How exactly do cats and other animals get 'shipped'?
- Thread starter Madoff
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Basically that's correct. They won't let them fly if it's too cold or too hot because sometimes the animals are waiting to be loaded on the ramp for extended periods. But animals are put in carriers and are flown to the destination. I'm not sure exactly where they are stored on the aircraft but it's supposed to be climate controlled. At 30,000 feet it's cold even when it's 100 degrees on the ground.
At my airport (DFW) you pick them up in the cargo area which saves a trip into the actual airport. It's very easy and convenient. And it didn't seem to bother Butterball because I got him out of his crate and he was exploring and purring within minutes.
At my airport (DFW) you pick them up in the cargo area which saves a trip into the actual airport. It's very easy and convenient. And it didn't seem to bother Butterball because I got him out of his crate and he was exploring and purring within minutes.
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They have to get vet checked within 10 days of shipping, the temperature has to be within certain guidelines, but basically yes. But the food and water is only given them when they are on a stop over or after arrival, when a litter box is also offered. When mine arrived, they both had a bag of food that was sent with them but not given to them. The airline offered one of them water when I came to pick him up, but the other one was just left in her carrier until I arrived.
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Shipping animals worry me so much. I see everyone does it, and seems to be fine, but i don't think it's something i'd ever take part in. I know that if it wasn't safe, breeders wouldn't do it. Breeder take great pride in their lines and i couldn't imagine they'd jeopardise their lovies. It just worries me terribly.
A fellow bulldogger has a dog who they purchased as a puppy from England. i asked her about the trip, she said he did fine and because he was so young, it wasn't an issue. but to me a trip from England to Michigan seems like a long time to be cooped up in a kennel. i'd be scared as a itty bitty baby
A fellow bulldogger has a dog who they purchased as a puppy from England. i asked her about the trip, she said he did fine and because he was so young, it wasn't an issue. but to me a trip from England to Michigan seems like a long time to be cooped up in a kennel. i'd be scared as a itty bitty baby
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Yikes, an overseas trip for an animal. That might worry me too. I think the majority of animals are fine for just a few hours but a trip from England? From drop off to pick up would be at least 10 hours and probably longer.
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I've never shipped any of my cats--always refused to do so, but I got two of mine shipped to me and they did fine....but once talked to a lady that worked for an airline and she said she can't even tell me how many dead animals they take out of cargo holds on airplanes. So, am still not convinced it's all that safe. But people buy cats from Russia all the time, and ship them....so who knows?
I've never shipped an animal. I just can't bring myself to support it. Too many things could go wrong. I'd rather take a trip to get them or even fly to go get them and back with the animal then to ship them by themselves. Atleast if I'm with them I know what is going on around them.
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Yes, the trip from England seemed a bit much for me. but i also voiced my concerns about it. and when we do decide to bred our bully we will NOT ship AT ALL. i just dont think it's safe. but again, my opinion.
Just recently a fellow bulldogger was traveling 3 hours home from a dog show. She had 4 dogs crated in an RV and while driving home one of the dogs died. i believe it was related to the exhaust and such. i just don't think long term traveling w/o closely monitoring your animal is very safe. one would never think a 3 hour car ride would harm an animal as well, but if it was in the back of an rv near the exhaust, it could very well be a deadly experience.
Oh how i wish our animals would speak WORDS. sometimes barks/meows are just not enough.
Just recently a fellow bulldogger was traveling 3 hours home from a dog show. She had 4 dogs crated in an RV and while driving home one of the dogs died. i believe it was related to the exhaust and such. i just don't think long term traveling w/o closely monitoring your animal is very safe. one would never think a 3 hour car ride would harm an animal as well, but if it was in the back of an rv near the exhaust, it could very well be a deadly experience.
Oh how i wish our animals would speak WORDS. sometimes barks/meows are just not enough.
Yes, the trip from England seemed a bit much for me. but i also voiced my concerns about it. and when we do decide to bred our bully we will NOT ship AT ALL. i just dont think it's safe. but again, my opinion.
Just recently a fellow bulldogger was traveling 3 hours home from a dog show. She had 4 dogs crated in an RV and while driving home one of the dogs died. i believe it was related to the exhaust and such. i just don't think long term traveling w/o closely monitoring your animal is very safe. one would never think a 3 hour car ride would harm an animal as well, but if it was in the back of an rv near the exhaust, it could very well be a deadly experience.
Oh how i wish our animals would speak WORDS. sometimes barks/meows are just not enough.
Wow, that is really sad and devastating I'm sure. I'm sorry for your friends loss.
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My husband worked for United Airlines and know of so many terrible things that happened.
In fact before I got Cleo I was only looking for breeders that were within 3 hours from here.
