Four cats to Brisbane: am I mad to even consider it?

[Siamozzer]

Hi everyone,

I know some will think we're mad for even having four cats in the first place, never mind trying to cart them all the way to Brisbane (it's a long story, two were planned, two weren't), but that's another topic! 

We had a move to Sydney planned in 2011 (three cats and one kid ago), but life happened and it fell through. (Kate - Pom Queen was a massive help. Thanks again! ) We've become home owners here in the meantime, so it never occurred to me that we'd go back into a rental and pets would be a problem, but now we're suddenly headed to Brisbane (482 with 186 in progress).

I know that some states have made it illegal for landlords to turn down pet owners, but that QLD isn't one of them and 90% of home owners say no to pets. I've seen property adverts saying 'pets allowed (or considered)', but also heard that that usually means one small outside dog. Do you think we have any chance of finding a rental? I'm worried we won't find anything, never mind something in a decent catchment zone for our little one to start school in a year.

I mean, I know and love my pedigreed, indoor-only cats, would be happy to provide pictures of our home to show that they're not destructive and don't spray, provide references to show that they're insured, see the vet regularly, are well-socialised, are litter-robot trained so the house never smells like cats, etc. But even I would think twice about a tenant in my house who said they had four cats!

I'm well-versed in the requirements to get them there, and have caught with the quarantine changes etc. since 2011 too. They've all passed their rabies titre tests, and our 'old boy' passed a blood panel with flying colours and is "in excellent health to fly", says our vet. I know we'd need a licence to have four cats in Brisbane. They're used to being mainly indoors with sometime access to an enclosed garden, and happily spend all day in the conservatory when it goes up to 35 degrees, so the Ozzie lifestyle won't phase them, I'm sure. The admin is sorted, but I'm still in two minds.

The financial implications of taking them are massive, of course, and basically guarantee that we'll have to rent to save again for a house deposit despite selling here.

But I can't appease my conscience! I feel like they're our responsibility and rehoming them isn't an easy option - I'd never stop worrying about if they were being well-cared for. They would have to go to people we don't know (I'd vet them, of course, but you never know). Although they're all pedigreed Oriental cats, none of them are kittens (theyre 10, 8, and 2x5 years old), which makes it less likely someone else will want them. Also, they're a very social breed, so are attached to one another as well as to us. I'll be lucky to even find a home where two can go together. It'll be hard for them, as well as us, if we rehome them.

But if their presence will stop us from even finding a place to live, maybe we have to leave them?

I'd be so grateful if anyone has some advice from experience of actually living in Australia, especially QLD, or just any advice or opinons, really.

[AliQ]

2 minutes ago, Siamozzer said:

Hi everyone,

I know some will think we're mad for even having four cats in the first place, never mind trying to cart them all the way to Brisbane (it's a long story, two were planned, two weren't), but that's another topic! 

We had a move to Sydney planned in 2011 (three cats and one kid ago), but life happened and it fell through. (Kate - Pom Queen was a massive help. Thanks again! ) We've become home owners here in the meantime, so it never occurred to me that we'd go back into a rental and pets would be a problem, but now we're suddenly headed to Brisbane (482 with 186 in progress).

I know that some states have made it illegal for landlords to turn down pet owners, but that QLD isn't one of them and 90% of home owners say no to pets. I've seen property adverts saying 'pets allowed (or considered)', but also heard that that usually means one small outside dog. Do you think we have any chance of finding a rental? I'm worried we won't find anything, never mind something in a decent catchment zone for our little one to start school in a year.

I mean, I know and love my pedigreed, indoor-only cats, would be happy to provide pictures of our home to show that they're not destructive and don't spray, provide references to show that they're insured, see the vet regularly, are well-socialised, are litter-robot trained so the house never smells like cats, etc. But even I would think twice about a tenant in my house who said they had four cats!

I'm well-versed in the requirements to get them there, and have caught with the quarantine changes etc. since 2011 too. They've all passed their rabies titre tests, and our 'old boy' passed a blood panel with flying colours and is "in excellent health to fly", says our vet. I know we'd need a licence to have four cats in Brisbane. They're used to being mainly indoors with sometime access to an enclosed garden, and happily spend all day in the conservatory when it goes up to 35 degrees, so the Ozzie lifestyle won't phase them, I'm sure. The admin is sorted, but I'm still in two minds.

