pet.

https://www.airtransat.com/en-GB/Tra...d-service-dogs

Pets are not allowed to travel to the UK in the cabin. They must travel in the hold, using a DEFRA approved airline, on an approved route. This is due to rabies. The requirements for bringing your pet into the UK can be found on their website.

https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad

Last edited by Jerseygirl; Feb 26th 2020 at 12:04 am. Reason: Insert link
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Old Feb 26th 2020, 12:04 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
Pets are not allowed to travel to the UK in the cabin, They must travel in the hold, using a DEFRA approved airline, on an approved route. This is due to rabies. The requirements for bringing your pet into the UK can be found on their website.

https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad
I meant for the cats to travel in the hold, as our dogs are. Is that not possible on AT from Canada to the UK?
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Old Feb 26th 2020, 12:05 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by crofty82
I meant for the cats to travel in the hold, as our dogs are. Is that not possible on AT from Canada to the UK?
seems they are now. Looks like DEFRA has greatly increased the airline and routes.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...for-pet-travel

Last edited by Jerseygirl; Feb 26th 2020 at 12:08 am.
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Old Feb 26th 2020, 12:08 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Ah, gotcha. Thankfully though it seems they are:

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...for-pet-travel

Last edited by Jerseygirl; Feb 26th 2020 at 12:11 am. Reason: Post quoted has changed
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Old Feb 26th 2020, 12:11 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by crofty82
Ah, gotcha. Thankfully though it seems they are:

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...for-pet-travel
Snap!!
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Old Feb 26th 2020, 12:12 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
Snap!!


Hopefully this can save the OP a few $$$
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Old Feb 27th 2020, 3:54 pm
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I really appreciate it

It appears Air Transat will not allow pets to travel as excess baggage in the hold from Canada to the UK. They must still go as cargo which is why the costs are so high (I've been quoted from $1000 to $2000 - so around £600+ - for freight alone, not including customs costs which are another £400+. Add in vets fees for checks, vaccinations, etc and accessories such as crates and it's going to cost me almost £1400 to bring back the 2 cats.

I *think* DEFRA have eased on the requirements but airlines haven't as the paperwork requirements for pets entering the UK are complex and apparently Air Canada was almost fined last year as a crate a pet arrived in was deemed too small when it reached the UK. So to make things easier for them airlines insist you use specialist companies to deal with freight/customs which pushes the prices up substantially.

The freight company I've found which is charging $1k is supposedly a subsidiary of the company recommended by Air Transat but they won't put in writing that the total cost is $1K and will only take payment via email (!) or over phone so not encrypted which makes me nervous. Hence why I am looking for alternative options.
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Old Feb 28th 2020, 12:11 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

You have my sympathy and empathy on this! I brought my min pin from Alaska to UK and it was extremely stressful.... I ended up doing it myself but had a last minute panic when i spotted the Vet had failed to sign one of the many declarations required. Spotted it at 6pm the Saturday before i started my journey on the Sunday - Vet ended coming into her premises late Saturday evening. I followed all the guidelines about using specific certified Vets.

The paperwork is important especially when you get to HARC (Heathrow Anial Reception Centre). When i was there I saw a lady being refused her cat because her Vet had used an in house code for the rabies vaccination- luckily I was required to have the State Vet look at the paperwork the Vet had completed and he picked up that they needed to make sure the vaccine compound name was on it as well as ensiruing the chip number and vaccine information . I am presuming your agent will do all this and if i had to do it again I think I would and should have passed it on to a shipping agent! As for crate sizes - HARC do some youtubes specifically addressing that issue

I was able to fly her on the same flight as myself via Virgin - but i think my return ticket was cheaper than my dog's! Wishing you all the best - ad despite it all I am glad I brought her with me!
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Old Feb 28th 2020, 5:51 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

I did all the vet appts myself, which were no more expensive than l would normally pay for their annual vaccinations and just got Embark to fill out the forms, which l took to my vet to get signed. If you can go to CFIA yourself to get the docs stamped it's $20 and customs charges for my 2 dogs were £45. I booked my own flights and Embark charged @$400 to do a bit of paperwork and take my pups to the airport, which was worth it due to the size of their crates.
My advice is to do as much leg work as you can. You don't need overnight boarding and someone else to do the Vet checks and health certificates - use your own vet. You do need someone to check that you docs are in order to avoid problems - money well spent. Good luck.
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Old Feb 29th 2020, 7:46 am
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Default Re: Bringing 2 cats to UK from Canada

Originally Posted by VickyUK
Hello,

Hoping I can get some advice!

