My cat ate my sonic screwdriver!

Yes, it's true. 
 My sister gave me a little figurine of Doctor who (Tennant) after a visit to England. I got it last week and it was featured in the previous blog post as a picture-series at the end.

Unfortunately this was obviously not the only thing he had been eating that night. First I noticed that the Doctor was missing his sonic screwdriver, which had been there the evening before. Yes, it's tiny, but Amadeus had obviously found it quite intriguing after the first encounter and eaten that tasty little screwdriver.

I don't think the Doctor liked the taste either.....

To everyone out there, who have always wanted to have a nibble on a sonic screwdriver, (or let your cat have a sonic snack) : Don't!

It will be very expensive, let me tell you all about it..

The next day he threw up several times. I thought it wasn't anything serious and just made sure that he got enough water to drink. But when he continued that night (even threw up in my bed while we were about to fall asleep), and into the next day, I decided to go to the veterinarian. Amadeus threw up so violently that he hit his poor little snout on the bathroom floor every time he was at it. (And that was after he had used my carpet and couch as a "bucket" several times.)

Luckily Amadeus didn't explode! ;)

He was very exhausted and not himself when we arrived the vet and they made sure he was given liquids and put him in a incubator to make sure he was warm enough. I had to wait at my parent's house from 14-21 before I could get him back and know exactly what it was. The vet had to open him up and search for the problem after the x-ray showed that something was wrong. She hadn't found the culprit, but I am certain that some of the things he threw up before we went to the vet, had been the troublemakers. A piece of silverpaper that he threw up in the bathroom and a small sonic screwdriver that was found in a small puddle on my carpet.

In the end I am just so grateful that everything went fine and I have my Amadeus back! He is acting all pathetic and repulsingly cute in his little patient-habit. He walks like two humans in a cat-suit. The front human walks with quick, small steps, while the human at the back of the cat-suit walks with long, slow steps.

Oh Amadeus, I am so happy that you have insurance because that operation was expensive! (I'm sure we could have bought a real sonic screwdriver for that money. One you couldn't have eaten because it would be large, awesome and Doctor-worthy!)


Dear Santa, this year we want a sonic screwdriver for Christmas! Because the owner is too poor to buy one herself now.

Yummy....does that taste good?

Amadeus in his little "sweater"

Being tired and post-operation

Look! I'm a Dachshund-kitten! (Shooort legs ;) 

Sonic screwdrivers hurt in belly....

FAQ (Traveling with cats)

For you readers out there trying to find a short list as inspiration/starting-help for your first travel with your darling feline friends, I write this post after having experienced our first travel (and stay) together. 


I will try to make this list as clear and thorough as possible, listing experience and some things to consider! I have written a post about my first experience: (Click here for the story.)


Things to consider before traveling


1a) Do my cat really need to come with me? 
If you are going on a short holiday (1-2 weeks and especially if you need to go by airplane), I would suggest that you leave your cat at home. To travel might be very stressful for your cat and not all manages well to be taken out of their usual environments/territories. So 1-2 weeks might not give them time to settle before they need to move again. 


1b) I decided not to bring them, so what are my options?
If you decide to leave the darlings at home you might have several options:


*The cats stay at home like usual: You get your amazing friends or family to look after them.
*The cats stay at home like usual: You hire a "catsitter" who come by and make sure the cats are ok.
*You leave the cats at a boarding cattery. (The most expensive)
*You board the cats at a veterinary office (The cages look small and might not be great for longer stays!)


Do an internet-search for the possibilities around your home. In Oslo for example, you can hire catsitters on Sentrum Pass. 


1b) I decide to bring them, what should I think about?
Depends on where you are going, and how! Here are some things to think about:

*Are you going abroad? Then you need to get a cat-passport. You'll need to start a rabies-vaccine regime at least 6 months before you travel. So start with that as soon as possible, talk with your vet. (If your cat passes the blood-test taken after the 120 days, you'll need to make sure your cat get a shot against rabies every year. If you forget, you will have to start it all over again.....) You will also need to check with the country you travel to, what other rules they have for bringing cats into their country. (Ticks, worm-treatments, etc.)


*Are you staying at a hotel? You'll have to find a hotel who permit guests to bring cats! Make sure they know about this before arriving. (Write an email or phone them to make sure it will not be a problem). I had to pay about 35£ (400 NOK) extra for cleaning of the room after I left, which I knew of before arriving. (Also had an agreement that I would pay for any damages made.) I have seen that many hotels mentions if they allow animals or not on their website (or on sites like: hotel.com etc), but please contact them anyway!


*How will you travel, and what about carriers? There are some differences on how you choose to travel, but if you go by air there is in theory only vari-kennel who are the universally accepted carrier on all airlines. You might get accepted with another type of carrier at some airports, but then again you might very well be denied on others. So be certain you have a correct one! If you go by car you can see what type of carrier your cat likes, (to have full view, or to hide in a little "cave", etc). If by car it can be any brand of carrier. But DON'T put them in a cardbox with holes, you might get a nasty surprise when your cat bounces around in your car, pooping all over after having clawed his way through the box like it was butter! 


