Don't be sorry for asking the question, it was valid and you had a contingency plan if the situation wasn't suitable (and still do).
I brought my cat and dog with me (they followed on after I arrived - but that was because I had to find accomodation first). It's not difficult, a little time consuming and costs a big of $$$.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Sorry I started this!! Apologies for going silent but my Internet got cut off too early!
Thanks to everyone who offered advice. I am coming from the UK and am taking my little girl to a friend who will foster her for the time being. We will see the situation for ourselves and once settled in a home will look at whether our lifestyle there is suited to bringing her out, and see how cats cope with the stress. I hope I will do what's best for her.
See you in Dubai!!
Perce
Her first post was one line only. Her second post she recommended DKC and she mentioned the cost, just like you and several others did. You then posted and told her to belt up! I think sema Lina was the one being attacked. I see sema Lina has had the sense not to come back on I shall now do the same. Good evening.
Sorry I only saw negativity, questioning the owners love for he pet. Finished now? Can we get back to offering actual advice? oh good.
Really? I saw it as being self-righteous! There's no need to be so judgmental about a question, "should I bring my cat or not" was what the OP was asking, no need to get into questioning her love and dedication to her pet... anyway back to advice.....
I brought my pets over here and they were both fine, and have adapted well. If you expect your cat to live outdoors and its used to a cooler climate it would be best not to bring her. My cats are outdoor/indoor cats and they are fine with the heat here.
The cost of taking your cat back home can be pricey so be prepared for that cost. A friend of mine has just organized for her moggie to be shipped back to australia and its costing far more than her ticket :S.
Its actually not that uncommon for people to move countries, settle in and leave their pets with a sitter before getting them shipped over, I did that also.
Just wanted to say that I love my pets to death and they are definitely part of my family, but they're not compatible to children in a move. Cats, for example are very tied to their home and surroundings, when you take them out of it, they don't understand whats going on at all, you can't explain we're moving countries darling, so we're going on a plane ride to our new home, putting pets on a plane especially in cargo can be very traumatic. And if you still insist on drawing a direct comparison between kids and pets, you must know many parents choose to separate for a couple of months whilst moving countries, one parent will leave before the other and go and set up home, check out the place and then the children and other spouse will follow, so leaving your pets behind to settle yourself first isn't such a crazy idea.
Her first post was one line only. Her second post she recommended DKC and she mentioned the cost, just like you and several others did. You then posted and told her to belt up! I think sema Lina was the one being attacked. I see sema Lina has had the sense not to come back on I shall now do the same. Good evening.
Sorry I only saw negativity, questioning the owners love for he pet. Finished now? Can we get back to offering actual advice? oh good.
Her first post was one line only. Her second post she recommended DKC and she mentioned the cost, just like you and several others did. You then posted and told her to belt up! I think sema Lina was the one being attacked. I see sema Lina has had the sense not to come back on I shall now do the same. Good evening.
If you read her post you will see she recommended Dubai kennels and cattery. Like you have just done Only now! Thank you.
Ah but she only mentioned that after her second or was it third 'have a go' post - I can't remember because I stopped reading them after the first one!
So do you have anything constructive? Or are you just going to keep on attacking me? Pointless exercise and not doing the OP any favours really is it.
Also if the OP is coming from the UK - not sure as she hasn't said where she's coming from, then DEFRA also has all the info.
<em>edited by Chocs01 on 11/08/2011</em>
Perces, where are you coming from? IF you do decide to bring your cat then Dubai Kennels and Cattery are very helpful with relocation and assisting with all the necessary paperwork required.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do :)
Is the saying not, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Couldn't see anything she said that wasn't nice, just someone like myself who really cares about animals and sees the misery here and around the world of unwanted and abandoned animals because people get them and don't think long term before getting them.She did have two rescues herself a dog from her own country and a cat from here. And to a lot of people their animals are like their children not silly at all. If you can get someone who will love and look after them as well as you then good,but that doesn't happen that often hence the reason we have all these shelters and millions of animals are destroyed every year as you know. Personally I would not trust anyone to love and look after my rescue dog like me, just like I don't have someone clean my house because they couldn't do it as well as me. Lol
er accusing someone of not thinking of their animal, isn't very nice in my book. Yes I know very well what the saying is. I deliberately altered it for this scenario - thank you!
