Quarantine advice for emigrating moggie

by Neil Gardner, Heddington, Wiltshire, UK

Maria Kelly asked:

Having seen a very worrying undercover documentary on some quarantine kennels a few months ago, I thought it might be best to go for personal recommendations rather than just try the Yellow Pages.

So, does anyone have any experience of UK quarantine catteries, either good or bad, so we can try and make her moggies "vacation" as untraumatic as possible. I'd appreciate any guidance you can give us on where to go, or what to look for, prices, visiting rights, etc.

Quite right to be concerned - quarantine catteries vary significantly in quality. I have recent direct, and indirect, experience of importing cats into the UK and can highly recommend a place called Knightwood, in Wiltshire just outside Salisbury. In fact, a friend of ours who lives in Scarborough, Yorkshire used it after us despite the fact that it was 300 miles away and there being places much closer.

The pens are a reasonable size, and very clean and dry. Heating is available October to April. Each cat is assigned a personal 'kennel maid' who will look after your friend's baby. Visiting is allowed as often as you want, 11am to 3pm except Sundays and bank holidays.

It cost me over £2,000 to put one cat through quarantine. This includes board, food, vaccinations and testing.

Hope this is helpful.

Editor's note:

• If you want to comment on this article, why not write direct to Neil Gardner?
• He will be pleased to hear from you!
• Visit his Kjrligkatt Norwegian Forest Cats
• Since this article was written quarantine for cats and dogs has been relaxed and in certain cases cats and dogs may be allowed into England without quarantine. See the Pets Travel Scheme [PETS].

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