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Current Location

Millions of people use Shiply

How Do I Prepare to Move My Cat?

When you want to take your feline friend abroad or even down the road, the least of your troubles might be finding a reliable pet courier. If you’re one of the lucky people with a calm, docile kitty then you might not know the trouble that can be had transporting a cat.

Cats can be notoriously uncooperative when it comes to lots of things, let alone stuffing them in a box – let’s face it, cats do what they want when they want to.

Whether you’re taking your cat to the vet or hiring a pet taxi, we’ve prepared some tips on how to properly prepare/trick/coax your cat when it needs to be transported.

The proper cat transport carrier: Obviously your furry friends shouldn’t be given the run of the car when it’s being transported. The proper carry case is required, however, bigger is not always better. Your cat should fit snugly in the box, with enough room to turn around – too big and the cat will feel more insecure.

Introduce your cat to the idea of transport: Try to make sure that the first time your cat is going travelling it’s not an important trip. Let your cat explore the carrier naturally, place it’s food and water inside it for a few days so it’s familiar with being inside it.

Secure the carrier: Use the car’s seatbelt to secure the kennel on the seat (putting the case on the floor may distress your pet).

Avoid feeding your cat: Prior to transportation, don’t feed your feline for a few hours; cats travel better on an empty stomach.

Relax your cat: Give your animal some attention before trying to put it in the carrier, stroking it and trying to make it relaxed rather than excited will make transportation easier.

International Cat Transport

If you’re getting a pet imported or need to transport your cat overseas then things are a bit more complicated. You will need to organise the following:

Microchip: When moving your cat abroad it will need an ISO regulation microchip.

Vaccination: To prevent the spread of rabies, cats must be immunised against rabies, When entering the UK for the first time a cat must wait 3 weeks from the last vaccination it had.

Documentation When your cat is going abroad it will need a valid pet passport. If you’re buying a rare breed then you might want to ask for documented proof too.

Pet cat ready to be transported

Finding the Right Cat Courier

When you’re unable to transport your cat personally, you might want to employ the services of a professional cat moving company. These services are well versed in transporting all sorts of animals so you can be sure that your cat will be in safe hands.

When you come to compare cat transport companies there are three key things to consider:

- Make sure that they are DEFRA licensed
- Do they have adequate animal transportation insurance?
- Are they recognised and experienced with cats of a similar temperament?

Transporters can range from basic pet taxis to full services that provide extensive pet care. Additional care that a cat moving firm might supply includes:

Provide a carrier: If you don’t have your own box, then couriers can provide their own. This may cost extra, however.

Arrange quarantine/holding: On the chance that your pet does need to be quarantined when travelling between countries, pet taxis can usually arrange this for you.

Multiple leg journeys: if your cat needs to make a journey that entails multiple changes then the courier can often arrange these too.

Grooming and feed: If travelling a long distance your cat might get restless, this is why some pet transporters offer extra pet care like providing treats.

The greater the level of service you wish for your cat, the more you can expect to pay. If you’re importing an expensive rare breed cat then you may wish to opt for a luxury service, whereas if you are only transporting a pet a small distance then a simple A-B courier might suffice.

Final Feline Checks

When you have an idea when and where your cat will be travelling you need to find a cat collection service able to fulfil your requirements. Comparing different transporters can be tiresome and difficult. Hiring a pet courier can also cost a fair amount, so it’s in your best interest to get a number of quotes.

With Shiply, the transporters come to you. List your cat move with us and registered transporters will be able to offer you pet travel quotes for cat collection.

You can compare the prices the different cat collection firms offer, as well as reviews they have received from other deliveries they have made on Shiply.

Then you can just accept your preferred transporter and get your cat moving as soon as possible.

Collecting Your Cat

If your feline is arriving at its destination before you will, then you (or the transporter) will need to arrange a place for it to stay. Otherwise, you can arrange for another dedicated party to pick up your pet (but make sure you OK this with the courier beforehand).

