Posted by
jenifa
19 yrs ago
Well my husband has had his salary request accepted, so we will be moving to HK (from UK) in October.
But what to do with my cats - I love them, but they are used to having a garden.
Has anyone else brought cats to HK? How did they cope? Did they mind the heat? What about being indoors all the time - do they adapt or do they hate it?
I just want to do what's best :(
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Kek
19 yrs ago
That's one thing I noticed in HK.No cats.Plenty of dogs but no cats.
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Kek
19 yrs ago
You don't see many birds either,come to think of it.
Gee those cats must be bored.
However,plenty of rats to keep them occupied.Be careful of what they bring home.............
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Been travling around the world for 20 years, on my second set of cats, my beloved first two lived to be 21...thet didnt care where they lived as long as they where loved and looked after.
If you do bring them you must get them on the Pet Passport system so you can take them back..its very easy to do
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Have always had cats in Hong Kong, and as I live in the New Territories they can go out as much as they like
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make sure to factor in the the cost and the procedures of shipping your cats back to the uk or wherever in your decisions
most people can easily get their cats to hk but for whatever reason (mainly costs and the quarantine period?? or convenience), they decide to leave their cats behind hong kong which is really really really sad thing for the poor creatures. if they are not able find a home here, most likely they will be put down or left in somewhere to fend on their own.
please see the classified post here and see the pet section. you will get an idea why there are many many cats and dogs needing homes...
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This is just something to consider ... I can understand that you are very attached to your cats and want to bring them with you (we only came to HK on the condition that we could bring our dog with us!), I'd say it all depends on where you are planning to live. If you are lucky enough to rent a house with a garden, then I'd say go ahead and bring them, but if it's more likely that you will be living in a flat then consider the fact that your cats will have to become 'house cats' and will no longer be able to enjoy the freedom of a garden which I presume they are used to. Yes, lots of people do have cats in HK, but usually they have had them from kittens and they know no different. Also, consider the fact that if you live several floors up with a balcony, which your cats won't be used to, there is always the worry that they may fall ... I know cats have 9 lives and all that, but the risk would be too great for me. I hope you get to bring them with you, but consider the above points carefully before you make your decision.
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kar
19 yrs ago
I brought my cat with me when I moved here 10 years ago. She mainly stayed on our boat but would wander down the dock at night. Don't think she ever actually went on land here (we live on a LONG dock). She died last Easter after a long full life.
Don't see why you shouldn't bring your cats if that's your preference. You could have a garden if you live in the New Territories.
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How long are you planning to be here?
If a short time - leave them in UK with someone you can trust till you get back - if a long time - bring them.
I regretted not bringing my dog with us - we had only planned to be here for 3 years - 12 years later we are still here- the dog has since died, and I am sad we did not have him with us for the last 7 years of her life!
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Kek
19 yrs ago
Cara-HK is a bubble! Whaddya talking about ?
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so long as you make a commitment to your cats that you will take them with you wherever your life (or destiny if you want to be dramatic) takes you at whatever costs and whatever means possible. most people say they are at the beginning but when it's time to move again... they find it more convenient to just "dump" them.
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Well thanks all - some useful things to consider. My husband's job is indefinite so we could be there forever and he'll be based in Shatin, so a village house is definitely a possibilty. The cats are 18 months old, so I would hope would be able to adapt to a the new situation quite well.
Returning with them to the UK would be the easy part - guaranteed larger property, garden and airport staff that speak english - I'm mystified as to why people would dump their cats when leaving hong kong!
One of my cats is pure white - and I heard they tended to get stolen (as they are lucky) - presumambly people wouldn't actually break in to my house/flat to steal her would they? It would just be if she was out wandering around?
Thanks
Jen
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We have two cats here and one was very much a hunter at home and very outdoor cat. We brought him to HK and got him a friend to play with (torment) and both have adapted well to HK apartment living in Midlevels. Agree that you need to factor in cost of getting them here (not cheap) and cost to get them back. Love having them here and couldn't imagine being without them.
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I know of no man who would pay for cats to be brought over and quarantined. Only a few that would pay for a dog.
Seems an awful waste of money to me as well.
All I can say is if your husband agrees to pay for it he is a star. Most men hate cats.
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Thanks G - I'll look into it. My two will be around 2 years when we move, so hopefully fairly robust.
Studio 1 - in terms of it being a waste of money I couldn't disagree with you more! But it's a joint decision between me and my husband (not his decision to pay) and he's as keen to bring them as me.
Jen
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A couple of years back, we got transferred to UK and we took our cat over. Now that we are back in HK, the cat came back with us.
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My wife is a cat lover (we have 4 - three long hairs) and the summer heat is a problem if you aren't willing to leave an aircon on for them. We recently moved into a place with a terrace which has been delightful for both our kids and cats though we certainly have safety concerns (my wife sadly lost a beloved cat when it slipped from the ledge of an open window) and you have to diligently cat proof.
One option, you might consider if you have a good home for your current cats in the UK, is adopting or fostering some cats or kittens here through the SPCA. Obviously, lots of abandonned cats need homes, but also they are frequently looking for people to raise kittens until they are old enough to adopt.
And it isn't that we men hate cats - we just identify more with dogs. ;)
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golly
19 yrs ago
As your husband will be living in Shatin, you'll have no problem at all with your cats. You should be able to get a great place there, either with a garden or a terrace, which you can fill with plants. Also some vets offer home visits. One I can recommend is Creature Comforts.
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akc
19 yrs ago
We just brought our cat from the US (california). We used Export-a-pet. She came a bit smelly, but what do you expect for a 14 hour flight + some boarding.
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Take Note from a recent poster:
"We've been quoted a total of HK$21,000 to export our small dog to Australia. What a huge shock, especially when it cost HK$7000 to bring him over. Is this really the going rate to send our pet home?"
And that could be one of the many reasons why people decide to leave their pets behind instead of bringing them along. (although the poster asked about her dog)
Your cats will adjust fine so long as they are with you wherever you are.
Are you committed to pay the price of exporting your cats to wherever whenever the time comes at whatever costs?
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