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Breeding stunning Maine Coon Cats for health, temperament, and joy
Flight Options to Get Your Kitten Home
If you are not within driving distance to us, you have the option to fly your kitten. You can 2 different options for this...you can fly the kitten yourself, or you can have one of our pet nannies fly your kitten to you.
*Kittens will only fly in-cabin, never cargo.
Our Pet Nanny Services
Kittens will be flown, in cabin, with one of our pet nannies. These nannies are trusted, personal friends and family members. The day your kitten leaves with one of our pet nannies is the same day your kitten will be delivered to you.
We will book all travel arrangements with the pet nanny who is delivering your kitten. We will do our best to choose the most convenient and cost effective date and time for everyone, but the needs of the kitten and pet nanny will be our first priority. Once the travel is booked, you will be billed for the cost of the airfare and airline approved carrier for your kitten (that you will keep). You can find a sample and explanation of the cost breakdown below.
On travel day, the pet nanny will fly from our closest airport to the airport of your choosing with your kitten. You will then meet the nanny at the airport and get your kitten. You will be sent information on the pet nanny before the flight, including a picture of her. When you meet the nanny at the airport, you will be required to show her proof of ID before the kitten will be turned over to you. You will also give the nanny $300 in cash as payment for her services.
According to our calculations, the total cost of travel through us could be between $850-$1,200, depending on the cost of airfare. There are no added fees and New Mercies Maine Coon Cattery does not make any money on travel. We are simply trying to offer our families the best, most cost effective option for getting their baby home if they cannot be picked up in person. There are other pet shipping companies out there that are wonderful. If you would prefer to go through one of them, we will be happy to work with them. Those services are sometimes a little cheaper because they fly standby and those tickets are usually quite cheap. However, their delivery fee is more expensive than ours is, and with flying standby you will not know when your kitten will get to you until the last minute. So, they are usually not able to be any cheaper than we are, and there are many more unknowns.
Please let us know if you have any questions about our travel services. And be sure to let us know ASAP if you will need travel arrangements made for your new baby. Whether you use one of our pet nannies or go with one of the pet shipping companies, the sooner travel is booked the cheaper it will be. Travel arrangements will not be made until your kitten has been officially reserved by you.
**Kittens who are flying (whether with a pet nanny or with their family) will not be allowed to leave the Cattery until they are 14 weeks and 5 days old. This is to ensure they are a good weight, and completely healthy. Since flying can be very stressful, and cats are prone to getting sick when stressed, we want kittens as healthy as possible when they leave to do our best to prevent them from getting sick once they arrive home.
Payments for travel expenses can only be made with a credit/debit card. Payments made to the pet nanny for her time/services can only be made in cash upon pickup.
This is an example of the bill you will receive when using our pet nanny services. As you can see, the airline tickets account for the majority of the costs. This is one of the biggest reasons we cannot give you an accurate cost for using this service. The price of airline tickets is constantly fluctuating.
The airline pet fee is set by the airline. Most of them charge $125, but there are one or 2 that only charge $95.
Travel protection is something we add on to every flight just in case the flight date needs to be changed for one reason or another.
We purchase the TSA approved carrier for usually $20. It is quite small and will not fit your kitten long, but it is the perfect size for flying. You get to keep the carrier and can use it for your kitten's first few vet appointments.
The 10% fee covers our expenses. Your travel expenses will be paid for initially using our credit card. This fee helps to cover any interest we may accrue while we are waiting for you to pay the travel bill.
*None of these travel expenses are refundable for any reason. If the flight is flat out cancelled, the ticket remains in the pet nanny's name and is only good for one year. If we are able to be refunded by the airline, we may choose to refund you as well, however, that is up to our discretion.
Here is a copy of the Travel Agreement. This Agreement must be signed before any travel arrangements will be made. This contract can only be viewed, not signed or printed. The actual contract will be emailed to you.
*Actually contract may differ slightly as updates are needed.
Flying the Kitten Yourself
If you would like, you have the option to fly your kitten yourself. You must fly into the airport closest to us, and we will meet you there with your kitten. Delivering the kitten to you at the airport will not cost you any additional fees.
Going this route, you will book your own travel and pay for everything. However, the flight date and time does have to be cleared by us before you book it.
You will also purchase your own carrier for the kitten, and have it delivered to us. We will bring the kitten to the airport in that carrier so the kitten does not have to be transferred at the airport.
Since we have lots of experience flying kittens, we are more than happy to help guide you through the process and make sure everything is taken care of prior to your flight date. Travel arrangements cannot be made until your kitten has been officially reserved by you.
**Kittens who are flying (whether with a pet nanny or with their family) will not be allowed to leave the Cattery until they are 14 weeks and 5 days old. This is to ensure they are a good weight, and completely healthy. Since flying can be very stressful, and cats are prone to getting sick when stressed, we want kittens as healthy as possible when they leave to do our best to prevent them from getting sick once they arrive home.
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