Dog and cat worries

[Tracey T]

We are transporting our dog and cat over as can't bear to leave them behind. But now I'm getting worried what the chances are that they might get bitten or eaten by a snake or spider. Our cat is about 17 and quite small worried she could be eaten. Our dog is only 2 and just wants to play with everything.

Any help would be great to try and put my mind at rest.

[verystormy]

Lots of people have cats and dogs here and the vast majority never suffer anything of the sort. There are a couple of rules for the dog - and you. Don't walk through long grass, particularly in summer. Don't go through the dunes or let the dog run into the dunes.

 

Most areas are effectively snake free - particularly in built up areas. We are in a semi rural / beach area and so do have them and have a little chihuahua - see my avatar - but we just follow the basic rules.

 

Remember, snakes are very timid and will move away when they hear or see you coming.

 

Just try to remember that there will be all those long beaches to play on with the dog - I will be off with mine in half an hour. And this is def a cat place - it's their perfect weather

[Nic964]

We've been here in Perth for over 18 months, live on an 800m2 plot with trees etc, and our sum total of snakes and deadly spiders is ZERO. We have four cats here (all adopted locals) including a kitten that lived in the garden since birth, and none have been hurt by snakes / spiders.

 

Unless your going to live in a more rural environment no one here even considers it to be an issue.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Best of luck

 

Nick

[Tracey T]

Thanks for your help Stormy and Nic.

just hope my cat makes the journey ok due to her age my vet thinks I'm mad in the head taking a 17 yr old cat but she my baby and no one else would put up with her lol. Fingers crossed she makes it ok as she will just love the good weather and will spend the rest of her years sun bathing :-)

[ali]

We brought an elderly cat, we had her checked by the vet who said she was healthy and no problems bringing her over - she was 21 when she passed away. We had the same worries, but she was fine with the travel and being here. We are so glad we brought her .. as my hubby said, she was family and we'd had her longer than the children.

[Tracey T]

Oh Ali that is very reassuring hope my wee cat reaches such a great age :-)

[nicolac34]

I had the same worries bringing over my cat so you're not alone! I did some googling though and spiders can't bite through the fur (well massive ones might... but not the smaller ones) so that made me feel better. As for snakes, well I haven't seen any in my garden and I'm quite sure my cat would have found it if we did. We kept the cat in for around 3 months due to paranoia she was going to step outside and suffer a horrible death - but in the end we let her out and she's happy as larry being here! The journey didn't effect her at all - although she's a well traveled cat, we moved house at least 5 times in the UK and she always went into a cattery when we went on holiday so she was used to it. My parents cat has been here about 2 months now and it's still a bit skittish and scared (which mum said she wasn't before) but then she's 8 years old and had never been in a cattery or moved house.

 

Although having said that she's probably less than impressed about living with us and our cat whilst the parents travel the country. All our cat does is hiss and growl at her - hardly the welcoming committee!

[Tracey T]

Thanks for your help everyone. They are both going through the process and all being well will be flying beginning of July. Just a shame they have to go to Melbourne for 10 day quarantine as Perth has now closed. Can't wait til we are picking them up at Perth airport and taking them home. Have to stop wishing my life away!!!!