[AndyandJane]

This is my second post here. we are moving over to kusadasi in april and the wife wants to buy a kitten over there. The problem is that we will still need to come back to the uk regularly because of family and theres also a possibility that we may move somewhere else in the future. a friend of ours told us that if we get a kitten and decide to move the cat would have to stay in quarantine for one year. is this true? can anyone give me details

[Rhona]

Sorry, cant help with your problem.
But if you are planning to move why not befriend some of the cats who prowl Kus all the time looking for food?
We met a couple 2 years ago who spent every day of their holiday feeding the strays.
Good luck with your move and welcome to the forum.

[rosered]

I don't know about quarantine... but someone else will..

Just wanted to say that you will not need to buy a kitten as you will see hundreds of them on the street. I bet you can't take just one home!!!!

[babypud]

the quaratine is for England and not the EU and i belive its six months, buy a kitten? ha we have 4 and more coming to be fed everyday. There are people who will come and feed your pets, walk them and give them a cuddle, no worries on that score.

[LKA]

Like everyone else here says...absolutely no need to buy a kitten. There are 1000s on the streets desperate for a home. Quarantine in the UK is 6 months by the way.

For what it's worth, my personal opinion is that if you are not staying here long term, I think it's inadvisable to have a dog or cat. There are many instances of foreigners taking in dogs or cats...moving back to their home country, and leaving the animal on the streets to fend for themselves. I'm not referring to you of course, as you have asked about quarantine, so quite clearly you are being responsible.

Maybe, as Rhona suggests, you could befriend cats while you are here. In this respect I would advise doing as I do, leave food by the side of the big refuse bins for all strays to help themselves.

(Edited to say...where are my manners? Welcome to the forum by the way)

[welshturks]

I'm reiterating what the other posters have said - please don't buy a cat. "Adopt " a street cat/kitten and supplement it's diet and you'll get all the benefits of cat ownership without interrupting its normal way of life too much.

There are thousands of cats on the streets here who welcome a meal and occasional cuddle. I feed two just round the corner who are due to give birth any day, and as soon as the kittens are weaned I have every intention
- having got the cats to trust me through feeding them - of taking both mums to be neutered, thus preventing further unwanted kittens.(And hopefully getting the kittens homes and later getting them neutered!)

If you aren't sure whether you're relocating to Turkey permanently it's best not to take on a full time pet. There are no boarding kennels or catteries in Kusadasi, so you would be reliant upon the goodwill of others to look after your pet should you want to go anywhere. I'm talking from our own experiences, as my husband and I frequently have to take trips solo so one of us is here for the dog.

The local street cats will be so grateful if you befriend them - please give it a try.

Karen

[LKA]

Nicely put Karen. And my husband and I have the same problem..i.e. solo trips so there's always one of us to dog-sit.

[welshturks]

Don't misunderstand me - we love Tigger and wouldn't part with her - but having her does restrict us quite a bit. We have plenty of friends scattered pretty much the length and breadth of Turkey who we'd love to visit, but unless we have a trusted friend who knows our dog and her Houdini ways - and has the time to look after her 24/7 - we usually end up giving the trip a miss. It's not the same when one of you is exploring on your own is it?

Some places we can take her and that's OK as she loves the car, and she's very well behaved, but even when we do take her, it can be awkward if you want to go to a restaurant etc. If it's a place that has outside tables and it's summer - OK - but I would never take her inside a restaurant as I think other diners would not like a dog there while they are eating - I wouldn't myself.

Going to the UK always has to be done solo, as 2/3 weeks is way too long to presume on a friend's goodwill.

It's a big tie having a pet anywhere, but it's a lot harder here as there are no proper kennels...consequently, Tigger has become a much-travelled dog - in the car at any rate!


Karen

[LKA]

It pretty much seems you have the same problems as us Karen. And like you, we love our dog to bits, but it is a tie, there's no doubt. We wouldn't be without her now, but I'm glad this subject has come up. If nothing else, it will make people think twice about taking on a pet. It's a huge 24/7 responsibility.

[welshturks]

Sorry this has gone slightly off-topic, but LKA, Maybe we could get together and see if we can help each other out with this occasionally! Might be a plan....

Karen