WOW

The pets need a certificate of health from your mainland vet and proof of recent rabies vaccination. There is a moving with pets section on this website. Glad you've had a good time and hope you can make the move.

I've read some of the threads about the certificates and how rabies shots are necessary but my vet is telling me that the cats must have a distemper shot as well in order to fly. I'm just trying to sort out who is right or if I misread something somewhere along the line. Thanks for the input though.

Becky wrote:

> I've read some of the threads about the certificates and how
> rabies shots are necessary but my vet is telling me that the
> cats must have a distemper shot as well in order to fly. I'm
> just trying to sort out who is right or if I misread something
> somewhere along the line. Thanks for the input though.

For cats, just the rabies and a certificate of health.

Mind you, this is for the AIRLINE, not the VI government. AA requires only the above. (Well, that and eighty bucks.)

When you get off the plane in the VI, you just *get off* the plane. I fly with my cat in-cabin. There has never been a VI official who has requested ANYthing from me upon arriving in the VI, much less health documentation for my cat.

Good luck.

VB

We just moved with three cats in May -- here's that part of our story.

All three cats went to the vet and got the health certificates and rabies shots, which must be administered within 10 days of your travel date. I would also have your local vet give any additional shots she/he recommends are due so you don't have to add getting a vet down here to the long list of items that come with moving and settling in. In all the time I have been reading this board, no one -- including us -- have ever been asked to show the health certificates for our critters at any point in the travel.

Most airlines limit the number of animals that can travel as carry on for any one flight, and the limit is one animal per person. We flew US Air -- they allowed two animals as carry on in coach and one in first class. These spaces are given out on a first come, first served basis, so it pays to call early and let them know you are bringing your pets. The good news is that USAir does not have restrictions on dates when pets can go as checked baggage because they have air conditioned cargo holds. American wil lnot fly pets as baggage From May 15 through Setember 15, or when the temp exceeds 85 degrees. Someone on the board here said that it's possible to avoid that by scheduling your flights for very early morning of after dark.

If you are traveling alone, you will probably need to check two animals with your baggage and carry the third on with you. The price is the same either way on USAir -- $80 per critter. THey have specific limits on the size of carriers that can be used as carry on -- I remember that the height for a hard carrier was 8" and a soft-sided carrier could be 10" tall. I think the other dimensions were approximately 21" long by 12" wide. The also state that your animal must be able to sit up comfortably inside the carrier.

Our vet advised us to take our two older cats (10 and 11) as slightly-sedated carry-on and send our younger girl (18 months) as baggage because she was more resiliant in the face of new circumstances. He told us that he would not sedate her even if we asked him to as he helt it was too risky to leave her unsupervised on medication because some animals do get airsick and a sedated animal may end up choking to death. They all came through just fine -- the older boys were given their sedation 1 hour before we left for the airport, and it lasted all through the trip. They did get a little fidgety toward then end of the flight, but settled right down after we took them lout and held them for a minute. The kitten in baggage was just fine. The USAir personnel took very good care of her by making sure she was in the shade when she needed to wait, and loaded her last and got her off first. She made it to baggage claim long before I did, and they were already offering her water.

When I first thought of coming down here alone, I actually considered paying for an extra ticxket for a friend to do the flights and carry on one of my animals. If you really can't bear the thought of having them checked and have the money, this might be something to consider.

Also, be careful in what language you use when talking about pets that aren't going as carry on. Make it clear you want them to travel as checked baggage, not as cargo. Pets whose combined weight with their carrier doesn't exceed 100 ounds may travel as checked baggage for the $80 fee. Cargo is something very different and way more expensive -- there is an old post here that says a guy was billed $800 for sending his large dog as cargo.

Hope this is useful -- I know you'll take great care of those beasties during the big move. 🙂

HC

Becky: Good show, I hope your dream comes true as fast as mine has. When I first started to plan my move it was to be in Feb. to May of 05 then things started to come together and the date became Dec.of this year and out of the blue it became Sept 8. Got the one-way ticket and ready to go for it. Hope to meet you and your family on STX.

Hi Becky - are you moving from Indiana?! I'm a Hoosier! =) Actually, I've been out in Boston for two years, but my fiance and I are moving down to St. Thomas a week from tomorrow. We're also moving with our family (one big lab and one small cat). The cat is going on board with us - I believe the regulation is two domestic animals in coach and one in first class allowed on each flight. So maybe someone could take one up to first class? You need to book them in advance, because that's three domestic animals on each flight allowed, not each person. So if someone else is moving with a cat and they book the cat before you, then kitty won't have a spot. US Airways has air conditioned cargo hold, so if you do have to put them under, US Air may be the way to go. Congrats on your successful pre-move visit - too bad you won't be on STT - another Hoosier around would be fun!! =)

Thankyou all for the great advice. I feel a lot more comfortable about flying with my animals/family. I do believe USAir is the way to go for me. If my husband excepts the offer (today of tomorrow) (okay if is really when) he will be down there in two to three weeks! My girlfriend offered to fly down with me so our pets won't have to be checked baggage. She said "It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it!" I don't have a clue how I'll move in one month. The animal friendly condo I found is fully furnished so I guess I'll sell it all or donate it to anyone that will take it. I have a 4 bedroom house that I'll have to weed down to a 2 bedroom condo. Wish me luck.

Becky,

Sounds like you've got quite a job ahead of you! (I'd trade places in a minute!) What condo did you find that is pet friendly, if you don't mind my asking?

I had a very positive experience moving to STX with my two cats a couple of weeks ago. I made sure they had all of their shots and a medical certificate that was only a few days old. When I made my reservation I reserved for the cats too. We still got there very early for our flight to insure the animals would get on. The gate agent with AA checked out the medical certificates, but he was the only one. We paid $160 for the two cats. The two gals flew in one carry-on together. The agent asked me if they could move around in the carrier and I said yes. I sedated them shortly before the flight. It lasted until just before our arrival - 13 hours later. Getting through security was a little hectic because the cats had to get out of the carrier. Since I was alone, a TSA staff person had to hold one while I carried the other through the sensor. There weren't a lot of cat people who wanted that job. Once we got on each plane the gals stayed under the seat for the whole trip. (I tried to put them on my lap at one point because the heat was on too high on the floor. The flight attendant told me they had to stay on the floor.) I gave them water and a littl food during each layover. They did great! They haven't wanted to go back in the carrier yet. They're really enjoying their new home.
Good luck!

bnk1227 ,

I had to laugh at your comment about carrying the kitty through the scanner with you.

We also recently moved down here with our three kitties (which have since beome five, but that's another thread). When we moved, my hubby carried two of the cats in their own carriers, and I carried the third kitty and carrier on my lap.

Since I use a wheelchair and can't walk through the airport metal detectors, I am always hand checked. .When we got to security and I was waiting to go through to the pat down area, I was told to take my cat out of the carrier. Having seen my spouse take each of the other two cats out and carry them through the metal detector, I expected the TSA agent to hand Woof (the cat) to someone who could walk him through the scanner for me.

Can you imagine how hard everyone around laughed when the agent proceeded to PAT DOWN THE CAT before letting him through with me? This employee was dead serious the entire time he was frsking each leg, the body, and the cat's tail.

The sad part is that I am a pretty regular flier and have rarely received as thorough of a check as my cat got on his first flight.

HC

Girl, you are too funny! I can just imagine the cat's indignation! My kitties will enjoy the story tonight!
Pamela.