Michael Strickland

Everyone: Thanks again for all your comments (even those who berated me for selfishly ignoring their allergies; don't you take allergy medication?). Feel free to continue to add comments, but all of your input has convinced me to find someone here to take care of the cat. I believe the travel would be too traumatic for a nine-month stay. I'll just have to find someone who likes cats enough that it would be a joy to watch Europa for nine months. Thanks for the suggestions in this regard -- and to the person in the Bay Area who volunteered, thanks a bunch, but we live in L.A.

anon

I have some small sympathy for people who are so needy that they project all sorts of anthropomorphic mindstates and moods onto their animals and who cannot relocate for 9 months without them! How did you every leave home! I have 2 very dear cats and l very dear dog. I have a lot of friends and a wonderful family who always come through on the few extended relocations I've had the good fortune to experience (6 mo Milan, 8 mo Paris, 8 mo London). I would never think of disrupting my pets very cushy lives because I'D MISS THEM????!!! On a separate note, I myself have complained about animals in the cabin and when the crew did nothing about a prowling cat I wrote the airline--CEO and cc. on down and glad to know that entire crew got busted! More airlines all the time are outright REFUSING to accenpt any animals in cabin and those that are have raised fees to discourage. Surely several hundred dollars by now. Do everybody a favor and leave them home--the dog too!

Amy

I highly recommend you take your cat with you to Italy ONLY IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT HER/HIM IN QUARANTINE. I just flew my 4 (yes 4) cats from Atlanta, Georgia to Portland, Oregon. Although this wasn't to Europe, it took as long if not longer- 5 hours in the air and 4 hours in the car. My husband and I have a vacation condo and stay there six months out of the year. I couldn't bear to leave my "family" behind as they get really upset when we leave them for just a long weekend. We have a cat sitter but my vet advised me to never leave a cat/s alone even with a cat sitter if you are going to be gone more than two weeks because it really affects them emotionally. The flight was very smooth. We took them as carry-on in Sherpa bags. Two are kittens so we managed to fit one in with each of the adults. Delta Airlines was wonderful. The flight crew kept checking on them. The only BIG mistake we made was listen to our vet and give them sedatives. I will NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. One of the cats had a horrible reaction and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. I later found out that there are safe, natural sedatives sold in health food stores that we will use next time. They slept the whole time and didn't let out a peep. I was surprised to see how quickly they adapted to their new surroundings. That was what I was most concerned about. After being there a half day, they were hanging out in the place like they had lived there for years. In fact, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and seemed to like the change of scenery. On the return home, our flight out of Portland was cancelled so we had to sit in the Crown Room Club for three hours. This really concerned me because it would be hours before they would be able to use the bathroom. We took them out of their bags one by one just to check on them and they were fine. All they wanted to do was sleep. They managed to go for 12 hours without having an accident in their bag. We finally made it home, let them out of their bags, and they were fine. <BR><BR>Also, my sister moved from N.Y.C to London and had to put her cat in quarantine for six months. It was a sweet, lovable cat before she put him in quarantine but now he is a monster. He hisses and bites anyone who comes near him. My sister still gets tears in her eyes when she tells people that it's because he was put in quarantine. She wishes she had never done it. She said the place where they keep them is horrible and depressing. <BR><BR>Sorry to ramble on! I hope this helps you and good luck!

Santa Chiara

To Michael: Good choice. But as to your comment about taking antihistemines, why should I have to take unnecessary medication just to ride on a plane? My allergies, as I imagine most others, are specific: for me, chiefly, cat dander, house dust, fresh mown grass and certain trees. Of these, cat dander is the worst. <BR><BR>And to Maris, a previous poster, you are so right, it is all in my head. Witness my puffy, teary eyes, runny (or congested) nose, constricted throat. Yes, these are all in my head.

Michael Strickland

"Anon," with comments like yours, I see why you hide behind an anonymous name and email address. With regard to message boards, I never understood why, when a person is asking for advice, people like you seize the opportunity to attack and/or get on a soapbox without providing any "useful" information. In any case, my dilemma arises out of concern for my cat, not out of personal neediness. She is the needy one, so I worry about her being separated from us for so long. If I find a person who loves cats enough to give her the care and attention she needs, great -- problem solved. I, unfortunately, lack the wide network of animal-loving friends and family that you apparently enjoy; but at least I've got some time to work something out. My dog, on the other hand, loves to travel, and I will have no reluctance to take her onboard, in the cabin; contrary to what you think, many airlines do allow this. United, for example, only charges $75 domestically, just a bit more internationally. I'm sorry you were so offended by the cat on your flight, but you must be proud of yourself for "busting the entire crew." You'll forgive me if I don't believe your pets are "very dear" to you.

