The Cost To Ship A Pet Dog Cat Or Other Animal
If you are a pet owner, sooner or later, you will need to transport your pet, either with or without you. Pet owners take vacations they relocate to new countries they rescue disadvantaged pets. In all cases, there are 2 important questions to ask: what do I need to do and what is the cost to ship my pet dog, cat or other animal?
Obviously, all pet owners would like to ship their pet the best way possible, imposing the least amount of stress on them however, cost is always an important part of the equation as transporting a pet can be quite expensive, especially internationally. Certainly, budget preparations should be made in advance.
Options to Ship a Pet Dog, Cat or Other Animal
Ground Transport
Ground transport may appear to be one of your best options for moving your pet, especially if you can accompany it however, this option may not necessarily be the best option for your pet for many reasons. Being removed from its environment can be stressful for many pets, so the length of the trip is important when considering what type of transport you use for your pet. Ground transport may accommodate shorter trips, but not all trips can be short.
Although this is not the case in all countries, the availability of bus and train transport in the US is limited, and carriers like Amtrak will only accept small cats and dogs under 20 pounds. If these forms of transportation do not serve your destination, then you need to find other options when you disembark.
In-cabin cost
Diy Vs Hiring Professionals
While some people choose to handle their pet moves on their own, many pet owners eventually decide that theyd rather have a service organize it all. Managing the costs and logistics of a pet move can be complicated and stressful, which is why hiring an all-in-one service brings relief to most. It is more expensive to hire a pet shipping professional to arrange your pet’s move, but since the pet pro’s will be managing your cats move you have one less thing to worry about!
Pack Food Water Comfort Items And Litter Within Easy Reach
Its finally time to hit the road! Before you take the parking break off, do a last check. Do you have:
- Food dish and pet food?
- Can opener ?
- Water dish and a gallon of water?
- Comfort items, such as blanket and toys?
- Litter and litter box?
Pack these items securely within easy reach. Pro tip: Pack everything in a clear tub, placed on top of your other positions, secured with a seatbelt or wedged in place. That way, you can just grab it when you get to the hotel.
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Great How To Ship One Piece Of Furniture To Another State Secretlab
When the furniture arrives it is best to have a clear path to its new location. You would list it say a month or so before and compa. How to ship one piece of furniture to another state.
How To Ship One Piece Of Furniture To Another State, Often transporting furniture pieces as LTL Less-Than-Truckload freight is the cheapest option. A shipping company can create a custom pallet for a single piece of furniture like a dresser to make sure it arrives. Depending on the piece you have some very cost-effective options when moving furniture to another state. The most convenient way to ship your larger belongings or an entire home to another state is to choose a full-service company to move things for you.
Shipping Furniture Made Easy Uship Furniture Shipping Services From uship.com
The cheapest way to move furniture across country is to 1 take only the pieces you really cant do without 2 sell the pieces that still have market value and 3 hire affordable furniture movers. Cheapest Way to Ship Furniture to Another State. Shipping furniture locally costs 75 to 250 while the average cost to ship furniture state to state or across the country ranges from 300 to 600. Shipping One Piece of Furniture with White Glove or In-Home Delivery.
The Costs Associated With Moving Overseas With Cats
Moving overseas can be such an exciting time whether you are moving to Australia to paddleboard in pristine oceans or headed to England to spend your weekends exploring historic towns. It can also be quite stressful, and we know how much organizing and planning that comes along with it!
It becomes even more complicated if you have a furry friend or two that you need to bring with you. There are many moving pieces and different costs involved when it comes to flying a cat internationally. It can be very overwhelming when trying to research, especially as the costs and regulations can vary significantly between countries. Whilst it is difficult to generalize anything regarding pet travel, we hope this cost breakdown can provide you with a bit of insight into the type of things you may have to consider when moving overseas with cats.
Please note that each destination and your own unique travel circumstances and needs will vary significantly from one person to the next. This should simply give you a general idea of some of the most common costs involved when flying a cat internationally.
If you would like a customized travel itinerary and quotation you can contact one of our pet travel consultants.
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Final Thoughts: The Cheapest Way To Ship A Cat + How Much It Costs
There it is! Remember, we personally think the cheapest way to ship a cat is by utilizing a trusted airlines cargo department. Avoid using a pet relocation service if you really want to keep fees low and affordable.
Thanks for reading everyone, we wish you safe travels with your feline friend!