Watch this nice video about bringing pets on your vacation: (and explanation on rabies-vaccinations etc).



*It costs extra to bring pets! The airlines charges differently, but there is most definite a fee. So take that into consideration. (In Norway, Widerø is the cheapest airline).


------------------------


Things to bring: 

- Litterbox
- Some litterpearl
- Favourite toys
- Feliway
- Nail scissors (to minimize damage they could do)
- Small scratching post (my cats loved their travel-sized one)

- Ear cleaner + cottonpads. (At least if you have Sphynx & Devon Rex ;)
- A few days rations of catfood (then buy more when you get there)
- Vari-kennel crate for transport (or a Sherpa-bag if you get your cat in the cabin).
- Drinking bowl
- Food bowl
- Floor protector


Other things I would recommend: 


- If you travel by air; MARK the carrier with your name and telephone number! (When the airline lost track of my Amadeus this was essential! Read about the experience here!)


- Bring Feliway! (To spray in the carriers before leaving, and spray several places in the hotelroom to make them feel safer! It doesn't smell anything for our human noses.)


- If your cat likes to play with water (like my Christa) put the drinking bowl in the shower to save the floor ;)


- At the airport: Get there early to prevent your cat (and you!) from getting more stressed than necessary. For example: If you are to bring a cat inside the cabin you will need to go through security with it. This means that you will have to send your normal stuff through the x-ray, then the soft-sided carrier and then you will have to carry your cat through the metal-detectors.


Do you have any questions or other advice I could add?
Please feel free to comment :D


Bon Voyage!
Safe Journey!
-----


Some links on cat-traveling
Cat Health (How to travel)

The Cat-site 

For the love of cats 

Travel with cat from USA to Europe 

Pet Carriers (all types) 

Cat-world 

Know your cat 

Traveling with cats (+ passports)

In September I will get to travel with the cats (with airplane) for the first time! It is both scary and exciting. I am going to sing "The Magic Flute" (Mozart) in another city and will be gone from home for one month. I therefor want to bring the operacats along. 


This is what I have all ready arranged: 

Amadeus in his Sherpa bag

Airplane
I was early in touch with the airline to arrange for both my cats to travel with me. I travel with wideroe and they were very helpful and positive. I have to have one in a carrier to check in, and one in a sherpa bag to bring with me inside the plane. (These, I have been told, were the first soft-sided carriers to be allowed by the airlines. See the link).
Here I will bring Christa in the sherpa bag, (because she is the most scared of noises. Like the vacuumcleaner). And Amadeus which are not scared of much will go in the carrier in the belly of the plane.
I have read that you shouldn't feed the cats 24 hours before leaving and not bringing water inside the carrier. (Because it get's messy). Luckily it isn't a long journey. 



I will also put their usual blankets inside the carrier so it smells like home and feels at least a bit safer.



Hotel
Bringing cats to a hotel. 
We are staying in an hotel during the rehearsals and performances. (Sept-Oct).
I have been in touch with the hotel asking them about bringing my cats. The hotel have been very kind and helpful! 
I only have to pay if there are extra cleaning, (+ any damages; thank God they are really good not to scratch stuff), and the extra thorough cleaning after we leave. Obviously I will clean the bathroom everyday (myself) anyway.


What to bring: 
1. I will bring a small litterbox (the same they use at home, so it is familiar and handy).

2. Litterpearls (look like crystals). They are very light and absorbs smell brilliantly. (I am planning to bring just a little, then buy a small bag of it when we arrive). 

3. Small (corner) scratchpost. (I have seen these in the shops. They are easy to bring and good to have so the cat can scratch, and not use any furniture).  


4. Some of their blankets (which have their smell on it and are familiar). 


5. Carrier and sherpabag (for the plane). This will also work like small (safe) caves for them in the hotelroom.

6. Food. Obviously bring some of their usual type. (Royal Canine, Sensible 33. For the sensitive cat). And something to have food and drink in. 



Next year, traveling abroad


I will have to bring the cats with me to the Netherlands next year, when I sing in "The Marriage of Figaro" on tour there. I have all ready started the process to get passports for the cats. 

The operacat's passports

This means that I have had to start with the "rabies-routine". 
That is to give both cats a shot of "rabisin", to make them immune to rabies. If not you cannot bring your animal outside Norway. (Except Sweden). 
Then you need to wait 170 days to take a bloodsample to see if it worked, if not you obviously cannot leave. If it works we can travel 6 months after that. 


I have checked with Amadeus, and he is free to travel!
I am still waiting for Christa's bloodsamples to be taken.

Every country have different rules though (especially Great Britain are very strict).
One has to check with the government of the country one wish to travel to. (Usually something online). This is because besides rabies vaccine, one usually have to give the cats extra things, like shots against worm-infections etc. 

In our cardbox on the fridge

You have to make sure to give a "top up" on the rabies vaccine. Every year. If not it doesn't count and you have to start all over again. All vaccines are then registered in the passport, not the usual vaccine-card.  



I hope that everything will go smoothly and that the cats and me will have a great adventure! =)