The financial implications of taking them are massive, of course, and basically guarantee that we'll have to rent to save again for a house deposit despite selling here.

But I can't appease my conscience! I feel like they're our responsibility and rehoming them isn't an easy option - I'd never stop worrying about if they were being well-cared for. They would have to go to people we don't know (I'd vet them, of course, but you never know). Although they're all pedigreed Oriental cats, none of them are kittens (theyre 10, 8, and 2x5 years old), which makes it less likely someone else will want them. Also, they're a very social breed, so are attached to one another as well as to us. I'll be lucky to even find a home where two can go together. It'll be hard for them, as well as us, if we rehome them.

But if their presence will stop us from even finding a place to live, maybe we have to leave them?

I'd be so grateful if anyone has some advice from experience of actually living in Australia, especially QLD, or just any advice or opinons, really.

We recently spent a few months in Queensland and found it VERY hard to find a decent rental, in a nice area, that would take pets.

We secured a rental (on line with an estate agent) prior to leaving the UK,  just to make sure we had somewhere to go to with our cat.  Big mistake, the house was not nice despite all the photo's and questions from us ! We left that house after a few weeks (our cat had not been flown over at this stage)

This is such a tough decision to make. There is no right or wrong answer whatever you decide to do. I wish you well with your move but do NOT secure a rental until you are there and can see it yourself - lesson learnt for us.

[VERYSTORMY]

First, I can sympathise with having multiple cats. We had four at one point and three when we moved to Oz, but we decided to rehome them (mainly because we didn't have the funds to ship them). For us it worked out ideal as three neighbours whose houses they regularly broke into anyway agreed to take them.

I have to say I think it will be hard. Cats are not well liked at the best of times in Oz by many. But not impossible. I would contact some of the real estate people in the area and seek advice from them. When we moved from Sydney to Perth, we had acquired a dog and spoke to the agents in Perth before we arrived and found them actually very helpful. 

[calNgary]

Your options will be reduced if you have pets but by providing the photos, references and even an extra few $$$ in a pet bond it will really help you. I would not advise you rent from the UK ,too many houses look nothing like their on line photos, so always best to contact agents and look in person once your here.  If you want inner city or a brand new rental house you are going to struggle, go a little further out ,where loads of people do have animals and you will have a much better chance.

Have you looked at a large cat enclosure for outside / under a patio ?, they sell some fantastic ones and wouldnt affect renting as much as they would theoretically be outside. My friend has one and its bigger than our old garden shed in the UK,lol

Cal x

[Siamozzer]

1 hour ago, AliQ said:

We recently spent a few months in Queensland and found it VERY hard to find a decent rental, in a nice area, that would take pets.

We secured a rental (on line with an estate agent) prior to leaving the UK,  just to make sure we had somewhere to go to with our cat.  Big mistake, the house was not nice despite all the photo's and questions from us ! We left that house after a few weeks (our cat had not been flown over at this stage)

This is such a tough decision to make. There is no right or wrong answer whatever you decide to do. I wish you well with your move but do NOT secure a rental until you are there and can see it yourself - lesson learnt for us.

Thank you for your experience and the warning. I've also heard horror stories about taking rentals unseen (pictures photoshopped within an inch of their lives or the same ones used from when it was last rented a decade ago with no maintenance inbetween etc.! ).

My husband's relocation package has some assistance in it - if we have any money left after the migration lawyer, that is - so we're thinking maybe we can use them to help inspect and secure something half decent before we go, but I still think our chances are slim.

[Siamozzer]

1 hour ago, VERYSTORMY said:

First, I can sympathise with having multiple cats. We had four at one point and three when we moved to Oz, but we decided to rehome them (mainly because we didn't have the funds to ship them). For us it worked out ideal as three neighbours whose houses they regularly broke into anyway agreed to take them.

I have to say I think it will be hard. Cats are not well liked at the best of times in Oz by many. But not impossible. I would contact some of the real estate people in the area and seek advice from them. When we moved from Sydney to Perth, we had acquired a dog and spoke to the agents in Perth before we arrived and found them actually very helpful. 

Thank you. The problem with indoor cats is that they haven't been to the neighbours!

And yes, I considered the pros and cons of having "too many cats" in our current living situation when the younger two were 'rescued' and decided it would be okay, but moving them all to Australia is a whole other ballgame!

