Animalcouriers travelled to the Lauzun area in the Lot-et-Garonne to make a very special collection: Mal and Mike’s 22 cats, one Rosy Lovebird and one Cockatiel.
Mal and Mike are relocating to Lincolnshire after living and in France for many years, where they ran a gîte business. They’ve loved every minute of it, but now it’s time to go back to the UK, where family draws them. They’ll miss their lovely local friends, though, several of whom stepped in to help today.
The cats have joined the household over the years, and now that it’s time to leave, not a single one is being left behind.
With so many pets travelling, we couldn’t afford any mistakes or issues with their paperwork. So preparations began several months ago when our good friend Dr Diana James, a British vet in France, did a home visit to meet the cats, microchip them, give them their rabies vaccinations, and organise their passports.
As it’s a big group of pets, we have a Traces certificate for them. Following a health check on Monday, Mal took all the paperwork to the departmental office in Agen, where the certificate was issued.
Given the difficult situation in Calais at the moment, we don’t want to risk getting caught up and delayed. So we’ve chosen to drive to St Malo and take the Condor crossing to Jersey, and from there take the ferry to Poole. The other advantage is that we will be met by the Jersey government vet who will clear the cats for entry into the UK. (This is a Traces requirement.) That will mean there’s no need for a house visit when they reach the mainland.
The cats all have wonderful names. To help us keep track of who’s who, Mal sat up all night preparing beautiful hand-made labels for each cat, with photos and a special little notes about each one.
More splendid labels
Mal and Carina bring us Mozart and Beethoven
Mozart
Beethoven
Henry VIII
Elizabeth I
Suzzie
Brandy
Soda
Fleur
Donny
Buster
Trumpet
Ginger
Lou Lou
Tia Maria
Muffy and Twizzle
Aka
Elton John
Foxy
Mischief and Henrietta
Jezabelle
Vanessa with the two birds
A very special jug to fill the birds’ water bowls!
Fred the Cockatiel
Mal saying goodbye to Rosy Lovebird
Everyone settled in for the journey
It took a good couple of hours to get everyone on board. Meet the top team — L to R: Vanessa, who put us up last night, Mal, and Carina. It was a very emotional time for Mal, who is already missing them all and worrying about them.
What an adventure, love those labels and think I’m getting closer to having a family of 22 cats myself
The labels absolutely tickeld us! You’re going to have to spill the beans about the additions to your family 😉
I started off with 4 from England then was left 4 kittens, 14 years ago how my family has grown since then, it was quite a feat to get them ready to go on their journey today with plenty of tears and the photo of me well I was totally exhausted by the time they left, got an email they were all sleeping like babies. mal
Mal, you have my utmost respect for rescuing so many needy animals, I only have 4 rescue cats and a rescue dog & sometimes I find it overwhelming. That said I would miss them all; the road to our hearts is clearly paved with paw prints
That photo really did show how exhausted you were. Hope you’re feeling better today!
I started off with 4 from England 4 kittens in house when arrived then I was mal8cats now up to 22, hard job organising 22 cats to go back to England, but with great people like Julia martin and Diana it made it so much easier for me.
friends here this morning helping plenty of tears when left, message came through all sleeping like babies. thank you team.
I know exactly what you are going through. I hired the whole van a year ago to bring all my 28 rescue turtles and tortoises to Malta. They all arrived safely. Don’t worry, your cats are in good loving hands. Martin and Julia really know their stuff when it comes to making sure animal transports work smoothly.
PS Turtles send their love to all at Animal Couriers
Hi Gerry, great to hear from you and thanks for those kind words. We all send our love back to the turtles!
What a pile of travelers this time around! Hope everything goes well for all and they’re reunited with their owners quickly and safely – they are in PERFECT hands with Animal Couriers that’s for sure! Love that watering “can” (ha), and all the cats are gorgeous – I love Donny’s eyes. HAHA
Pam (and Sam)
Yup, that water jug was interesting – couldn’t resist including the photo because of the look on Venessa’s face 😉
It was fabulous! (the look…..and maybe the jug too…hahaha)
that Donny has broken many hearts, in my visitors book it is all about Donny this and Donny that, he used to go and knock on the doors then go in and tap on their fridges for his tip bits I know he will be missed by the guests. such a charmer.
Wow, what great names they all have. Wish I could have twenty-two cats and two birds. Great photos, great adventure. N.
It’s a huge adventure for them and they’re snoozing their way through it 😉
22 cats – sounds like a classroom. You have to keep track of them all.Sounds like you did a great job.
It’s a classroom of sleeping students 😉 Never had such a quiet classroom.
