Bringing my cat to Finland

NewEnglandNative · Post by **NewEnglandNative** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:36 am

Hello,

I have searched with conflicting results on the forum, so here goes...

I am moving to Finland from the U.S. to be with my wife and I want to bring my cat with me. She is microchipped and is up to date on her vaccines. I dont have a pet passport yet, but what else do I need to ensure a smooth transition into Finland?

Thanks in advance for the kind advice!

--NewEnglandNative--

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mumboman · Post by **mumboman** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:58 am

Add a federal vet inspection about 2 weeks before you leave, then you just need the papers showing proof of the microchip and vaccinations. Chances are the border guard won't even bother checking these things.

Onegammyleg · Post by **Onegammyleg** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:27 am

Keep in mind that if you live in the city , in an apartment ,,that outdoor cats will go crazy being stuck inside all of the time.
I had to leave my cat back in OZ when I came here , he would have hated it here living in a box.

scoobymcdoo · Post by **scoobymcdoo** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:56 pm

We moved from the UK 2 years ago and brought with us our 2 cats. They went in separate boxes in the warm hold of the airplane. They travelled far better than we imagined. I suggest you buy disposable changing mats to line the box with (Pampers make them in the baby aisles of the supermarkets). They will keep them drier and warmer.

Our cats had the rabies vaccination (though due to a dodgy batch, one cat failed the blood test delaying my departure to Finland by a month). Get the jabs sorted ASAP incase you end up with a bad batch of vaccinations.

When we arrived at Helsink Airport I wandered through the red channel (goods to declare) with the cats and no one battered an eyelid. Eventually I banged on the guards door and asked them about the cats, they waved me through without seeing their passports, papers etc.

Since we have been here, they have adapted to not going out, though we let them out in the summer when we are in the garden. When we lived in the apartment they played out on the balcony.

HTH

Hannah....now wondering if there is anything specific we need to do with the cats (vaccination wise) if we ever decide to leave Finland. ???

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:01 pm

http://www.evira.fi/portal/en/animals_a ... countries/

cressers · Post by **cressers** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:29 pm

if you fly with finnair from new york they let you take the pet in the cabin, and AA will let you take it in the cabin on connecting flights.

By far the easiest way. We did this with our chihuahua.

You need to ring the call centre as there is a limit on the total number of animals in the cabin.

Also, you cant take them in Business class due to the new seat configuration.

alison anderson · Post by **alison anderson** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:43 pm

We will be moving to Oulu area in July and are bringing our two cats. I know I need microchips, vaccs and vet exams but am very nervous about the journey! We are in santa Fe NM and will fly from Albuquerque. Does anyone know the least stressfull route for the cats? Is it best to try and limit the trip to tow legs? We could fly to NY then Helsinki or try to go Dallas, Paris or amsterdam then Helsinki.

Also how careful are the airlines with animals? Would appreciate any assistance!

cressers · Post by **cressers** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:51 am

NY- helsinki is the best way. You can hand carry them all the way from Santa fe.

We flew AA DFW-JFK-HEL no problems. Dog was in the cabin in an approved carrier.

Airlines will not allow pets in the hold if the outside ambient temp is too high, and I think its about 80oF, so in July thats dallas out.

You need to get them microchipped, then vaccinated.

DO NOT GO through the UK, their quarantine is the toughest.

internetta · Post by **internetta** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:48 pm

scoobymcdoo, I worked in the UK in 2005 and from what I remember about the pet passports is that to get them back into the country it has to be 6 months AFTER you left and they just have to be up to date with all their vaccinations

TopDog · Post by **TopDog** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:24 pm

alison anderson wrote:We are in santa Fe NM and will fly from Albuquerque. Does anyone know the least stressfull route for the cats? Is it best to try and limit the trip to tow legs? We could fly to NY then Helsinki or try to go Dallas, Paris or amsterdam then Helsinki.

Sort of off topic .....

I live in Albuquerque (howdy neighbor!) and on my last trip to Finland I flew through JFK. Not sure if they are still under construction but at the time, I had to walk outside with my carryon(s) over to the International terminal. It was confusing and each person I asked for directions told me something different. Hopefully it's finished now but you might want to check on it.

Just leave yourself enough time between flights to find your way and get settled. You can fly direct from JFK to Helsinki and it's probably easiest for the kitties too

Have a great trip!

PS skip the airport in Paris if at all possible. It was not a pleasant experiance the two times I've flown through. Very smelly. The airport in Helsinki is the nicest I have ever been in, even the lavatories were clean and non-smelly.

Karibu · Post by **Karibu** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:46 pm

cressers wrote:if you fly with finnair from new york they let you take the pet in the cabin, and AA will let you take it in the cabin on connecting flights.

By far the easiest way. We did this with our chihuahua.

Heh, I wonder what would they say if you had Pitbull Terrier... "He's mild as a milk, believe me..."

This meaning that some animals are easier to bring than others. A crocodile in an airplane could be "fun" experience.

cressers · Post by **cressers** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:08 pm

there are clearly size requirements for the pet carrier, and the pet needs so much room to move.

It was ok for our chihuahua, would be ok for most cats, a pitbul is too big.

alison anderson · Post by **alison anderson** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:53 pm

Thank you neighbor from Albuquerque. We had a similar experience in the Paris airport. Very confusing and no help from the staff. How does one get a cat passport? Do vets issue them? We think the best way from Albuquerque is to go Dallas FW on American airlines then to JFK switch to Finnair to Helsinki because there is reciprosity between the two airlines. The problem is that we are going in July so we can't let them go in the hold as the outside temp is so high then. however I hear that the containers have to be 10" so they can fit under the seat and that is small even for a cat.

Has anyone had experience of carrying a cat in a cabin for a long period? Do they howl or fight in such a small container?

any experience would help us decide "how to" do this journey.

Thanks.

smilesalot · Post by **smilesalot** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:33 pm

Amsterdam airport (Shiphol) is very accomodating and I found this info at KLM's website.
http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/travel_ ... ndex.htm#4

smilesalot

The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.

malachi_north · Post by **malachi_north** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:25 pm

Uh, kinda late to the ball, but I noticed the Schiphol post.

I brought my cat from Toronto to Amsterdam last summer and while he was not pleased to be stuck in a carrier for seven hours, he was fine during the trip. He did go in the hold (airline didn't let you have animals transatlantic in the cabin - understandable as people might be allergic), but he got a little bit of kitty sedative and slept most of the trip. They didn't take him until about 20 minutes before the flight left, so he was with me that whole time and was the last on the plane. Then they brought him right out at Schiphol, and taking him through customs was no problem. I had all the paperwork and his results, but at 7 am the guard told me it was too early in the morning to read those papers. And he waved me through.

Just make sure you have the papers, just in case. Cats will be annoyed at the flight, but they get over it fast. And definitely line the crate with the pee pads!

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