Hello,

I am returning to Scotland soon, and I would like to take my two cats with me, but the whole process seems so complicated. And is made even worse at this end where nobody really seems to know anything!

I have read all the bumf on the defra website, and understand that they will not have to stay in quarantine after the turn of the year, given that they have a microchip, rabies vaccination, and a blood test from an approved lab. Given that there are no approved labs in Thailand, this means that the blood sample will have to be sent outside the country, and stamped by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Does anyone have any experience doing this that they can share with me? Can anyone recommend a vet in Chiang Mai that actually knows the process and can help us through it? Even phoning the Ministry of Agriculture was fruitless, they basically told us to phone Suvanaphumi airport, who in turn told us to phone defra.

Please help!

Thanks in advance!

I suggest that you first make an inquiry here:

http://www.chiangmaiplaces.com/154-small-animal-hospital

I used to work at the lab who did the rabies testing and we took samples from all over Europe.

Have a look on their site http://www.biobest.c...ics/rabies.html

It will give you details about pet passports and requirements.

It may only be valid for European countries however, but might give you a starting point.

They'll need to pass the test "Lliving in the UK" - I'll refrain from the more obvious Thai pussy jokes !

Make sure they hyave thick fur coats.

Maybe contact someone at Care for Dogs, as they often send dogs (and maybe cats) abroad to live.

it will not be cheap and you have to have a pet passport to prove the cats are free from any disease.it must be the same if you bring them from the uk to thailand.my friend has a dog passport who goes to france regular all ok.but you have to pay for a jab before you return to the uk in france for rabies

Hi Keo,

The whole process isn't too complicated or expensive, it only takes some effort and time.

From January the 1st 2012 the rules in the UK will change, where the 6 months quarantine period is skipped and in stead a serological Rabies test has to be done, just as is required for the EU countries. From the day the blood is drawn by the vet here, and the serum send to a registered lab in the EU or UK, the cats need to stay another 3 months in Thailand, which can be at your home, before they can fly to the UK.

More info here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13582-bringing-pets-to-uk-111101.pdf

If you need more info on the whole process, where to get the export permit and health certificate, and info on how to do the serological testing, how to send to and where, please, send me a pm or email and I can give you detailed information, including the documents that has to be send with the serum, and another form that you need to take with you to the Animal Quarantine Station.

BTW, the Official Veterinary Health Certificate you get from the Animal Quarantine Station, as that is the only one officially recognized. One given by a vet is not valid.

Cheers, Nienke

When you feed a dog, it will look at you and think "He is feeding me, he must be a God".

When you feed a cat, it will look at you and think "He is feeding me, I am a God".

Just get new cats when you get back to Scotland.

"Just get new cats when you get back to Scotland."

Expat is right - siamese pussies will be no match for jock-hardened celtic moggies. Source locally.