Contacting agents in advance is a good idea too, thanks.

Edited September 7, 2019 by Siamozzer

[Siamozzer]

58 minutes ago, calNgary said:

Your options will be reduced if you have pets but by providing the photos, references and even an extra few $$$ in a pet bond it will really help you. I would not advise you rent from the UK ,too many houses look nothing like their on line photos, so always best to contact agents and look in person once your here.  If you want inner city or a brand new rental house you are going to struggle, go a little further out ,where loads of people do have animals and you will have a much better chance.

Have you looked at a large cat enclosure for outside / under a patio ?, they sell some fantastic ones and wouldnt affect renting as much as they would theoretically be outside. My friend has one and its bigger than our old garden shed in the UK,lol

Cal x

Thanks. I'd forgotten about the pet bond thing. Will definitely include an offer, thank you.

How much "really help"ing will it do, do you think? Impossible to really difficult, or do you actually think we have a chance?

And yes, I've looked at some catios, but I hadn't thought of them as a residence, just as a place they can wander out if they'd like and still be secured. Do people really use them to keep cats out permanently? I'd love to put in the Oscillot system for the fence when we have our own place.

Edited September 7, 2019 by Siamozzer

[Siamozzer]

1 hour ago, calNgary said:

Your options will be reduced if you have pets but by providing the photos, references and even an extra few $$$ in a pet bond it will really help you. I would not advise you rent from the UK ,too many houses look nothing like their on line photos, so always best to contact agents and look in person once your here.  If you want inner city or a brand new rental house you are going to struggle, go a little further out ,where loads of people do have animals and you will have a much better chance.

Have you looked at a large cat enclosure for outside / under a patio ?, they sell some fantastic ones and wouldnt affect renting as much as they would theoretically be outside. My friend has one and its bigger than our old garden shed in the UK,lol

Cal x

Cal, how much further out would we need to go?

My husband will be working in the city (I haven't secured a job yet), but he's prepared to commute by public transport or car if necessary. We're used to being in suburbia - it works well for a young kid anyway. Would we find something in one of the northern suburbs, say, or would we be talking about leaving the city entirely, realistically?

[DukeNinja]

1 hour ago, Siamozzer said:

Cal, how much further out would we need to go?

My husband will be working in the city (I haven't secured a job yet), but he's prepared to commute by public transport or car if necessary. We're used to being in suburbia - it works well for a young kid anyway. Would we find something in one of the northern suburbs, say, or would we be talking about leaving the city entirely, realistically?

Trains are very regular, and reasonably priced, so you guys could live just on the outskirts.

We live in the Bayside area, S.E. of the river, and for our newish 3 bed, 2 bathroom terrace with a yard and single garage we pay 440pw.

My landlady was open to non-canine pets.

[Marisawright]

5 hours ago, Siamozzer said:

I know some will think we're mad for even having four cats in the first place, never mind trying to cart them all the way to Brisbane (it's a long story, two were planned, two weren't), but that's another topic! 

We had a move to Sydney planned in 2011 (three cats and one kid ago), but life happened and it fell through. (Kate - Pom Queen was a massive help. Thanks again! ) We've become home owners here in the meantime, so it never occurred to me that we'd go back into a rental and pets would be a problem, but now we're suddenly headed to Brisbane (482 with 186 in progress).

The thing that would worry me is undertaking the huge cost of moving the cats, when you might have to move them back again within a short space of time.

While there is a transition path from the 482 to the 186, approval is a very long way from being guaranteed (just take a look at some of the threads about it!), so when you accept a 482, you should always plan on the basis that you're coming for a short-term adventure, and if you get PR it's a bonus.

[Siamozzer]

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

The thing that would worry me is undertaking the huge cost of moving the cats, when you might have to move them back again within a short space of time.

While there is a transition path from the 482 to the 186, approval is a very long way from being guaranteed (just take a look at some of the threads about it!), so when you accept a 482, you should always plan on the basis that you're coming for a short-term adventure, and if you get PR it's a bonus.

Thank you, Marisawright. We're aware.

According to our lawyer, that's not a concern in this case because his nomination is eligible for Direct Entry with a skills assessment exemption (skills assessment being the hurdle that most applications fall flat on if they're going to, apparently) and we also don't need to wait for three years before applying, as most people need to. The 482 here is the 'extra' visa for the employer to make sure that they get the January start date they want, in case the 186 takes longer than the 2-6 months it should (very different from the usual case and official processing times, I know. Guess it helps to have an employer with special approval).

