MEOW! Move over “Hello Kitty,” because I’m taking my REAL kitty on vacation!

MEOW!  Move over “Hello Kitty,” because I’m taking my REAL kitty on vacation! 
Rachel Farris, with PetRelocation.com, offers tips for the traveling pet owner.

When people used to hear “travel with pets,” they would think of taking “Max” down the road to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving dinner.  But these days, Boxers are going bicoastal and cats are clearing through customs on a daily basis.  Below are the top three things to keep in mind as a pet owner moving or traveling with pets.

1.) Make Friends with the Travel Crate – Whether you travel by car or by air, the crate your pet travels in will be his “home” during the trip and it’s crucial that he feels comfortable in it ahead of time.  Many pet stores offer crate training classes or try feeding your pet in his crate on a daily basis.

2.) Pick a Frequent Fido Flier – Why should you get extra leg room but not your pet?  Select an airline that offers first-class accommodations for pets traveling in the cabin or under the plane.  Continental and Northwest are both known for their superior pet-safe cargo programs in the US, and JetBlue just introduced their new JetPaws program, which caters to pets traveling in-cabin.

3.) Arrange a Jet-Setter Check Up with your Vet – If you’re making a trip across state lines or international borders, you’ll need a health certificate issued the week before the flight.  Most states require pets to be current on their rabies shots, and for international trips, the documentation for importing or exporting pets can be even more complex.  Planning ahead and consulting a professional pet relocation company can ensure that your trip goes smoothly.

Have more questions about traveling with pets?  Post them for Rachel in Viscape’s Traveling with Pets discussion forum!

Rachel Farris and her beloved Golden!

Who is Rachel Farris? Rachel Farris has coordinated hundreds of trips for pets big and small – gerbils from Zurich to New York, fourteen horses from California to Honduras, and one very large collection of house-cats (twenty three, to be exact!) to the Philippines.  After serving as the Team Leader for the Asia-Pacific department, Farris is now the Director of PR & New Media at PetRelocation.com.

Stay tuned for a Viscape University dedicated to Pet Travel.  Time and date to be announced!