Is there a place with a reasonable cost that can take care of your cats for a period of time while you emigrate until you can bring them over?

[SantaMuerte]

Howdy Carbies

Does anybody know of any reputable places where one would be able to board your cats for a monthly fee while you emigrate until you can afford to take them over?

Emigrating to the UK next month but I just don't have the money lying around to take my cats over at the same time. I have looked at catteries but they charge an insane amount of money per cat and I have 3 furry friends.

Also, do give me your opinion. Would this be too hard on them? Should I rather try and re-home them? I don't really want to and it will probably be hard to find someone that would take all three of them. One is 4 and a half years old (the mom) and the other two are one and a half years old (her babies). All of them neutered / spayed.

And before you want to hurl shit at me and say how can I afford emigrating but not to take my pets with, don't. My employer is paying for all those costs, not me.

 

[johnny_h]

Have a look at The Cat Hotel

Home - The Cat Hotel

thecathotel.co.za

You can book online, they're great people and take fantastic care of the cats. I belive the owner is a vet as well.

I know they have cats there for months, like half a year and stuff. The garden villas are also quite nice and clean.

They're in jhb though, not sure if that would be an issue

 

[baasgene]

Have a look at The Cat Hotel

Home - The Cat Hotel

thecathotel.co.za

You can book online, they're great people and take fantastic care of the cats. I belive the owner is a vet as well.

I know they have cats there for months, like half a year and stuff. The garden villas are also quite nice and clean.

They're in jhb though, not sure if that would be an issue

hahaha jirre that would be expensive as hell on a monthly basis! And it doesn't even include food..

 

[TRINITRON]

Well what would you consider a good monthly price?

 

[JoE]

My daughter does this for R75 per day plus food but don't think she could manage with more than one cat

 

[baasgene]

Well what would you consider a good monthly price?

That price is fine if it includes food. The 3 kitty price seems reasonable, but 1 kitten seems pricey lol. Bulk is always good for pricing!

 

[Frana.mtb]

This is going to be very expensive and hard on the cats

2020 right before shit started my friend went to Aus , to get his two cats there cost him nearly 200k all in ( kennels here there , quarantine , shots ect ect ect )

One died during this period

 

[J0N0]

A good friend mine moved to Australia a few years back, because of Australia's strict border regulations they needed to put their 2 cats into a 6 months quarantine process which was 3 months of quarantine in SA and 3 Months AU to insure the cats weren't going to bring in any diseases or pests that would threaten Australia's eco system.

This put them back around 60K per cat, sadly one of them died 6 months after arriving in AU and the other one died a year and a half later.

Both cats were only around 5 to 6 years old.

But I'm not sure if the UK requires the same process.

 

[baasgene]

This is going to be very expensive and hard on the cats

2020 right before shit started my friend went to Aus , to get his two cats there cost him nearly 200k all in ( kennels here there , quarantine , shots ect ect ect )

One died during this period

Yeah look the obvious answer to the thread is re-homing. 'Extreme' animal lovers will always have a thing to say but this is unfortunately the reality of emigration.

R200k for cats? With high risk of dying?

I guess I wouldn't understand since I don't do pets. But honestly how is this even a consideration unless R200k is a mere drop of your wealth.

 

[Frana.mtb]

Yeah look the obvious answer to the thread is re-homing. 'Extreme' animal lovers will always have a thing to say but this is unfortunately the reality of emigration.

R200k for cats? With high risk of dying?

I guess I wouldn't understand since I don't do pets. But honestly how is this even a consideration unless R200k is a mere drop of your wealth.

It was mainly for his wife

He's very family orientated but yeah now he's saving for a deposit on a house when starring at 40 and I'm sure an extra 200k zar would've helped


I was also questioning the hell out of it

 

[superrob]

I would never let my fur children out of my sight, they are my kids and I never want them to ever feel like I'm not right there with them.

Try your best to keep them as yours because it is as hard on them as it is for you, older animals are usually more difficult to rehome, many people don't realize that they are a responsibility not a toy to get rid of when bored and lastly do not take them to SPCA as most times they will just destroy them.

Do you not have a family member or friend that could cat sit them if you pay them and take care of all their needs (The cats that is)

 

[dirko.van.schalkwyk]

1) This one is near me: Contact Global Paws - your animal travel services in South Africa

You can see the associations they normally belong to at the bottom of that page

There are quite a few when you search online.

2) On re-homing:

They adapt. Having had the honour to have have been the custodian and friend of a few walk-ins until their end-time. They live more in the now. Something we find hard to understand.

(warning, if you have bad reaction to the smell of onions, then best to watch this video alone)

 

[SantaMuerte]

A good friend mine moved to Australia a few years back, because of Australia's strict border regulations they needed to put their 2 cats into a 6 months quarantine process which was 3 months of quarantine in SA and 3 Months AU to insure the cats weren't going to bring in any diseases or pests that would threaten Australia's eco system.

This put them back around 60K per cat, sadly one of them died 6 months after arriving in AU and the other one died a year and a half later.

Both cats were only around 5 to 6 years old.

But I'm not sure if the UK requires the same process.

The UK doesn't have the quarantine regulations, but they do require a blood test that needs to be done for each cat. Once the blood test is done there is a 3 month holding period before they are allowed to travel so you can almost call it quarantine. When they land there is a 600 and something pound clearance fee per cat as well. Problem with UK work visas is you only have 3 months from the visa start date to enter the country in order to basically activate your work visa. For those of us who get sudden offers to emigrate there just isn't enough time to get this done and have your pets go over the same time as you so a kennel/cattery etc. it is. Currently the cost for 3 cats all in all is about 125K. Not exactly pocket change for a South African.

 

[Xyris]

I would have gladly taken your cats off your hands for the period for free (well you cover just the food for the cats).

Unfortunately, we lost our home or had to sell due to all the inflation prices of properties..

Sorry dude, I would suggest finding a good friend or family member and asking them if you can just pay for the cats whilst they watch the cats for you until you can get them over. Alternatively, just re-home them if you feel like it's a bit difficult to get them over and you feel like you won't be able to.

My mom has like 7 cats she's acquired over the years, I can ask her, but at this point I don't think they want any more cats. But if you are fitting the food bill maybe she'll accept it.. it's a stretch but like, if you have no other options, there's no hard in asking.

Hope you come right bud.

 

[Reegz]

Tl/dr;

Speak to Brenda at the Cat Shack; based in Edenvale.

They can help board the kitties while arranging for their emigration.