bring cat back to UK

[kellyc27]

Hi there, im looking for advice from anyone who has recently travelled to UK with their pet. I was under the assumption i could bring her on a flight (with Luthansa) in the cabin with me but they have just advised me that i cant!! So im looking for advice on airlines, experiences and costs i also read on an old thread that the airport will charge a handling fee of £300 to take her off plane? Has this been peoples experiences? Also someone else commented that they will be quarantined regardless of documentation which i really dont want!

I would really appreciate any advise (not leaving her here thats not what im asking)

Thanks in advance

[Sheryl]

It is possible to avoid quarantine but there is a process you have to go through that takes > 3 months as follows:

• the pet must have a microchip
• the pet must be vaccinated against rabies and have a blood sample taken by an authorised veterinarian at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before travelling to an EU country
• the pet has to have a blood test result from an EU-approved laboratory showing that the rabies antibody titre was equal to or more than 0.5 IU/ml. This means mailing the blood sample to the UK.
• you have to get a certificate issued by an official veterinarian certifying compliance with the above requirements. In Thailand this will be the Animal Quarantine office at Suvarnabhumi office, they will not be able to issue this certificate until you have gotten the blood test but they can help you with information of which labs are accepted for that purpose.
• the cat also has to be treated for tapeworm within 5 days before arrival in the UK

See this website https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/travel-outside-the-eu

There are pet transport companies that can help with all this as well, but it is possible to do yourself. Note that there are formalities at customs on the UK end as well so read the above website (all relevant pages) carefully. If you use a pet transport company they may help with the paperwork at the UK end as well.

Your big problem is if you can't wait 3-4 months to travel.

There are airlines that allow cats into the cabin with you but I am not sure if there may be an exception when the destination is the UK, might be. Also be careful that the airline and routing as "approved" by DEFRA https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/470513/pets-commercial-air-routes.pdf

See also these threads:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/683231-bringing-a-cat-from-thailand-to-uk/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/514035-thailand-to-uk-in-2012-with-2-dogs/ (rules are the same for dogs and cats)