Thanks, Obelixx. The cat is microchipped and her normal vaccinations are up to date - I'll talk to the vet about the rabies vaccine. I've looked on official websites to find out the regulations for Ireland but everything is up in the air at the moment...
How did your cats cope with the travelling? Ours has never been in a car. We were thinking the car/ferry/car crossing would be preferable to train/plane/car, where she'd be separated from us.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
When we moved to Belgium there was a restriction in France - 3 cats max - so we had to go Dover Ostend which was a 5 hour trip instead of 2 hours. We had a Chevette Estate as our 2nd car at the time so we loaded a futon in the back and rigged up boxes and bedding and a big cover so they felt safe and couldn't see the world going by. Litter tray, biscuits and water bowls as it was to be a long journey.
We also gave them a tranquiliser. Don't tell anyone but all 5 ended up on my lap or under my seat as I drove.
They had to stay in the car for the crossing and we weren't allowed to go down and see them but they coped. Pouring rain and dark so another 3 hour journey to their new home and very relieved not to be moving anymore. No traumas.
Try leaving your cat carrier out in a corner where it can be seen and inspected. Put a favourite piece of bedding in it for the journey. When we first got these kittens, we had to go up to Belgium soon after - 8 hour drive plus pit stops. We put Rasta's dog cage in the back of the car with a covered litter tray and their sheepskin inside and some food and water. They were fine too.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Hello everyone. I have so enjoyed reading this topic and admiring the pictures of all your beautiful cats. I have a question that perhaps you can answer for me. I can get 'spot on' for fleas/ticks and also for tape worms, but cannot find any for 'ordinary round worms etc'. Our vet insists on seeing a cat before giving out spot on's and I'm not happy about stressing out my elderly lady for what seems an unnecessary reason. Naughty cat has decided that it will not have tablets however well hidden! Anyone have the answer? TIA
If my two won't take their wormers easily when I hide them in treats, I crush the pills and put them in a syringe with a bit of water and squirt it down their throats after wrapping them in an old towel.
Flea and tick stuff goes on the back of their neck. They don't like that either but it's a lot easier. If the vet won't dish wormers out without seeing the cat, try ordering online.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Hi @AnnaB.Welcome back to the forum. I would have thought you would have had more difficulty finding tablets for tape worms as they are more serious than round worms. After googling a well known pet store they sell remedies for round worms in the form of granules so that may be easier to administer. A lot of chemists these days sell animal related remedies so I don't think you should have any trouble. As Obelixx says you can more than likely buy them online. Hope you have some luck and I know how difficult it is to get the cat to take them and yours being old it would get upset and they can be very crafty. Many a time you think you have managed it only to find they spit it out later.
@Liriodendron I’ve flown with cats twice. From the UK to Spain they had to be booked in well in advance with the airline, on the same flight as me, delivered to a special desk for transfer to the hold, after the specially labelled compliant crates, passports and vet records, including a fitness to fly certificate were checked. They were supposed to be collected the other end from the pet transport desk, but the baggage handlers put their crates on the conveyor belt so they appeared amongst all the suitcases - to the astonishment and mirth of the holidaymakers. I was horrified (and thank god I didn’t queue for the loo and went straight to the conveyor for my bag) but the mogs took it in their stride.
Another option, if any UK - Ireland airline allows it, is to fly with the cats in semi-rigid cat bags under your seats as we did with an internal flight when we moved up north. In this case, we had to remove the cats from their bags, which went through the baggage security scanner, then walk through the body scanner clutching the cats. The cats were fitted with specially bought cat harnesses and leads to prevent escape, but still we had visions of chasing enraged cats across a busy airport and were very relieved to stuff them back in the bags the other side of security.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Thank you for your help folks She's 14 and very much with a mind of her own. Happily took crushed up pills in food until last Autumn but now it's a no no! Has no problem with spot on's for other beasties which is why I was hoping to find them for normal regular worms. She's a very lively lady, happily coming for walks round the farm with other younger cat, the dog and I - zooming up trees and laughing at me when I tell her to be careful - she even likes playing outside in the snow. Strange cat! Of course she also likes her warmth and is to found asleep in front of the rayburn when we are wanting to cook or on my 'place' on the bed when I want to get in. Maybe a trip to the vet would calm her down a bit, but as it is a half an hour journey from us I really don't want to try it if not necessary. Will go the googling/other methods first. Thanks again.
14 isn't old these days. Try the syringe method. I've used it on cats of all ages from this pair of 2 yr olds to an old dame of 23 before she left us. Just have to get her wrapped up and held to avoid major scratching for you and panic for her.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
We have taken in an abandoned female kitten about two weeks ago. She was dumped in our hamlet in November and of course everyone was saying how sweet she was but no one wanted to look after her. OH befriended her and started to feed her and we gave her a shelter under our covered terrace. But as the weather got worse we decided to bring her indoors. She is a black bundle of energy! Vet reckons she is four months old now and has given her her first vaccination, flea and tick treatment and we have ointment for her ear mites. She is going back for her 2nd vaccination next month and spaying in a couple of months. The vet has suggested we only feed her on dried food as wet food is full of rubbish she reckons. Would welcome your thoughts please on this as we are not used to cats or kittens!
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How did your cats cope with the travelling? Ours has never been in a car. We were thinking the car/ferry/car crossing would be preferable to train/plane/car, where she'd be separated from us.
We also gave them a tranquiliser. Don't tell anyone but all 5 ended up on my lap or under my seat as I drove.
They had to stay in the car for the crossing and we weren't allowed to go down and see them but they coped. Pouring rain and dark so another 3 hour journey to their new home and very relieved not to be moving anymore. No traumas.
Try leaving your cat carrier out in a corner where it can be seen and inspected. Put a favourite piece of bedding in it for the journey. When we first got these kittens, we had to go up to Belgium soon after - 8 hour drive plus pit stops. We put Rasta's dog cage in the back of the car with a covered litter tray and their sheepskin inside and some food and water. They were fine too.
TIA
Flea and tick stuff goes on the back of their neck. They don't like that either but it's a lot easier. If the vet won't dish wormers out without seeing the cat, try ordering online.
Another option, if any UK - Ireland airline allows it, is to fly with the cats in semi-rigid cat bags under your seats as we did with an internal flight when we moved up north. In this case, we had to remove the cats from their bags, which went through the baggage security scanner, then walk through the body scanner clutching the cats. The cats were fitted with specially bought cat harnesses and leads to prevent escape, but still we had visions of chasing enraged cats across a busy airport and were very relieved to stuff them back in the bags the other side of security.
She is going back for her 2nd vaccination next month and spaying in a couple of months.
The vet has suggested we only feed her on dried food as wet food is full of rubbish she reckons. Would welcome your thoughts please on this as we are not used to cats or kittens!