Please dont hesitate to leave a comment and ask us any questions.
Article last updated:
Personalized Pet Shipping Services
Based out of Arizona, Happy Tails Travel is an experienced pet relocation company. Happy Tails Travel has been safely shipping pets since 1995. We specialize in summer pet travel, even from the hottest states such as Arizona, Texas, Hawaii and Florida, during the hottest months.
- Personal & Friendly Service since 1995
- Professional Pet Transport & Pet Relocation by Air
- Professional Pet Transport by Ground Safe & Sound
- Customized Pet Travel Counseling from Start to Finish
- Pet Rescue & Pet Delivery Services & Arrangements
- Domestic & International Pet Transportation Service
- Door to Door Airport Transportation to/from Major Airports
- No Surprises! Our Pet Shipping Costs are Clearly Listed
- We Offer Military Discounts & Multiple Pet Discounts
- 100% Pet Travel Safety Shipping Animals Since 1995
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Shipping Your Pet By Air
If your pet is not a dog or a cat, call your airline company and check if he is on the list of Accepted Live Animals and will be allowed to be shipped. If yes, then make a reservation for your pal as soon as possible, regardless of whether he will be making the flight with you or by himself. Some airline companies permit a limited number of small pets to fly in the cabin with you, so be sure to ask if you qualify for that advantageous service.
Having already acquired the necessary health certificate and obtained the right shipping container, youre required to feed and water your animal friend no more than 4 hours before you reach the airport. And once youre there , check in your pet at the baggage counter if hes riding with you in the plane cabin or head to the air freight office if hell be traveling as cargo.
Shipping Your Pet By Rail
Shipping live animals by train is not really an option for you because Amtrak does not allow pets onboard its trains , in the passenger areas of its train stations or in checked baggage.
Thus said, Amtrak does have a new pilot program that has been sponsored by the state of Illinois where passengers can now take their small dogs or cats onboard select trains.
Learn more about the Amtrak pilot program here.
Do you have any experience shipping animals to another state? Would you like to share some useful tips in the comment box below? Thanks!
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What Our Customers Are Saying
I so appreciate Royal Paws and Liana and Robert! From the careful preparations before the trip to the terrific communication during the trip, I was absolutely confident that my precious dog Gracie and my sweet cat George were in excellent hands. Liana stayed in close contact with me and asked clarifying questions to make sure that the kids had the treats and foods and meds that they needed. I must have received 30 photos, and my babies looked so very happy. When everybody arrived at my house after the trip, I could see that my critters adored both Liana and Robert Gracie even stood at the door and watched as they drove away. Liana and Robert even gave them both welcome home presents, and Gracies favorite toy is the plush goose they gave her. George loves his catnip mouse, too. My babies are my heart, and I never had to worry for even the tiniest moment. Thank you for the loving care, Liana and Robert and Royal Paws!Julie
I just want to thank Harold and David for taking such excellent care of my little Keila where she was headed for her forever home in VA! Thank you especially for the hugs that you knew we needed before you left! Thanks for taking all my phone calls during the trip and most importantly for making Keila feel comfortable about going, she was a bit scared at first and you made the whole thing easy! I love the picture!Bettty W 1 Dog FL-VA
Dont Just Take Our Word For It Here Is Some Insight From Other Pet Owners Who Are Happy They Sought Petrelocations Assistance With Their Cats Travels:
The first time I was trying to figure out how to move Charlie and Chloe by myself and then I found you and everything fell into place so seamlessly.Read More
We made the decision to use a pet relocation agency very late in our travel planning process due to misinformation from the airline. With literally 10 days to accomplish the task of moving our cat, Cosmo, Jon and Julia were amazing!Read More
Moving countries is no easy feat, let alone if you have other precious goods to relocate. But after working with PetRelocation, and specifically Maegan and Linda, I couldnt have been more impressed nor comforted with the entire process.Read More
We contacted PetRelo in February and they guided us through the whole process. Our biggest concern is the safety for our pets, and later we realized the pets actually had a much much smoother flight than we did!Read More
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Choose Between Open And Enclosed Auto Transport
When you hre a car shipping servce, you will need to choose between two types of auto transport: the open car carrer and enclosed one. If you have a very expensive or vintage vehicle, then an enclosed car carrer is the best way to ship your luxury car. Open car carrier will leave your vehicle exposed to harsh weather conditions, road debrs, elements, theft, and damage from beng open to anyone. When you hre an enclosed car carrier, your car wll be held in place by nylon straps or wheel nuts to help ensure there is no damage. When you choose an open car carrr, your car will be held in place using chains which is not good for the automobile. So, dont forget to ask the auto transport servce whch way they plan to transport your vehle. If you are looking for the best rate and you dont need maximum protection for your car, then an open car carrer is the best opton for you to sh your vehicle. If you are plannng to make a long-distance move, it would probably make more sense to pay the extra cash to ensure that your car s more secure.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship My Cat
The cost to transport a cat depends on the distance and the needs of your pet. On average, it costs $1.54 per mile to ship your cat less than 100 miles, but costs $0.42 per mile to transport your cat less than 1000 miles.