Make sure that your pet is happy and in the same condition as when it left, if it was on a long journey check that it hasn’t lost weight and that it seems happy. Bear in mind that many cats won’t give the same large reaction to being reunited with you as a dog will. 

If your cat is moving into a new house, don’t let it out for a while. Giving your pet a chance to get used to its new home is imperative to ensure that it doesn’t end up running away.

When you and your cat are happily united we’d appreciate your feedback on Shiply. Pet transporter reviews help our users find reliable services to use, and helps the drivers provide a better service in the future.

Millions of people use Shiply

Fast and Easy

Fast and Easy

Complete one simple form and quotes come to you via email. Hassle-free, no phone calls required.

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Trustworthy

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Great Prices

Great Prices

As Shiply's delivery companies are already making similar trips, quotes are up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.

Helpful

Helpful

Need assistance? Email or call us. We are here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shiply Cover My Area?

Yes! There are couriers using Shiply all over the country and abroad, so whether you need to move a sofa across town or send a car across Europe, we have got you covered.

Does Shiply Have Different Sized Vehicles?

There are thousands of couriers on Shiply, with a wide range of vehicle sizes capable of handling any delivery. Providing the rough dimensions (and pictures if possible) on your listing will allow the delivery company to get the right vehicle sent out to you.

Can I Call Shiply?

Shiply Support is available from 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday on 020 3137 2454. You can also send an email to .

Who Will Carry Out My Delivery?

Whoever you choose! There are thousands of rated transport providers on our platform ready to make a bid to carry out your delivery. It is up to you to decide which quote to accept.

When Will I Receive A Quote?

You will typically start to receive quotes within 30 minutes. If you are worried about the lack of quotes, try adding some more detail to your listing as transport providers may be unsure of dimensions or weight and feel unable to provide an accurate quote. If your delivery is urgent, you can try our 'featured delivery' feature which moves your listing to the top of the search page for couriers.

How Many Quotes Will I Receive?

Whilst there is no guarantee of quotes, 98% of our listings receive at least 3 quotes, so you are likely to find someone who can undertake the delivery of your items.

Does Shiply Provide Packing Materials?

If your item requires packing materials or extra care then you should make sure this is highlighted in your listing and discussed with any transport provider whose quote you are considering. Couriers on Shiply are able to provide all levels of service and can help pack your items, just ensure you inform them of your needs.

Will My Goods Be Tied Up Securely?

Transport providers will almost always tie up an item in the transport vehicle, as the risk of damage from moving around during transit is high. You should always confirm safety precautions and packing needs with transport providers before accepting a quote.

Can Items Be Taken Upstairs?

Yes, items can be taken upstairs if needed, and can also be assembled. Transport providers on Shiply are happy to provide these services, but you should ensure that you are mentioning these requirements in your listings as it may mean a second person is required for the move.

Can I Travel With My Goods?

The majority of transport providers on Shiply are only insured for the transportation of goods, however, some are also able to take people. If you need to travel with your goods, make sure to mention this in your listing and highlight this to any courier who quotes on your listing.

What If I Need To Cancel My Booking?

If you have accepted a quote and paid the deposit but wish to cancel the delivery, then you should first inform your chosen transport provider that you no longer require the delivery. You should then contact us at to have your deposit refunded.

Can I Change The Address Of The Delivery?

If you have not yet accepted a quote then you are able to change the address of your listing. Note that editing details of your listing after publishing will result in active quotes being voided, so you will have to wait for new quotes to come in. If you have already accepted a quote and need to change the address, please let your transport provider know and contact us at .

How Shiply works

How Shiply Works

How Shiply Works

  • 1

    Request quotes from our 422,879 rated transport providers.

  • 2

    Compare prices and read previous customer feedback to pick the right delivery quote for you.

  • 3

    Sit back and relax while your item is safely delivered by your chosen transport provider.

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By utilising spare capacity of vehicles running on the road, Shiply helps reduce the number of otherwise wasteful journeys needed to transport the item.

2 8 2 8 4 4 7 0 1 Kg/CO2 Saved

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