Animal Lover's- if you want to bring a cat home from your travels, can you???
 

While in a trip to Italy I stayed in an apartment in a rural area that had many stray cats. I, being a sucker and an animal lover, really became attached to one that kept coming in to our apartment on a daily basis. I live in the US, and am now back, but am curious as to whether it is possible to adopt a pet abroad and bring it to the US. I imagine they would need certain shots, etc.?

Someone told a story about their daughter bringing home a pup from Europe. I am sure they need to be taken to a vet before you travel with them. Ask a vet about it.

Check the CDC website--importation of pets. There is a section dealing with cats. It appears that as long as the cat is healthy you will have no problems upon entry. When you arrive home you will need to comply with any state and local regulations.

Bnice, I'm sorry I don't have the answer to your question, but I just wanted to say that I am pleased to see that someone else is as much of a nut case as I am over all the stray cats in Europe and the Middle East. Everyone calls our trips Waverley's cat tour of the Mediterranean.I find all the stray cats so heartbreaking.<BR><BR>We once saw a documentary on the cats of the Colosseum in Rome and of course, my sons and I had to go in Rome to find Caesar and Brutus in the Colosseum. and I'm not talking aobut the statues, but the strays featured in the documentary.<BR><BR>Now I just content myself with taking in strays from our neighborhood.<BR><BR>To attempt to answer your question, just from knowing our own little stray, I don't know how well a wild cat used to wide open spaces would take to being in a cage in transit for 7 -12 hours.

This cat was unbelievably tame. She would wait outside our aprtment door, come in, jump on the spare bed &amp; sleep. The only other thing she wanted was to be petted! I think my sensible side kicked in, I already have 2 cats and am afraid of what a cat that lives outdoors all the time may have going on healthwise. I may still correspond with the owners of the place I stayed at to see if I decide to go for it, would they send the cat to me. My heart is broken :(

<BR>Bnice, if the cat came right in and slept on the bed, it must have had owners and a home at one time. A real stray or wild cat wouldn't do that, it must really miss human touch.

&quot;but am curious as to whether it is possible to adopt a pet abroad and bring it to the US.&quot;<BR><BR>I hope not. My wife finds enough of them here.

Bnice, being a great animal lover I think that your idea is GREAT!!!!I am happy to know that I am not the only one that feel sorry and adopt these helpless animals...Bytw, I have 7 cats and 2 dogs... it seems like that every stray come to my house!!!

I know breeders bring dogs over to the USA from Europe, so it must be fine to bring over cats too. They might have to be checked out by a vet and get some kind of health certificate, I admire you for thinking about the little cat from afar.<BR><BR>I feel sorry for all the dogs left abandoned after tourist season in Sorrento.

There's a good chance that cat has a home and just likes to work the hood!<BR>It is a well known fact that the Italians abandon their pets during the August holiday. If you are in the Coluseum and see cats with &quot;nicks&quot; or slices on their ears, that is an indication they are &quot;fixed.&quot; Of course, they could have a wound from a fight too! Ask the neighbors before even THINKING of cat snatching anywhere as ol' puss might have a home.And we do have millions of kitties right here in the USA who are DESPERATE for a home.<BR>Most good shelters spay and inoculate the animal before releasing it to a prospective home. 'Support your local shelter, folks!

Good point, Deloris, we do have alot of needy dogs and cats right here and, Bnice could get caught &quot;catnapping&quot; (sorry, couldn't resist).

What I'm wondering is, is it possible to go to Europe and leave your cats there?

gocatas2002<BR><BR>LOL....I love my cat, I love cats and always seem to have cats find me when I'm on vacation. I also end with several pictures of cats I've met on my travels, but I your post made me laugh out loud...of course, I couldn't tell my cat while I was laughing so much..:)

And another one here! I was so concerned about a &quot;stray&quot; cat in Provence that found it's way to us for our week there that I contacted the rental company and asked if there was any way I could &quot;foster&quot; the cat - ie. find someone in the neighbourhood who I could send money to (trustworthy) who would buy food and make sure the cat was fed. Long story short, the owner of the property was also the manager of the booking agency and was horrified that I would &quot;encourage&quot; the stray. Didn't want any part of it. But it's worth a try??