I personally think the OP is being very sensible and she came for advice, not to get jumped on. So I still stand by my first reaction, if you can't offer anything constructive, don't say anything.
Is the saying not, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Couldn't see anything she said that wasn't nice, just someone like myself who really cares about animals and sees the misery here and around the world of unwanted and abandoned animals because people get them and don't think long term before getting them.She did have two rescues herself a dog from her own country and a cat from here. And to a lot of people their animals are like their children not silly at all. If you can get someone who will love and look after them as well as you then good,but that doesn't happen that often hence the reason we have all these shelters and millions of animals are destroyed every year as you know. Personally I would not trust anyone to love and look after my rescue dog like me, just like I don't have someone clean my house because they couldn't do it as well as me. Lol
Well maybe HER mother should have taught her that if you don't have anything constructive to say, then don't say anything. Sema lina's first post was to have a go at the OP - how is that helping? Maybe she needs to look at how rude she was in the first place before having a go at me. And don't compare children - that's just silly.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone leaving their cat with a responsible person whilst they come and try the place out, in fact it's the more responsible thing to do. Plus the reason I get so annoyed with such attitudes is I have to deal on a reguylar basis with the consequences of people coming here, bringing their animals, deciding it's not for them or having a hard time then leaving and abandoning the pet - which is exactly what happened to my latest adoptee.
Sure no one can predict the future, but in the initial stages the decision to come, then send for the cat once settled would be much better.
<em>edited by Chocs01 on 11/08/2011</em>
Sema Lina was told to belt up, I also think this is bad manners, we learn our manners as children from our parents do we not? I know if one of my grown up children told someone they did not know to belt up because they had a different point of view i would be furious and disappointed. This forum is full of people that disagree, if we just told everyone to belt up every time they had an opinion then it wouldn't be much of a forum would it. Just look at what's happening in Britain just now I blame the parents.
I think what matters most is what is best for the cat, but you also need to keep in mind what is realistic and what is tolerable. I did not bring my cat with me to Dubai but I don't consider myself to be an irresponsible pet owner. First of all, yes cats live 20 years and you should be prepared to take care of them for that long when you get a cat. However how can a young adult know what their life has in store for them the next 20 years? Does that mean no one should ever own a pet until they are settled with a steady career and family and home? For instance I got my cat years ago when I was still in high school, and now my career and life has brought me out here to Dubai. Being young, I do not have enough savings to bring him here with me. That is being realistic. Furthermore, he is living a great life with a new owner and a new cat buddy whom he loves to play with everyday - much happier than shipping him here to sit in an empty apartment while I am at work and spend weeks in a cattery every time I travel. Of course I miss him very, very, very much, but I made a realistic, tolerable, and the best choice for my cat.
And although I love pets and believe in treating them well, pets are not children, I think what Chocs did was a very smart decision - if she'd brought her pets all the way here and then back it would have been more stress on them than just waiting 4 months.
Also, I'm not sure what her mother has to do with any of this.
Perces, if you decide to leave your cat, just make sure you find a loving home where she will be happy. It's hard leaving them behind, but if you must make that decision it helps so much to know that they are in a good place. Good luck and I hope you enjoy Dubai when you arrive!
Unfortunately no one has a crystal ball and circumstances Can change for anyone, in my case illness. You being here four months did not guarantee that you would be here long term. I also brought my children, but maybe I should have left them with someone for 4 months before bringing them out but that would have made no difference to the length of time we were here. It was a lot more unsettling for my children than my dog. What a shame you felt you had to be rude by telling me to belt up, I'm sure your mother brought you up better than that. Best wishes to you perces I hope you do the best thing for your cat.
Sema lina, stop being so negative. For some people it's worth coming here and 'trying' the place out before you make the commitment to bring pets with you. Better than dragging the poor animal here and leaving in your probation period because things aren't working out. That's what I did. I sent for my cat and dog 4 months after I'd been here.