The breeder I was going to get a kitten from did not work out.
So I asked if anyone knew ant good breeders that were within 3/4 hours from here.
This Bengal breeder said he has a friend that would sell me a kitten but he is on the east coast.
Everyone said do not be scared to have a cat shipped.
So I got Cleo.
I also talk to the lady that has Cleos brother.
She found me on fb and they live in Finland.
I have had all my cats shipped but there was a problem with Wrinkles.
She was missing.
I know many breeders that have had cats/kittens shipped from Russia ect with no problems.
We imported our boy Zodiac from Russia....he's is brought to us by a courier....so he went into the airplane...not the cargo space....and when she was trough customs....she gave us a call...and we could pick him up 
The breeder told us....that sending the cat with a courier ( last minute ticket ) was almost the same price as if she would have sent him in the cargo space....
The breeder told us....that sending the cat with a courier ( last minute ticket ) was almost the same price as if she would have sent him in the cargo space....
Sounds like a plan!!!
holly_savage
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Count me in...and I basically have experience at it! That is pretty much what I did to go get Hibou. For about $100 more than the cost of shipping (and shipping was not an option from NC to ON in December) I flew down to Charlotte, was met at the airport, then flew home! I cleared her through customs myself, no problems!
Count me in on this job!...so if anyone ever needs a cat shipped from Ontario, just send me a message, I would be glad to get paid to fly the cat home in my lap!
Count me in on this job!...so if anyone ever needs a cat shipped from Ontario, just send me a message, I would be glad to get paid to fly the cat home in my lap!
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Well Holly my friend from Canada did offer me a kitten with breeding rights but I turned her down because I want to grand or surpreme a cat first.
Cleo was shipped from North Carolina to California in Dec and it was called off twice because they breeder did not want to ship her when it was below a certain temp.
It is better safe then sorry.
Cleo was shipped from North Carolina to California in Dec and it was called off twice because they breeder did not want to ship her when it was below a certain temp.
It is better safe then sorry.
holly_savage
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exactly...I think in general, they will not / should not ship cats in winter, at least not to those of us that get a winter...
Hi Everyone! I was nervous to have an animal shipped at first, but the breeder of my husband's show bred beagle said she ships everywhere. So...we had him shipped to Alabama all the way from Utah. Delta airlines is top notch! They unloaded the animal travelers BEFORE the people werwe allowed to leave the aircraft. The animals are picked up in a special area of the airport immediately after unloading. The Delta Pet desk called my both before the plane landed & just after our pet left the aircraft. We have subsequently shipped a cat via Delta, with no problems - I would do it again in a instant! Delta has a spot on their website specifically for our pet travelers!
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Shipping IS scary, but it's done so very often and for the most part, the scariest thing I've heard of is animals go missing on a layover (they have always been found).
I want to comment on all of the dead animals shippers may see... I was thinking about this and thought it was odd that on all of the lists over all of these years, I have not heard of a single breeder/owner saying that their pet arrived dead on arrival at the airport and why that might be. Perhaps the animals these shippers are pulling out are puppies/kittens being sold by either distributors or from backyard breeders- because I DO know that people will lie about a kitten/puppy's age to get a health certificate to fly them. They only have to be 8 weeks to fly- bare minimum- and I'm sure more then one 6 week old puppy/kitten has been put on a plane as an 8 week old. That's just waaaayy too early and asking for problems! I think this is also why most good breeders won't ship until 12-14 weeks of age.
Oh- and there are pet couriers out there. Not too many, but a few
I want to comment on all of the dead animals shippers may see... I was thinking about this and thought it was odd that on all of the lists over all of these years, I have not heard of a single breeder/owner saying that their pet arrived dead on arrival at the airport and why that might be. Perhaps the animals these shippers are pulling out are puppies/kittens being sold by either distributors or from backyard breeders- because I DO know that people will lie about a kitten/puppy's age to get a health certificate to fly them. They only have to be 8 weeks to fly- bare minimum- and I'm sure more then one 6 week old puppy/kitten has been put on a plane as an 8 week old. That's just waaaayy too early and asking for problems! I think this is also why most good breeders won't ship until 12-14 weeks of age.
Oh- and there are pet couriers out there. Not too many, but a few
But I don't get it, when you just buy a cat and get it shipped to you.. you don't even get to see how it's personality is, cats all have their own personalites;
you have the type that likes to keep to itself
the type that always wants attention
the clumsy cats
the princess/prince cat that thinks its majesty lol
etc etc etc
I am scared of getting a clumsy cat :S
you have the type that likes to keep to itself
the type that always wants attention
the clumsy cats
the princess/prince cat that thinks its majesty lol
etc etc etc
I am scared of getting a clumsy cat :S