According to the US Customs Service, as a general rule, there are no restrictions on bringing domestic cats into the U.S. There are no vaccination requirements for cats, although cats arriving in Hawaii or Guam are subject to that state's/territory's quarantine requirements. While a rabies certificate is not required for entry into the U.S., domestic cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined by an inspector at the port of entry. If the animal is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the owner's expense. If you are bringing your cat to the U.S. on an airplane, you should check with the airline about their requirements for transporting animals. Many airlines require a certificate of health from a veterinarian.<BR><BR>For more info, go to www.customs.gov <BR>

Hi<BR>(I know this tread is asking about Italy, but here goes...)<BR><BR>I am an avid cat lover and am on the Committee for the local branch of the Cats Protection League. If you find a cat in distress or apparently stray/unwanted IN THE UK, please contact the Cats Protection League Head Office on Tel No. 01403 221900. The CPL NEVER puts a cat down (unless there is nothing that can be done and it is ABSOLUTELY necessary for the cat's best interests). They will try to trace the owner, and if not found, will find a kind and loving home for the cat.<BR>I am a foster mum to these poor mites who deserve a lot more! Many thanks for caring :O)

I actually was thinking of seeing if the owners would feed the cat and I would send them money. I'll let you know what happens. Maybe I can sneak a quick trip in over the summer and take the cat back with me then! I have never gotten so attached to an animal that quickly, but she was so affectionate and sweet... when I have my pictures develped I am sure I will have about 10 pictures of her. The owners consider a few of the cats to be theirs, but this one was not one of them. I would agree that she had to be someone's cat at some time, but she seemed to be only about a year old.

Bnice - the same thing happens to us when we are on holiday. Wherever we go, we always find a little stray cat whom we get attached to. We end up feeding it breakfast scraps and hating ourselves for leaving it behind, but its so difficult to know what to do about this situation when abroad. We, too, have loads of photos of the cats we have befriended. Our friends always sigh and say 'not another one' when looking at the photos :O)<BR><BR>When we went to Rome recently, I met the homeless cats at the colluseum (?sp)being looked after by a lady who was feeding them and keeping the area clean and tidy. I could have hugged her. I put all my change in her tin!

At the company I work with in Milan, there is a local stray who hangs out in the security guards' building. She is a very sweet and friendly tabby. <BR>If you're a cat lover passing through Brussels, you MUST visit the Brussels Cat Park! (AKA Park Tenbosch). The park is home to about two dozen abandoned cats. The neighborhood looks after them carefully; the cats have specially made huts to live in, are fed twice a day, and get regular medical treatment when needed. They have all been &quot;speutered.&quot; The cats are very sociable and will join you on a park bench. They all have names; there is only one female, Jolie, but she RULES the park. (She also is very fond of our English cocker and follows her all around the park when we visit.) The oldest is a yellow tabby, Pixu, who is about 13 (a guess). The park is located a couple of blocks from Avenue Louise; there are several entrances but the easiest to find (for a tourist) are on the rue Vleurgat next to the large Buigines hair salon and also farther down next to the Indian embassy.

Ten years ago, when I lived in Italy, I visted Pompeii for the day and found a very sweet stray dog with a burn hole in its side about the size of a cigar. I tried to coax him to come with me as I would take him to the vet but he was just so scared, he wouldn't leave the ruins. I named him &quot;Yoda Pompeii&quot; and I still think of him.

I'm glad to know my family is not the only one out there who are suckers for stray cats. My husband riducules my youngest son and me continually on trips because we are always &quot;adopting&quot; strays. Usually my son will attract one or two at whatever place we are staying--in Spain, one even came inside and got on his bed (not something I encourage as you don't know how those animals are healthwise).

I think it's great you want to help a stray, and I know this wasn't your question, but I have to agree with Deloris. There are SO MANY homeless cats in the US - please consider going to an animal shelter and adopting one! I am sure that if you visit a few shelters or attend adoption shows, sooner or later you will bond with one of those cats just like you did in Italy.<BR><BR>I volunteer for an animal welfare organization, and believe me, there are so many wonderful, lovable, adorable cats that would thrive in a good home (I have 2 myself). <BR><BR>Karen

When I was in Italy for a month I missed my cat terribly, and was plesantly surprised at all of the strays in Venice who wanted to befriend me. It almost seemed as though they belonged to the city or something - everyone was friendly to them and would give them morsels out if their grocery bags!

I believe I was the one who related my daughter's experience in bringing home a stray dog from Poland. However, she had more than a year to bond with this dog and the two became inseparble. All that was needed was a certificate from a Polish veterinarian that all his shots were up to date and that he was in good health. Actually, &quot;Dexter&quot; got through immigration with less hassle than the other Poles on the flight! One consideration - Domestic flights will not transport animals during the summer months unless under the seat in front of you. My daughter rented a car to transport the dog from Chicago to Florida. Expensive, but well worth it as &quot;Dexter&quot; is a true delight.

