International Sales
If you live outside the United States and wish to purchase a kitten from Select Exotics, you must first check with the authorities in your country to be sure hybrid cats are allowed. If hybrid cats are allowed, check to see if any generation of hybrid cat is disallowed. Some countries place stipulations on the earlier generations. The easiest way to check hybrid cat import status may be by calling your country's Embassy in the United States or by checking with your federal vet.
Select Exotics has been placing kittens in homes internationally for more than ten years. The process is more challenging than placing kittens within the U.S. and the steps involved take additional time and expense. How much time and costs depend on the country to which the kitten is being sent.
The following will give you an idea of the process:
The CITES permit: Select Exotics must initially obtain a CITES export permit regardless of which country receives the kitten. This step alone can take from four to twelve weeks. While the application is simple, the biologists processing permits are so backed up it has recently been taking eight to twelve weeks to receive the permit. In order to save as much time as possible, Select Exotics mails the application by Express mail to the officials along with a return prepaid Express envelope.
Once the CITES export permit is received, it is scanned and emailed to the purchaser. At that time the purchaser has to apply for a CITES import permit. Not all countries, however, require a CITES import permit. Canada, for example, does not require a CITES import permit. To find out your country's requirements, go to http://www.cites.org/common/directy/e_directy.html. Please ask your country's officials 1) If Savannah cats are allowed into your country and if there are any generation restrictions 2) If Savannahs require a CITES import permit. It generally only takes a couple of weeks to receive the CITES import permit.
Rabies vaccination: Each country differs in regulation. Some allow kittens under 12 weeks of age into the country without a rabies vaccination. Some demand rabies vaccination regardless of age. Others require kittens not receive the vaccination until 12 weeks of age or older. Moreover, some countries admit kittens the day after receiving the vaccination while most necessitate a kitten not travel until 21 to 28 days after the vaccination is given.
Rabies-free countries have radically different regulations. For example, kittens may be vaccinated at 12 weeks and blood pulled at 16 weeks for a rabies titre test. If test results indicate an acceptable antibody level, the kitten must remain at Select Exotics under our care for six months from the date the blood was drawn before being allowed to travel. Contact your local or state vet to find out the rabies regulations for importing animals into your country.
International Health Certificate, Microchip & Carrier regulations: Kittens must have an International Health Certificate to travel out of the country. Most countries require the health papers be endorsed by a USDA Federal Vet. Most also require microchipping. Airlines require shipping the kitten in a carrier larger than needed for domestic travel. The shipment of your kitten has to be declared to US Fish & Wildlife. They have to inspect the shipment and endorse the CITES export permit before the kitten is sent.
Sending a kitten into Canada: Canada is one of the easiest countries into which a kitten may be sent. While a CITIES export permit is required for F1-F4 generations, the import permit is not. A kitten under 12 weeks of age can be sent without rabies vaccination. A kitten over 12 weeks must be vaccinated, but can be shipped the day following vaccination. Microchipping and federal vet endorsement of the International Health Papers are not necessary. Shipping into Canada during the winter months is challenging, however. Only Continental airlines flies pets into Canada during this time, and only into Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary airports. Shipping is usually about $250, making total expenses to get a kitten into Canada $650 for F1-F4 kittens and $500 for F5 and further removed kittens.
Sending a kitten overseas:
Germany: A CITES import permit is required for F1-F4 generations. However, before it can be obtained, an outside enclosure for your pet must be inspected and passed if you are importing higher than an F5 Savannah (that is, an F1 to an F4). Select Exotics recommends this be done before or as soon as you choose your kitten so as not to delay shipping. Microchipping is required. Rabies vaccination at 12 weeks of age is required; travel 21 days after vaccinating is permitted. However, a permit can be obtained allowing a kitten younger than 12 weeks into the country without rabies vaccination. And, according to an excerpt from the German Consulate website, "If you intend to bring an accompanied or unaccompanied kitten, puppy or cat/dog without a valid rabies vaccination into Germany, you need to purchase an import permit from the state authority of the future domicile and the state authority of the port of arrival."
Switzerland: A CITES import permit is required for F1-F4 generations. Microchipping is required. A rabies vaccination is required with a 30 day waiting period after vaccinating before shipping. Further information can be obtained from the Federal Vet in Switzerland Federal Veterinary Office Schwarzenburgerstrasse 161,3097, Liebfeld-Berne, Tel.: (+41) (0)31 323 85 02
Russia: A CITES import permit is not required. Microchipping is required. A rabies vaccination is required with a 30 day waiting period after vaccinating before shipping. Russia requires the rabies vaccination be an inactive form. This form can be given at 12 weeks of age, then 30 days later the kitten can travel.
UK: A CITES import permit is required for F1-F4 generations. A Dangerous Wild Animals permit is required for F1's. The F1's cannot be quarantined here, but have to be quarantined in a zoo facility in the UK. F2 and further removed generations have to be micochipped at 12 weeks of age, followed by a rabies vaccination on the same day. Four weeks later blood is drawn to have a rabies antibody titre test run. As long as the level comes back within the acceptable range the quarantine period begins the day the blood is drawn for the test. The kitten must spend six months from this time at our facility "in quarantine." An EU Health Certificate is required, as well as an International Health Certificate. Kittens also have to be treated for ticks and tapeworms by a vet before they can travel.
Approximate costs for out-of-country shipping:
| CITES export permit & Express shipping |
$150 |
| Vet Expenses (rabies, mc & int'l health papers) |
$150 |
| Federal Vet Endorsement |
$75 |
| Fish & Wildlife Inspection |
$165 |
| Carrier |
$60 |
| Shipping (depending on the country sending to) |
$450-$800 |
| Total |
$1,050 - $1,350 |
*These prices are for non-Rabies free countries. Rabies free countries will incure additional fees for boarding the kitten for the six month quarantine period and additional tests/vet expenses.