Edited September 7, 2019 by Siamozzer

[Marisawright]

In that case I’d be sending your partner over in January to start work and staying in the UK with the cats until the 186 comes through. What if he hates the job or has a horrible boss? 

[ali]

Do check if you have to apply for a permit for the number of cats you have.  States/shires might vary and there may be a limit to the number you are allowed in certain properties/areas.

[rammygirl]

1 hour ago, ali said:

Do check if you have to apply for a permit for the number of cats you have.  States/shires might vary and there may be a limit to the number you are allowed in certain properties/areas.

Definitely this. More councils are bringing in regulations about cat ownership. Ours is now enforcing a curfew and limiting ownership to two cats.  In my opinion not going far enough, cats should not be able to roam at all here as the native wildlife is not equipped to deal with feline predators. Not going to be an issue with your indoor cats though.

 

[Siamozzer]

5 hours ago, Marisawright said:

In that case I’d be sending your partner over in January to start work and staying in the UK with the cats until the 186 comes through. What if he hates the job or has a horrible boss? 

Hope not!  But he had a long interview process and has gone over and spent some time with the rest of the team. That they liked one another so much was a big reason why he got the job, apart from his profile (they've tried to fill the role for 3 years but have rejected both local and overseas candidates for not being the right person for the job).

We did discuss what happens if it doesn't work out and decided that, whatever comes, we'd tough it out until the 186. If we really can't, there's unfortunately not enough here for us that we would want to come all the way back anyway (neither of us have any family around any more). Plan B would then be going to New Zealand where my sister and her family are. 

Edited September 8, 2019 by Siamozzer

[Siamozzer]

3 hours ago, rammygirl said:

Definitely this. More councils are bringing in regulations about cat ownership. Ours is now enforcing a curfew and limiting ownership to two cats.  In my opinion not going far enough, cats should not be able to roam at all here as the native wildlife is not equipped to deal with feline predators. Not going to be an issue with your indoor cats though.

 

Thank you both, ali and rammygirl. We do need one. I called it a licence in my original post, but maybe 'permit' is the proper Ozzie word for it?  I'll need to learn all the lingo!

Edited September 8, 2019 by Siamozzer

[Marisawright]

27 minutes ago, Siamozzer said:

Hope not!  But he had a long interview process and has gone over and spent some time with the rest of the team. That they liked one another so much was a big reason why he got the job, apart from his profile (they've tried to fill the role for 3 years but have rejected both local and overseas candidates for not being the right person for the job).

We did discuss what happens if it doesn't work out and decided that, whatever comes, we'd tough it out until the 186. If we really can't, there's unfortunately not enough here for us that we would want to come all the way back anyway (neither of us have any family around any more). Plan B would then be going to New Zealand where my sister and her family are. 

But once he gets the 186, doesn't he have to stay with the employer for a further two years after that?

[Siamozzer]

31 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

But once he gets the 186, doesn't he have to stay with the employer for a further two years after that?

I meant until the 2 years on the 186 is done (hence 'what if we need to tough it out'). But actually the answer is no, not legally!

You have to have a genuine intention to work for the employer for two years when you apply for the visa, and saying you do when you don't isn't allowed.

If the department is satisfied that you did have a genuine intention, but the work relationship breaks down through the normal course of things within two years (I think they'd probably need quite substantial evidence that you tried everything you could to make it work out, but we have no need to look into it), or, say, the company goes through financial difficulties and can't keep paying your salary for the two years, neither party is obliged to keep on, and they won't revoke the visa.

We hope everything works out, of course, and that he'll want to work for them for a lot longer than two years. I'm just one of those people who have to plan every detail and know every contingency before moving us all the way across the world, so I asked "what if something goes wrong?"

Edited September 8, 2019 by Siamozzer
Clarification.

[Marisawright]

12 minutes ago, Siamozzer said:

. I'm just one of those people who have to plan every detail and know every contingency before moving us all the way across the world, so I asked "what if something goes wrong?"

Glad you did. You'd be surprised how many people don't!