Good ideas from everyone!<BR>Just remember that a fat cat is a fed cat, and maybe a pregnant cat! A bony and sick cat is another issue and getting bit on a knuckel by any animal can be a very dangerous issue that will involve infection and possible hospitalizaion. Then there are &quot;pets&quot; vs &quot;working farm cats.&quot; <BR>The latter are internationally expected to fend for themselves and get vermin (rats!) and the locals will think you are loco to try to make them your little pussy cat! Know before you go!<BR>And remember the critters at home that <BR>really need your help!!!<BR>Spoken from a crazed animal addict!!!

I know how it is to get attached to an animal on vacation, I still remember the little one eyed dog who followed me all over the back streets of Pompeii. He obviously had been a pet at one time and wanted to be loved so much, I wonder what happened to him.<BR><BR>Another little animal is the little old fat dog who hangs out on Piazza Tasso in Sorrento. I saw him on one trip dodging the traffic and on the next trip I watched as a shopkeeper shepherded him across the street to use a tree.<BR><BR>I guess you have to be an animal lover to let these things get to you.

Personally I wouldn't know anything about adopting needy cats.<BR><BR>I only have three of them.<BR><BR>One from the spca (pregnant at six months).<BR>Second from a home where the owner died three days previous to discovery. (he was a little tricky at first)<BR>The latest came to us at five weeks old and was immediatly adopted by number two and washed hourly.<BR><BR>I cannot walk the streets anywhere without cats running out to greet me.

Talking of cat mad...I have four cats of my own (three were rescued). I am looking after two neighbours cats at the moment. For the Cats Protection League, I am looking after and trying to socialise two beautiful kittens (one tabby one grey), who were born wild after mum was kicked out of her home. I have another elderly old lady in my cat pen, on medication, waiting for a loving home via the Cats Protection. <BR><BR>Whew!! I think my nickname on here should have been Catwoman ;O)

Was the cat really a stray? There's a nice English children's story book called &quot;Six-dinner Sid&quot;. The hero &quot;belongs&quot; to six families and gets red at each house. Cats are pretty good at spotting a human softy.<BR>It's far less common in the UK and the rest of Europe for cats to be kept indoors. A cat strolling around outside may well be somebody's pet.

Sylvia- I am in the Cats Protection. What we do when a cat is found is scan it for a microchip and advertise a 'lost cat'. Usually fruitless. Its normally pretty obvious they have been left to fend for themselves, with tics, fleas, signs of fighting etc. etc.<BR><BR> I often keep the older cats for many months, as they are left behind because most people want a kitten. The mum with kittens was wild herself, very nervous with no signs of socialisation or domesticity. The kittens in my care are coming on very well and will sit on my lap and purr!<BR><BR>The elderly cat was found apparently dumped in the woods at the top of a lane, was left out in the snow over winter until some kindly people (who had been feeding her biscuits) contacted us. No one has contacted us about her, despite advertising. She has kidney disease and thyroid problems and wouldnt have lasted another month whilst she was stray without medication etc. She has warmth, shelter, love food and attention now! Just what the doctor ordered ;O)<BR><BR>I can't understand why people do the things they do.....

A thread I can really relate to. I did bring a cat home from a trip. It wasn't Europe it was Winterset Iowa. I was such a fan of the book and movie of the same name, Bridges of Madison County that I decided to go see where all of this took place.<BR><BR>I was at the infamous Roseman Bridge where I saw a little kitten just huddled in the cornfields. To make a long story short I brought him home on the plane. I thought if his carrier fit under the seat in front of me that was all that mattered. I didn't know I had to make arrangements with the airlines. I found out all of this later, but I was lucky no one questioned me when I boarded the plane with the kitten. I was just lucky.<BR><BR>He was so sick for 2 months but the patience and love paid off. He's a wonderful cat. Not only that he was written up in the Madisonian Newspaper. 1/2 page with his picture. He was a local celebrity.<BR><BR>The last thing in the world I needed was another cat but how could I have left him behind. If you're wondering what his name is, it's Madison.

Madison - thats a lovely story! I see your kitten's name has been honoured in your nickname too!

EnglishOne.<BR>Our current cat now 15 years old was found by us on our compost heap when she was a tiny kitten. She was terrified of humans and we later found went frantic with terror when she heard water running. We think that somebody must have tried to drown her. It took ages for her to allow us even to touch her but she is purring beside me as I'm typing this.

English One - Thank you for the kind remarks.

Madison/sylvia, great to see that we all care, eh :O)