rwp@hogpc.UUCP (R.PAUL) (05/31/84)
[] Thanks to everyone who replied to my posting asking for information about moving a cat. I replied to most who sent information, but a few addresses couldn't be mailed to for whatever reason. It looks like air freight will be the method I'll use because of considerations like cost, travelling agenda, house-hunting, etc. Below is a brief summary of the methods I've heard about through the replies. Animal Airlines - perhaps the Cadillac of methods with a similar price. A $200 plus airfare fee gets you pet pickup, a night's room and board, airline dropoff, a cage for the animals (the price I was quoted was for 3 cats). Also not included is the fee for a mandatory cerificate of health (10 days or less before the cat's trip) from a vet. Ship with someone flying - American Airlines allows cats (in certain cages) as carry on baggage. Inexpensive as an add-on, but requires that someone be flying in the first place. Air freight - the cat is shipped in the luggage carrying section of the plane. Requires a regulation cage. Mixed reviews as to the reliability: everything from "this is how cat breeders ship prize cats" to "cats that aren't especially healthy may die from lack of oxygen or too much heat" to "the cat may be sitting on a luggage rack for hours waiting to be transferred to its connecting flight." Requires someone to drop the animal off at the airport and someone to pick it up promptly at its destination. Carry the cat in the car - the main drawbacks to this method are carrying the kitty litter and the possibility that the cat may die from heat and/or suffocation. Another drawback may be that motels don't permit pets, although at least some of the major chains do. The cat would probably have to be carried in a kennel for a very long time, too, unless it was an unusually calm cat. There may have been other methods mentioned, but I am writing from memory and these were the major alternatives in my opinion. Thanks again to all who replied. Rick Paul AT&T Information Systems (soon to be Yates Ventures) Lincroft, New Jersey (soon to be Los Altos, California) hogpc!rwp (soon to be ? or non-existent)