I am a British citizen who is currently in Canada on a 2 year IEC visa. I am flying back next month and bringing my 2 rescue cats (who I've picked up whilst in Canada).

My flight is booked but getting the cats sorted is proving to be a nightmare.

Brief summary of experience to date is as follows:

1. Booked end to end (cargo and customs clearance, landing fees, etc) with Ladyhaye. Got a quote for £1100 for the 2 cats. Was assured that was the price and there were no extra fees. 2 days later they tell me the original quote which had been given less than 2 weeks before and was supposedly valid for 30 days was no longer valid and they were hoping costs by around £300. I told them I would not be using their services.

2. Booked a separate cargo and customs clearance through 2 different companies. As I am flying with Air Transat I used the cargo company they recommended but although price is good ($1k CAD for both cats for cargo only) they're really shady And insisting I give bank details over email or over the phone. Latter wouldn't normally bother me but there's other reasons i won't go into that makeme suspicious of them.

So - the cats are technically booked on the same flight as me and I have a waybill but stuck on payment (company I use for customs clearance I pay when collecting the cats at Gatwick).

can anyone recommend any other cargo companies that may work? I've emailed worldwide Animal Travel and Sea Air but both have come back *much* more expensive.

many thanks!
I have read on the forum that people have used Air Transat for their pets. if you do a search on this site or a search engine you will find the posts.
I have put some other info here you might find useful from my own experience with cats travelling.

For shipping cats, UK border inspection posts accepts these carriers.

Often called petmate sky/ vari kennel.

I have brought cats in them myself and these are shown on the HARC video.

(Heathrow) website- https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/serv...s/default.aspx

Size small is good for cats, each cat will need their own crate. One shipment of two cats is still less costly freightwise than if you were sending them at different times etc.

You can pre insert a tie on top right locking slot before you put cat in. This ensures that the lock cannot be opened during travel. There is a water receptacle at front., Cats usually manage to detach that so don't worry, they will be fine. Its s good idea to feed them inside the carrier for a week before to get used to it.

In the UK carriers are available on doggie solutions to give you an example .

https://www.doggiesolutions.co.uk/sk...ll-8735-0.html

If you quote the size and weight to shipper you get a more accurate freight fee.

If you buy carrier in USA/ Canada ensure that the version is the one with air holes on the back panel There are some made in USA for domestic flights that do not require air holes on back panel, which is solid. This is not acceptable at UK border inspection posts ( Heathrow Gatwick Manchester) and you or airline would be fined.

As the other posters have said, correct paperwork is very important.

Fit to fly certificate needs to be done no more than 5 days before travel.

First ensure the cats are microchipped with an ISO standard chip BEFORE the rabies Vaccine. This can be done on one vet visit but Microchip in first.

In US Canada they often use different microchips. In which case you have to strap the reader onto the carriers so it can be used on arrival .

You can scan and pre email the airway bill ( 3 days before) and pet passport/ fit to fly certificate, etc to the arrival point in the UK and freight company can and check if it's been pre cleared. This can be done for journeys from Europe so may be possible from Canada. This picks up any errors prior to arrival so you have a chance for vet to amend data.

If you have to pay in the UK to the handling company you just take a copy of your air waybill to their offices at the airport, pay and then they give you clearance documents to pick up your cats at the animal reception centre. From Europe it's not more than £200 for two cats as one shipment. I would think its similar from Canada as its just the fee for unloading the cats.

Travelling in Cargo (a separate section is used) is a lot less stressful for animals as it's quiet, air pressure and temperature controlled. The crates are secured by straps. Put a dog nappy inside the crate in case of peeing and do last feed of cat 10 hours before departure, advice from vet.

However I believe air canada are trialling pets in cabin. You will probably need a softer carrier that fits under the seat in front. So not great for the animal and they will probably meow as they know you are there to let them out!

Cats seem to recover very quickly from air journeys. You can get Feliway plug in for your new home to help them settle in.


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