Therese

Lots of people who have cat (and other animal) allergies are not particularly allergic to other things. So in response to Michael's query "don't you take allergy medication?", the answer is "no". I don't even OWN allergy medication, if what you mean by allergy medication is an antihistamine. I do have asthma, for which I take long-acting bronchodilators (and carry a fast-acting one for for emergencies, like if somebody else decides that I need to breathe cat dander for eight hours). I don't take (or carry) antihistamines because I manage to avoid pretty much all contact with pets. Strange for some to imagine, but lots of people don't own animals. My cat-loving friends either come to my house (I can pick up enough dander from their bodies/clothing to elicit an allergic response, actually), or we go out. I choose cat-free establishments when travelling, and have never (to date) had a problem.<BR><BR>So if you do happen to be sitting beside me with your kitty, I am likely to ask if alternate seating can be arranged. So far I've not had a cat or dog be closer than three rows away, and have had no problem (animals stayed in their carriers the entire trip; the mere thought of dogs and cats prowling the plane is horrifying, at least as horrifying as the thought of small children roaming the aisles).

emmy

Michael, for some people, fur & dander allergies are more than just an annoying little case of the sniffles. If I were in a closed space with a cat on a long flight,I would soon start wheezing and have trouble catching my breath. Yes, I could use my asthma inhaler, but I'd prefer not to spend the next 11 hours trying not to suffocate.<BR><BR>I really do like cats, they're marvelous, graceful creatures, but I like breathing better. I'm glad that you worked out an arrangement for Europa, for her sake and the sake of fellow passengers like me.

cat lover

Michael:<BR>I would be very interested in how this turns out for you.<BR>Good luck

cat

Michael, I completely understand you wanting to take your cat. I think you made the right decision though. I would have such a tough time leaving our current cat for 9 months, I love her dearly. We do have family that would take care of her. I don't consider it an overwhelming neediness, she's part of our family and being apart for that long I'm sure would be hard on her as well as us. Take care and don't let some of these negative, nasty posters get you down.

Rosemarie the Rightious

I posted to this a while ago. My post was a mild attempt at humor...actually I thought that it was rather funny but for some reason it appeared only briefly and then disappeared..a critic at Fodor who does not approve of my quirky jesting???<BR>ANYWAY...no joke I love animals esp. cats ...am down to 2 at the moment BUT I have to try to support those who claim to be allergic to cats. It is NOT "just your imagination" for many people. My roommate in college was allergic to cats so we did not any. One night I came home after she was asleep. She did not know I had been visiting friends with a cat. I quietly undressed and hung up my dress and got into my bed. Within moments she awakened with an asthma attack from the fur on my dress which was hung up across the room from her bed.

marcie

I too love cats...have 4 wonderful spoiled cats that I adore. Given your predicament, I do think if there is a family member that can watch her during your absence, I think this is the best option. Cats really don't "move" well like dogs. If you are going to be in one spot, maybe but if you will moving around through out Europe, I'd definitely find her a "foster family" who will love her and care for her until your safe return. Good Luck from one cat lover to another! Marcie

Scarlette

When my Nana moved to Las Vegas from Arizona, her cat woudln't come out from under the bed (except to eat)for a couple of months. (and it took longer than that for her to come out of the bedroom!) So I think the previous poster who said it takes 3 months for cats to adapt to a new home is right. Of course, maybe its just the cats personality, because someone else said theirs were fine that day. Hmm...I guess you have to decide what personality type your kitty is!<BR>P.S. They didn't fly, they drove,<BR>& good luck with whatever you decide to do!

clairobscur

I'm with these people who pointed out the allergy issue. And I'm seriously pissed off that most posters don't even think there's a need to adress the issue. <BR><BR>Instead of that, they debate about the "stress" of the poor animals. Either they're uterly ignorant about what serious allergies are really like, either we've here a sample of the most selfish people conceivable. They DON'T EVEN PRETEND to care.<BR><BR>My lovely pet will be stressed? THAT'S a serious issue! A stranger suffocating? Seriously, who cares?<BR>