Moving with your pet?

Doing your homework and understanding the rules can make the move to a new country smooth for your pet

- Nameeta Nadkarni

A friend of mine recently brought up moving abroad with his family, which includes his cat. Relocating with a pet is not as simple as booking a ticket and buying a scratching post in a new country, but it's also not as intimidating as it sounds. If you prepare well, pet relocation can be a smooth experience.

It begins with doing enough research. Every country has its own rules when it comes to bringing in pets, and it's crucial to familiarise yourself with them early in your planning process. For instance, some countries enforce a mandatory quarantine period, ranging from a few days to several weeks depending on the species. During this time, your pet is kept under observation at a government-approved facility to rule out any infectious diseases.

Vaccinations are the next critical pillar of the relocation process. Most countries require pets, especially dogs and cats, to be vaccinated against rabies before travel. This is usually 30 days before departure but not longer than 12 months prior, depending on the vaccine and the destination country's regulations.