Be constructive or belt up for goodness sake.
Hear! Hear!
Where are you coming from Perce? Some of the ladies here might have recommendations of relocation companies there that can help to get the process started. Otherwise, the girls are right. DKC get lots of high praise here so they'll be able to get you sorted. Good luck!
Sema lina, stop being so negative. For some people it's worth coming here and 'trying' the place out before you make the commitment to bring pets with you. Better than dragging the poor animal here and leaving in your probation period because things aren't working out. That's what I did. I sent for my cat and dog 4 months after I'd been here.
Be constructive or belt up for goodness sake.
If you loved your cat enough then surely it would have been automatic that you bring her with you and then take her back with you when you leave. I done it 11 years ago with my rescue dog, we only stayed 1year and then went back home with dog and a cat we rescued from here. We have now been back for a year and if both my pets were still alive they would be back with us. My pets were for life not just until I moved home or country got children or for christmas. These animals like children depend on us to look after them and do the right thing for them. For pets that means they remain with you wherever you may be and for however long they live. For cats that can be up to 20 years. But be prepared for it to cost you a lot of money, as many people don't think about this and therefore there are a lot of abandoned cats and dogs over here and it is heartbreaking. We used Dubai kennels and cattery 11years ago I think they are probably the best.
Agree with Chocs01, think about the cost (to Dubai & onwards when you leave Dubai) before making your decision.
I paid a small fortune to bring my cats here just from Doha but it was worth it and I know there will be cost again when ever I leave Dubai and am prepared to pay this.
Where are you travelling from?
Yes they do very well. I brought my cat out 8 years ago and he's never looked back. What I mean about leaving Dubai, is many pet owners bring their animals here, but when it's time to move back to their home countries or go somewhere else, the cost is a shock and many beloved 'pets' just get thrown on the street.
I don't know where in the world you're coming from, but if you can get a pet passport for your cat, that helps greatly when taking it elsewhere.
I recently brought my two cats to Dubai from Doha and used Dubai Kennels and Cattery (www.dkc.ae) and also their vet in Doha arranged all of the medical exams and paperwork on the Doha end.
There is quite a lot involved to relocate pets but if you use a good company to arrange the formalities for you it can be relatively stress free.
Dubai Kennels & Cattery were really great and I would recommend them
(and anyone travelling from Doha with pets Qatar Veterinary Centre were fantastic).
I was very concerned about how my cats would cope with the move as they were both strays that I had adopted a few years ago, one is very timid and the other is a bit older (8yrs), also I had to put them in boarding for a while before they travelled.
I didn't need to be so worried, they coped really well and adjusted very quickly to their new home (much better than I expected).
It's usually the owner that stresses more than the pet!
well then, start the process of bringing her out as it seems as if things could be topsy turvy for her there. there is Dubai Cattery and Kennels (help out here ladies, dont think I have that right) who can help and there are other organizations. Hopefully someone on here will give you a contact in your home country to start the ball rolling. Since she is an indoor cat she will be just fine being with her family. A little stressful to get her here but all in all, better than being shifted to pillar and post :)
No Sema lina! She's not a last thought. We'd agreed not to take her and a friend was to have her, but he backed out and now I don't want to leave her behind with just anyone, but my heart says it's not fair on her.
Our house sitter comes to stay when we're away, but she's in shared accom here so can't have her.
A friend here would foster her til we can bring her out, if that's what we decide.
So, my question is, do they fair ok and Chocs01, what do you mean about leaving Dubai? Can they not go back from there?
Well for a start you're too close to travelling to get all the required paperwork sorted. Cats travel very well and adapt to the heat, if she's an indoor cat then no issues really. The thing is if you decide to leave Dubai and taking her to wherever you go next.
Hi. I'm a newbie - we are 2 weeks off Dubai and still can't decide whether to bring our housecat. She's a beautiful 5 year old persian cross but I worry about the tie for us travelling (we have a housesitter here) and how she will be with the journey and the heat...
Any advice very welcome.
Thanks,
Perce