[Juditta]

We brought our two cats over from the UK, I could not have left them behind, but it is a big expensive thing to do.   Our two cats were in quarantine for 10 days,  and we collected them from the Brisbane pet collection place just over a week ago, and they are both fine, both 10 years old, and settling in well.   We were lucky to find a rental who would take pets, but most cats sleep all day anyhow, so its not like they are hugely active or destructive.

So for us it was worth it to bring our cats, they are happy here, took a few days to settle in, and we would have missed them so much if we had not brought them.

[Siamozzer]

10 hours ago, Juditta said:

We were lucky to find a rental who would take pets

Thanks, Juditta. I'm so glad to hear your two have settled in so well.

Can I ask, how difficult did you find it to find a rental that would allow pets, and what did you offer in the way of incentives or extra info (pet bond, extra rent, pet CV, etc.)? Did the cats limit your options?

I'm still so concerned about this. We feel strongly that the cats are our responsibility and really don't want to have to leave them (like you, we'd miss them so much). I am terrified, though, of not being able to find any place to live with our lot, never mind one in a nice suburb in a good school zone!

[Juditta]

On 26/09/2019 at 00:27, Siamozzer said:

Thanks, Juditta. I'm so glad to hear your two have settled in so well.

Can I ask, how difficult did you find it to find a rental that would allow pets, and what did you offer in the way of incentives or extra info (pet bond, extra rent, pet CV, etc.)? Did the cats limit your options?

I'm still so concerned about this. We feel strongly that the cats are our responsibility and really don't want to have to leave them (like you, we'd miss them so much). I am terrified, though, of not being able to find any place to live with our lot, never mind one in a nice suburb in a good school zone!

Sorry took a while to reply.   We didn't find it difficult at all to rent an unfurnished property, even though we were bringing two cats over to live in the rented place, I think we would have had a choice if we had wanted to look around more.   We didn't pay any extra rent, or bond, etc.,  so the cats didn't limit us at all.   Cats do sleep most of the day, which is a good point to make, especially when they are first settling in, and we bought a scratching post for ours just in case they needed to scratch.....but so far they both have been very good, apart from puking up once on the kitchen floor which is tiled anyway.   I think as more people are deciding to bring their pets with them, some rentals will perhaps have to become pet friendly.  However, if our two cats did damage anything, we would, of course, be responsible for replacing or repairing what ever it was.     Like you mention, our pets are part of our family, and would be such a hard  decision to leave them behind.   Good luck to you, I am sure you will find a pet friendly rental.

[Siamozzer]

On 29/09/2019 at 07:19, Juditta said:

Sorry took a while to reply.   We didn't find it difficult at all to rent an unfurnished property, even though we were bringing two cats over to live in the rented place, I think we would have had a choice if we had wanted to look around more.   We didn't pay any extra rent, or bond, etc.,  so the cats didn't limit us at all.   Cats do sleep most of the day, which is a good point to make, especially when they are first settling in, and we bought a scratching post for ours just in case they needed to scratch.....but so far they both have been very good, apart from puking up once on the kitchen floor which is tiled anyway.   I think as more people are deciding to bring their pets with them, some rentals will perhaps have to become pet friendly.  However, if our two cats did damage anything, we would, of course, be responsible for replacing or repairing what ever it was.     Like you mention, our pets are part of our family, and would be such a hard  decision to leave them behind.   Good luck to you, I am sure you will find a pet friendly rental.

Thanks, Juditta. It's such a relief to hear that you didn't have any problems. Hopefully we don't either! We'd also be renting an unfurnished property and ours are all sensible adults that (you're right) do mostly sleep.

Is this typical, do you think? Has anyone had a similar (or different!) experience?

[Eera]

In QLD the agent / landlord isn't allowed to take more than 4 weeks' rent for a bond (caveat rental amount <$700 per week), so effectively there's no point offering extra for a pet bond - legally they can't take it anyway.  I once had a tenant do up a pet CV but generally the agent won't pass on anything like that anyway, the agent mentioned it in passing and said it was cute, but it didn't make any difference as I had said a potential renter could have two outdoor dogs and two cats which were not allowed in the bedroom.  My agent basically doesn't advertise pets as welcome, but doesn't exclude them and will ask the landlords if it's acceptable to them.

 

[ali]

Some properties may stipulate a pet bond and having to have the home professionally cleaned when vacated.  You problem (as you've identified) is the number of cats