Twenty-two! My word. The birds must be very brave or very nervous! Good job as always 🙂
Guess the birds are used to it by now 😉
I missed them singing this morning and feeding I was up at the crack of drawn got hair done feel more like me and slept last night.
Glad to hear that Mal.
A heavy responsibility for you. II liked the set of photos.
Hard to take photos of cats at the best of times but at least they give an idea of the sheer size of our passenger list.
Twenty-two cats and two birds??? Only Animal Couriers could handle such an amazing journey!! Truly amazing…good for you and good for all of the furs and feathers!! 🙂
Lots of fun and games in the AC van!
Now that’s a bunch of cute kitties and birds. A cock pitcher goes well with birds I suppose!
Well, that is one take on it!
Can’t help but giggle… cats are all lovely and that pitcher is something else. Hope everyone enjoys the journey. Mal looks frazzled, but I bet she’ll be over the moon when they’re all reunited.
It was touch and go whether we’d feature that pitcher 😉 Mal was worn out by it all but hopefully a good sleep will have refreshed her for the next phase of the move.
Met a lot of these lovely cats last June. Donny became our best friend. Safe travels.
Lucky you – Donny is a very gorgeous fellow.
hi Liz you must come and see him in England and visit us you are most welcome and I will tell Donny you are coming.
I almost read 22 cats and Lunch. Great job everyone.
Hugs
Now now David – not nearly enough to go around 😉
Yes, it a huge undertaking for Mal to move all of her lovelies but nearly there now!
I love their names, think I stick with Brandy today… that’s a good idea. I cross my paws that the situation around the tunnel goes back to normal… it makes me shiver when I see the news …
You have to be creative when you have so many pets to name! Yes, we do wonder when the situation in Calais will improve, for everyone.
Great job of relocation! It’s not likely they’d have been able to bring so many cats into Canada. Most communities have restrictions on numbers of pets here.
That’s interesting to hear. Don’t think there’s such a thing in a European country.
I come for the concert…and the birds… and to bring comforting Pawkisses for the Lady 🙂 This is a dream of Granny, having a bunch of such adorable cats 🙂 Pawkisses for a great trip 🙂 <3
Wonder just how much you’d like 21 brothers and sisters Little B? 😉
I think you know me to well, Annie 😀
I am in AWE! To see such beautiful creatures so very loved touches my heart immensely. Here, when one hears of a household with that many animals, we only know about it because it’s put on the news when the owner is arrested for hoarding or animal neglect or abuse. Just once, I wish a story such as Mel’s and Mike’s would be broadcast for the world to see that it is possible to love and care for a furry family such as this one. They are all beautiful and obviously thriving individuals, and I’ll say it again…I am in AWE!
We are in awe too! Yes, shouting out the good stories is just as important.
We need a bigger space! I’m in love – 22 kitties! 🙂 I adore those name tags with the little specialized notes and pictures. When my family moved 22 hours from the South Pacific, our girl was in quarantine for quite awhile, and our little notes apparently really helped the crew at the military quarantine offices.
We’d trust you all in a heartbeat with our pride!
Those little touches make a lot of difference – we just loved the fact that each cat had its own beautiful label with all the important stuff explained.
What a wonderful family! Congratulations on getting everyone settled and on their way!
They are wonderful indeed!
Beautiful cats, safe travels
Thanks.
Love the cats and all, love the labels…I don’t think I can be separated from Baron for 1 night so send cheerful thoughts to Mal 🙂
It must have been very strange being left in the house without them all!
had an email all back in England safe and sound wonderful job well they know they do do a wonderful job so dedicated to the welfare of the animals, must say it sounds like mine were good except for soda I think somebody got a few scratches so lookings forward to seeing them again the place here was so quite and I kept thinking they would walk in the door. all their new houses are ready and being delivered on Monday so they are going in design houses just hope they don’t get above their stations with their new houses and the vip traveling of course they were in lst class. well Julia and Martins I thank you both from the bottom of my heart to get my babies back home safe and sound. love to you both mal
Thanks very much Mal. They sure are going to get used to life in the high lane with their new designer houses!
So glad they are back in the UK safe and sound Mal.
Needless to say people’s, Mal also left 3 or 4 cats in France. They would not have made the journey so with a heavy heart but such an unselfish one, she has left them in the safe hands of the new owners of the house. It takes a very special kind of person to act so selflessly and Mal is very special indeed.
A very LOVELY LADY indeed xxx
Mal most certainly is!
Well done Mal, so glad they arrived safely. How is it going? Are you all moved in? Missing you so much already. Love to Mick.
Would love to hear from you . x