Take a look at our cost-to-ship pets page. There, you can view cat transport transactions completed through the uShip marketplace and get familiar with the whole process. Keep in mind, costs will adjust if shipping a cat internationally.
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Best Communication: Air Animal
It can be unnerving when your pet is traveling separately from you. Air Animal is known for its frequent updates and customer service, so you can monitor your furry friend from the moment they leave your arms to when they arrive back safe and sound.
Founded in 1977 by a veterinarian, Air Animal will transport most domesticated animals. Its customer-friendly website offers many videos and tutorials to help prepare you and your pet for the big trip.
Domestically, Air Animal offers various transportation levels ranging from the most basic book and fly option to the VIP option. The basic travel package includes a concierge to book and coordinate a move on an airline, and pricing starts at about $1,140. The most extensive packagethe VIPincludes pickup and drop-off from your home to a commercial airline and extensive health reviews. This package starts at approximately $2,815.
International pet travel plans start at roughly $1,495 for the basic travel option and reach about $8,895 for the VIP package. When your pet is traveling, you will receive constant updates alerting you to their progress, helping put your mind at ease until you are reunited again.
Keep Your Kitty Safe And Comfortable During The Trip
Place the crate somewhere flat with plenty of ventilation, either in the front or back. Make sure you can access the door of the carrier to get your cat out at stops. We also suggest placing the carrier so they can see you out of an opening.
If the car is packed to the brim, make sure nothing is within reach. Plants or chemicals can be dangerous, cords and strings can pose strangulation risks, and small items can be choking hazards. During the drive, keep the radio volume low, avoid slamming doors, and make sure theres a vent pointing at your cat for airflow. If they seem highly stressed, consider covering the crate with a towel or blanket since darkness can be soothing for some pets.
Give them plenty of water at each stop, and if they arent drinking well, use wet food to sneak in more water or try running a faucet since they may prefer to sip from running water. Feed a minimal breakfast and wait until you arrive somewhere for the night for the second feeding to minimize motion sickness.
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How To Ship A Cat
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 172,399 times.
Your cat is part of the family. If you decide you need to ship your cat, it’s a scary prospect. However, you do have options available to you. Mainly, you can ship through the airlines or through private pet shipping services.
Practice Going On Car Rides
Once your cat is used to the crate, put him inside and go on short drives using the crate or carrier. Begin by going just a few minutes around the block, slowly increasing the duration. You can also practice walking them at different stops to work on getting in and out of the crate in new locations.
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Is A Shoe Box Appropriate For Shipping Items
Yes! A shoebox is actually a pretty solid option to consider if you want to send something that is that size. Its one of the cheapest ways to ship boxes to another state because it allows you to use a box you already have and it, typically, doesnt hold more than a few pounds.
If you want to take advantage of Priority Mail or Flat Rate pricing from the post office, there is also a shoebox-sized box that is typically meant for shipping shoes, but you can put anything in there that would fit in your typical shoebox.
This is a Medium Flat Rate Box and, as of the time this was written, the box costs just under $13 to ship anywhere in the United States.
There are a lot of options that you may want to consider when looking for the cheapest way to ship boxes to another state, and as you explore what may be available, you want to be sure that you find the solutions that make the most sense for you and your needs.
See whats out there, compare prices and ideas, and see how you may want to proceed when it comes to accomplishing your goals and getting your move completed as seamlessly as possible.
Cost Saving Tip
The truth is that your cheapest options could be FedEx or UPS if the package you are sending doesnt exceed 2 and 5 lbs because they handle dimensions, and not weight. Small shipments like that can fit in smaller boxes and, thus, cost you between $12 and $25, based on the size of the box you place the packages.