One day while scrolling through TikTok I saw a cute breed of cat it was the blue-eyed Ragdoll, it was love at first sight. Imagine owning a cloud with blue eyes. It hit my emotions and I was hooked instantly.
I really wanted the cat. I had to do all it took to get hold of a kitten. The easy part was getting in touch with the one with kittens but the hard part was how to get hold of the cat because it was in the USA.
The research
I started searching the internet to find out how best and easily I can get the cat imported to Uganda. Finding a breeder in the USA wasn’t hard, just a couple of messages , a few photos and there was a cat for me.
Reality hit when the breeder asked for my zip code assuming I was in the USA. I was in Uganda, and am sure things didn’t work the same for shipping and getting the cat here.
I went into the rabbit hole to find out how things work. The search for answers began. At first things were all confusing , different websites said different things. Some made it sound so simple, others made it look like I was going to import a dragon with a lot of processes.
The first discovery was Uganda doesn’t just allow import of an animal like how you would get bluetooth speakers off AliExpress.
You need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture , provide all the details regarding the health, breed and origin of the cat and then wait for approval.
Health of the Cat
Vaccinations were one of the most crucial sections of the cat in regards to its health. The rabies vaccine is the most crucial vaccine. It had to be administered at least 30 days before travel. For the vaccination to be valid it should be accompanied by a valid certificate showing details like vaccine type, batch number, and vet’s signature.
Other vaccines that were not so much emphasized on were Feline panleukopenia ,Feline herpesvirus and Feline calicivirus. I got them because I wanted to be on a safe side just in case and of course to provide protection to my best friend.
Parasite treatment.
The big step of getting all verified for travel was having a parasite treatment. The kitten had to be treated for intestinal works and external parasites like ticks and fleas.
These details are recorded and play a major role when a vet has to declare a cat fit for travel.
The Health stamp.
The breeder had to take the kitten to a licensed veterinary for a veterinary health certificate. This was the final step to show that the kitten was healthy, properly vaccinated , free from contagious diseases and of course safe to travel.
This step had to be done 7- 10 days before travel. Too early and the process becomes invalid yet too late posed a risk of missing the flight.
The Microchip.
No matter how optional this was, to me it was the most important step to getting my cat straight to me with proof of ownership and show of its identity.
The microchip links the cat to all its documents , helps confirm details at checkpoints (even the owner’s details) and makes things a lot smoother.
The airline and travel.
The cat is fit for travel but how was it supposed to travel? On my research each airline has its own rules but generally,
- An approved travel crate is a must. A plastic crate is preferable since they provide a thick armor around the cat. Size should be put into consideration as it has to offer some space for the cat to be free and not tucked in like clothes in a suitcase remember this is a living thing.
- Whether the cat travels in the cabin or cargo. In cargo it travels along with luggage and its lonely down there. The cabin feels safe but comes with a higher expense compared to the cargo. Some airlines don’t have this option and only provide cargo transportation.
In your preparations, make sure the flight chosen is short and most preferably a direct flight. The longer the journey , the more risks of getting the cat too tired , lonely and the worse that might occur.
The Arrival.
After all the coordination , health checks and waiting, the day finally came. I was there hours early and I had to do the waiting, not the other way round to keep my cat waiting.
At the airport ,the import permit , Health certificate and vaccination records were all checked.
Since everything checked the criterias needed to bring a cat to Uganda, no quarantine , no hidden paperwork or drama, just a ragdoll with bright blue eyes awaited my love.
When I look back, scrolling through TikTok , laying eyes on a very cute cat and a lot of international coordination to get a cat to Uganda. I would say the experience was great.
The only thing that made things complicated was trying to do things on my own without seeking help from a certified vet in Uganda to guide me through the process.
