3 cats in bags and 3 travel cases for 3 pet slaves
I couldnt resist. During my 1 year stay in Singapore, I adopted a Mama cat who gave birth to 5 kittens. I could manage the Mama and 2 kittens, the other 3were successfully placed in good homes by my great cat rescue friend….. but how would I bring them back with me to the US? Of course I had heard of friends of friends who had done it and all was well, so its a matter of figuring things out for myself. Well, its a lot of Googling and I had 4 months to do it.
So, 1st check state of Washington regulations for incoming pets travelling with paw parents. I found all the info I need from this WA Department of Health webpage, https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Rabies/PetVaccinationRequirement/PetImportandExport . Ok, simple, only need Rabies vaccination and Certificate of Veterinary Inspection less than 30 days from the departure date. Next check UA, same thing, but I decided on adding the general feline vaccines just to be on the safe side.
As I want the kitties to travel in cabin, where I will be the one handling them throughout the journey and I feel they be safer that way, I had to choose the only airline that flies Sg to Seattle that allows pets in cabin. …. Only UA, and each person can only have 1 pet. Thankfully, my rescuer friend and partner volunteered to accompany me on this journey so that the welfare of my journeying kitties were not compromised. Each pet in cabin fee is $125 and they occupy the space under the seat in front of us.
Swirly girl in her bag under the seat in front of me, taking up my leg room.
On the Sg side, a export license was required. Just 1 for all 3 kitties, at S$50.
We followed all the pre flight requirements, and on 26th August 0500hrs, kitties fed and thankfully did their last toilet thingy before they were bagged at 0530hrs. With help from my roommate, I got 5 bags down and loaded into a cab (yes its okay if the cabbie does not mind cats in bags). Kitties were a full choir all the way to the airport…. sigh…. I reckon they might be a choir in that whole 15 hours flight too…
Transit lounge in SFO.
0630hrs, at UA counter in Changi T2. Produced all that paperwork that we acquired. Took a bit of time for the ground crew to sort out everything, but we were an unusual group right? And there were many people around us that were curious, talked to us…. fortunately all good vibes. 0730hrs, Mama had an accident…. wet pooped in the bag… needed a full cleaning job. 2 of us worked together to clean her and the bag in the well equipped bathroom at the airport, while 1 watched the bags and the kittens. At the gate, only our travelling bags were checked, the bags with cats were cleared separately by the airport security staff.
Mama loves to be fed.
0830hrs, boarded. 3 of us are scattered in the last 2 rows in this full flight. I have Swirly girl with me and shes really the nicest of the lot ;P. She did meow a lot initially, but she kinda quieten down when I put my hand down to put her. She meows when she need some reassurances… but I hear Smokey boy meowing loudly and constantly on the other side of the aisle…. ok, 15 hours of this on the cards for everybody in this cabin.
Girl gets a bite too.
0900hrs, we arrived at SFO international. Its amazing how we took off and arrived at almost the same time…. but felt like 24 hours has passed! Anyway, we cleared immigration with the cats, collected my checked bag and then clear customs real easy. Nobody asked for paperwork on incoming cats at all. Then we stood in line for the domestic transfer security check… the usual checks and the cat carriers were screened separately in a room. Each cat was removed from the bag and the bags went thru the scanner, and then cats were loaded back in. Thats the procedure for pets and we were so glad that the arrangement ensured pet safety for the screening process.
We had 2 hours before the next flight. Nows the time to feed the cats and give them water. And they were hungry, which is really a good thing. It shows that they were not overly stressed by the journey, altho they are not pleased to be in the bag at all. They didnt really want to drink, so we syringe feed them the water. It is important to keep them hydrated.
1300hrs, we were boarded on the flight to Paine airfield, Everett. We were seated close this time. Again, we were so thankful that our travelling companions are so accommodating to our meowing party. Only a 2 hour flight, phew.
My new kitty family at home in their new home.
1600hrs, landed at PAE, got my check in bag, got a Lyft ride. PAE is totally new to me, so we had to discover where is the ride share pickup. Was only a short walk and it was clearly posted. Much easier than Seatac. I am impressed…. I should use PAE more often ….
1645hrs, PAE to Edmonds was $27 and I gave a $3 tip. Paid $25.50 for 3 adult ferry ride at Edmonds and we ran to board the ferry. Barely made it, but glad we did. 1715hrs, Doug met us at Kingston, and drove us to the cabin in the woods. 1800hrs, we have finally arrived. Time to let the cats out of the bag 😉
Ok, lets see…. from the time that cats were put in the bag to the time that they were let out in their new home, it was a total of 28 hours. I am so thankful for my traveling companions, with their help, that everything worked out well and kitties arrived in great health and spirits. Phew! What a trip.
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