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Now,
with the availability of
shipping, you don't have
to settle for what is
close by or wait for
what is available in
your area when you are
looking for that special
kitten! Even breeders
welcome the addition of
new blood to their
breeding programs from
far away and shipping is
most often the easiest
method for transporting
new breeding animals or
for sending an animal
out for breeding.
While we prefer people
pick up their kittens
however, that isn't
always possible.
We try to meet all our
customers' wishes,
however, the welfare of
our kittens always comes
first!
We will make all the
arrangements and try to
meet our customer's
needs.
We do understand how
excited you might be
after searching for that
special kitten and now
that you have found it,
you want it as soon as
possible! Remember,
these things take a
little time. Vet
appointments must be
made to obtain the
Health Certificate and
they are not always
immediate, but can
usually be made in a day
or two.
We are able to ship
pretty fast, as long as
all criteria and legal
requirements for the
airlines are met. Once
the terms have been
agreed to,
contract/health
guarantee have been
signed and returned,
(Emailing a contract for
our customer to print
out in duplicate, sign
both copies, and return
one signed copy by
next-day delivery may be
necessary to expedite
the shipping time.) and
all costs paid prior to
shipping, (We have
Pay Pal on our site as an
added convenience. You
can use your credit card
through Pay Pal or just
make a payment. Please
remember to add 3 % if
using Pay Pal.) We can
then finalize shipping.
To ship a kitten or cat
most of the things
involved are as follows:
The weather at both the
destination and
origination has to be
between 40 degrees and
85 degrees or the
airlines will not ship
without an Acclamation
Statement from a
licensed veterinarian
that states the animal
can withstand somewhat
lower temperatures for
an hour or so.
We will book a flight
that is in agreement
with both our customer
and us. Depending on the
destination, a variety
of arrival times are
available however, late
evening or early morning
pickup may be involved.
We will try to arrange a
flight that will be an
acceptable arrival time
for our customers but
that is not always
possible. Some of this
depends on the size of
the airplane and how
many animals can be
booked on a particular
flight. If a flight is
full, and another flight
has to be booked, the
arrival time may not be
the most convenient. The
size and hours kept by
the destination airport
also add to the timing.
Some smaller airports
close their cargo area
on weekends. Be prepared
to take time off to pick
up your kitten at your
airport should the
arrival time not be
exactly what you would
like.
We will make the
veterinarian appointment
and take the kitten/cat
to the veterinarian for
the health examination
needed to obtain the
Health Certificate and
Acclamation Statement.
This will be done as
soon as possible to
allow most of the 10-day
period prior to the
shipping date as
possible
We will purchase an
appropriate airline
crate (paid by the
buyer) and deliver the
kitten/cat along with
the documentation to the
cargo area (or ticket
counter if shipping by
"counter to counter"
method) at the Airport
using the specific
airlines agreed upon by
the purchaser and
breeder
Documentation
needed:
A
health examination for a
Health Certificate and
Acclamation Statement is
required by all
airlines. This is only
good for 10 days. The
minimum age is usually
10 weeks. Also needed is
a copy of a valid rabies
certificate or a written
statement from a
veterinarian why the
animal does not have the
rabies vaccine, for
example, it is too
young.
If applicable,
quarantine arrangements
must be made and all
required government
permits ready and
available including
CITES
permits/certificates.
(International flights
only)
Crate: 
A
crate to specific IATA
(International Air
Transport Association)
guidelines is also
required by the
airlines. The crate must
be tall enough for the
animal to stand, lie
down, and turn around
in, and must be wider
and longer than the
animal. It must have
vents on at least three
sides (four sides for
International flights)
and rims around the
kennel to prevent
ventilation openings
from being blocked. It
must have a handle that
allows lifting the
animal without placing
hands inside the kennel.
Note: Handles cannot be
covered with labels,
tape, or pouches.
Vari-Kennels meet these
requirements and can be
purchased at most
airline cargo areas.
Size 100 usually is
sufficient for kittens.
Number of animals
allowed per crate is one
cat (or two kittens
under the age of 6
months old, 20 pounds or
similar size.)
The crate must be easily
accessible for the
removal of the animal.
(Nothing tied around the
door.)
The crate must also have
a food and water dish
attached inside the
door.
Marking and Labeling:
The
names, addresses, and
telephone numbers of the
shipper at origin and
consignee (purchaser) at
the destination as well
as the breed of the
animal
has to be on a label
affixed to the kennel.
Orientation labels must be affixed to at
least two sides (up
arrows) and the label
"Live Animal", with a
minimum of 1-inch high
letters, on the top and
at least one side.
Food and water
instructions posted on
the top of the kennel
including information as
to when the animal was
last offered food and
water.
Costs:
Shipping by airfreight,
which is the least
expensive, is based on
the weight and/or size
of the container
(crate). Currently,
shipping is about $250.00
for cross-country. The
kitten will be placed in
a special pressurized,
climate controlled compartment
in the plane where all
animals are kept. The
weather cannot be too
extreme for this type of
transportation because
the kitten may have a
long layover of several
hours if a plane change
is necessary.
At any time, the
airlines can increase
their charges, tariffs,
or homeland security
taxes. These figures are
based on our most recent
flights. Crates run
around $40.00. The
health examination with
the Health Certificate
and Acclamation
Statement is $48.00 at
this time.
Counter-to-counter is
another way to ship if
the weather is bad. That
means the kitten is
taken to and from the
plane by an agent. You
would be picking up your
kitten at the ticket
counter. This method may
be a bit more in cost
but the layover time for
the kitten might be a
lot less and it will be
possible to ship in bad
weather by this method.
All shipping costs are
to be paid in advance of
shipping by the
purchaser. The
airlines are
very careful with your
pets.
It may seem like a lot
to go through to ship
but remember, we make
all the arrangements and
do the work. This is for
your benefit so you are
more informed as to what
is involved.
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