New Development in "Cat- leave home or bring to Dubai?" Debate. Advice PLEASE!

We brought our cats over from the UK at vast expense, and it was really worth it, we wouldn't be without them. However icecat makes some very valid points about your cat being in a home where he is wanted. If he can't be with you, then he probably is better being elsewhere. The other cost to factor is of course the repatriation at the end of your time here. Without a doubt, neither journey will come cheap. And you will also have to factor in pet care costs here if you and your OH are away travelling, unless you have a very willing friend who can be relied upon to feed him. We use Homely Petz and are very pleased with the service, but it really doesn't come cheap. Good luck with whatever you decide.

When we came over to Dubai we felt that our 2 cats would not cope with the heat and they loved being outside climbing trees and chasing butteflies so we made the hard decision to leave them in the UK with a lovely lady who moved into our home to cat and house sit. After 3 years we got a call to say that one of the cats had been run over. It was an accident that could have happened any time and although we were really sad we knew that we had made the right decision keeping them in the UK and we had all our holiday time with them over the summers. When we went home that summer after george the cat had gone we realised that Mildred was really really lonely and missing him. After being there for a couple of days we made the decision to bring her over to Dubai and keep her indoors. So we completed all the forms, got all the shots used a great company Airpets in the UK who organised everything for us and Alison at the Dubai Doghouse to get her sorted through here and she arrived safe and sound and started her new life as a Dubai indoor cat. She has been fantastic and it's been so lovely having her here with us - she settled in within a day and apart from the 10 days she decided to go missing a few months ago - she's been happy to be an indoor cat. She is now at the vets being prepared for her flight back to the UK. She's 14 and there's no way on earth I would leave her here. The vet has checked her over and she's fit and healthy - in fact he couldn't believe she is such an old cat she looks so great. She leaves on Saturday and is booked into a lovely country cattery until we arrive back home and we will pick her up and she can retire back in the garden and up a tree if she can get up a tree!!!! I think I would dig deep - and bring her over - they are part of our families. I have loved having Millie here and so have the kids. But......if it's a real financial issue there are lovely cat lovers who will offer your cat a loving and caring home. I know because the lady who looked after our 2 loved them like they were her own and they were beautifully looked after and groomed. good luck - it's not an easy decision.

You do not need residency to import the pet - I've done it twice, both times before I had an RP. The paperwork is doable, the chip and vaccinations are not cheap (nor are some of the documents). If my OH had made that comment, I'd seriously look at his values a little more closely. If the $$ is a real issue, try and find him a new home when you're home in August (and your parents are really trying to help by starting the process now). Good luck on whatever you choose to do.

Pretty sure you have to have residency established to import a pet ... and it's not cheap. A great deal of paperwork is required, including a USDA certificate, as well as all shots and a health certificate from your vet. Fees, fees and more fees plus the actual shipping. If you cannot afford to move your cat here, then you really ought to work with your parents in finding a new home for him. I do understand your attachment to him -- I have twice refused to move overseas unless I was able to bring my cats. (In my case, the company foots the bills.) A beloved pet is not interchangeable w/another of the same species as your OH seems to think, nor should they ever be considered temporary and disposable if inconvenient. On the other hand, your parents likely have valid reasons for not wanting to continue to care for your pet. Now, step back a moment and think of the cat: he is in a home where he is not wanted. You are gone and won't return for two years. What is best for the animal? What would give him the best quality life ... if he can't be here with you, where he would be most loved and cared for? If you can pull the funds together and manage the mountain of paperwork required -- your parents would have to do a great deal of all involved unless you can pull it all together during your August visit, so do consider what you're asking of them -- then by all means bring him and deal with moving him back to the US (much easier! all your original paperwork will suffice) when the time comes. If you simply cannot manage the cost, then do everything you can to assist your parents in finding the fellow a new home where he will be wanted and loved. As much as you don't want to let him go, you really need to do what is best for him; that would be the most loving act.

I posted about this earlier, but as of last night my parents informed me they can no longer take care of my cat, even for the 2 more years until I return home. They have given me an ultimatum: they will keep him until I visit New York in August, but they are already advertising for a new permanent home for him. I have had my cat for near 6 years now, since he was a kitten, and I cannot bear to think of letting him go to a new home! The only option, it seems, is to undertake the expensive/annoying/stressful process of relocating him here, even if just for two years, when I would have to once again take him back to the US. Money is a huge issue- I'm a student with no real income- as well as the fact that I am not even a UAE resident yet. Plus, there is his stress to think of- he has never, ever been anywhere except the inside of my house in New York. My OH and parents do not understand my attachment to my cat - OH suggested replacing him with a new cat here! When I asked what to do with new cat in 2 years when we return to US, he said leave behind! They don't understand how I feel about my pets. Thoughts? Advice? Please help, I am very conflicted! Can you not replace your OH with a new one!!!! :\:

i had this exact dilemma when i left the uk. my rather old fat hairy cat would never have survived the journey....and my parents wouldn't take him. much as it broke my heart, i re-homed him. I reached out to everyone I knew and found him a new home with a lovely lady about an hour away from where I lived. I cried all the way there and all the way back but i know he is happy (she sends me occasional emails and photos!) he is living the life of riley and probably cannot remember who i am! it's a very hard decision to make so good luck with whatever you decide. xx