Cat Travels To London By Air

Press, Volume C, Issue 29684, 30 November 1961, Page 7

Cat Travels To London By Air

A cat travelling incognito left Christchurch airport by Qantas Electra at 6 p.m. yesterday bound for London, via Auckland, Nandi. Honolulu, and the United States. The fare was £lB—calculated on the weight of the cat and its cage—and the flight will take 48 hours. The cat’s name has not been disclosed because Qantas respects the privacy of its animal passengers, but it comes from South Canterbury and is a grey with a white face. About the only thing the cat did not have to do before leaving the country was obtain a taxation clearance, certificate. Before it could go overseas it had to have a permit to land in the

United Kingdom, an authority for transit through Fiji (both issued by the Department of Agriculture), a certificate of health from a veterinarian, proof of immunisation against rabies, another health certificate signed by a Government veterinarian, and written feeding instructions for the trip. Food for the journey has to be provided by the person who sends the animal on the flight. Qantas takes this sort of thing quite calmly. Between them Qantas and T.E.A.L. have carried at least half a dozen cats and dogs out of Christ church this year, and T.EA.L. remembers having sent tuatara lizards, bees and even sheep at different times.