Emma and Warren along with their 16 Maine Coon cats and their canine chum are relocating to Crete from Hampshire.

Couriers Martin and Marc went to collect the whole gang bright and early, stopping off on the way for final health checks for the TRACES certificate at Kynoch Vets in Yateley, Hampshire.

This trip took us overland to Greece via Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Usually we take the ferry to Greece from Italy. This time, however, we couldn’t get a ferry trip on that route with a shaded open deck. We felt that for these very furry cats, some of whom are quite senior, it would be more comfortable to go the longer way round by road.

16 Maine Coon cats: A welcoming committee was waiting for us when we arrived at Emma and Warren's home

A welcoming committee was waiting for us when we arrived at Emma and Warren’s home

Emma and Warren say goodbye to the cats and Dexter

Emma and Warren say goodbye to the cats and Dexter

Meet the cats (and Dexter)

These gorgeous and friendly cats are travelling two to a bedroom, with pairings worked out in advance by Emma. Darling hound Dexter has the luxury of solo accommodation!

Pumpkin — Excalibur's half-brother and Patches' son

Pumpkin — Excalibur’s half-brother and Patches’ son

Excalibur — Pumpkin's half-brother and Lola's son

Excalibur — Pumpkin’s half-brother and Lola’s son

Pumpkin and Excalibur together

Pumpkin and Excalibur together

Sooty — Purrsephone's mum

Sooty — Purrsephone’s mum

Purrsephone — Sooty's daughter

Purrsephone — Sooty’s daughter

Lola

Lola

Patches and Igraine

Patches and Igraine

A closer look at Igraine

A closer look at Igraine

A winsome look from Patches

A winsome look from Patches

Aurora — Leia's daughter

Aurora — Leia’s daughter

Antigoni — Porsche's niece

Antigoni — Porsche’s niece

Porsche having a cuddle with Emma

Porsche having a cuddle with Emma

Rasta, best mates with Tiggerus

Rasta, best mates with Tiggerus

Tiggerus

Tiggerus

Ace — best mates with Indiana

Ace — best mates with Indiana

Indiana — best makes with Ace

Indiana — best makes with Ace

Dexter, a young rescue dog who gets on well with all the cats

Dexter, a young rescue dog who gets on well with all the cats

On our way

This is one of our longest road trips. We are often amazed at how pets, and cats in particular, so often chill out and settle into the journey.

Here are Pumpkin and Excalibur showing how it's done

Here are Pumpkin and Excalibur showing how it’s done

Antigoni at 3,200 miles. Just one more day and one more night to go!

Antigoni at 3,200 miles. Just one more day and one more night to go!

You can't visit Austria without indulging in a Wiener Schnitzel!

You can’t visit Austria without indulging in a Wiener Schnitzel!

We met up with Warren and family friend Kevin at Piraeus Port on the Greek mainland. L to R Akis (pet taxi driver extraordinaire), Warren, Kevin, and courier Marc with Dexter, who was so happy to be reunited with Warren.

We met up with Warren and family friend Kevin at Piraeus Port on the Greek mainland. L to R Akis (pet taxi driver extraordinaire), Warren, Kevin, and courier Marc with Dexter, who was so happy to be reunited with Warren.

Owner Warren finding an alternative use for a dog water bowl

Owner Warren finding an alternative use for a dog water bowl

The ferry from the Greek mainland to Crete

The ferry from the Greek mainland to Crete

Our biggest van was dwarfed by the huge ferry!

Our biggest van was dwarfed by the huge ferry!

New home on Crete

As we delivered the cats and Dexter to the family’s home on Crete, we were very impressed at how calm the cats appeared in their new environment.

Warren and Kevin step off the ferry with Dexter

Warren and Kevin step off the ferry with Dexter

The view towards Chania, Crete's second largest city

The view towards Chania, Crete’s second largest city

Three cats settle into the fireplace

Three cats settle into the fireplace

Patches is a bit wary at first

Patches is a bit wary at first

Here's Sooty on the worktop

Here’s Sooty on the worktop

Tiggerus scouting out the new environment

Tiggerus scouting out the new environment

Rasta is also inquisitive

Rasta is also inquisitive

Antigoni settles down to look out of the window

Antigoni settles down to look out of the window

Exploring the wine rack

Exploring the wine rack