When I decided to start breeding I ran into the problem of having cats shipped to me. Some breeders were not willing to ship their babies, others were. So it was something I was interested in learning about and I did a lot of research on the subject.

While some people aren't willing to purchase a pet and have it shipped to them, preferring instead to travel and pick up their new baby, others don't have the ability to do so. Because of that, I decided I would be as accommodating as possible and help people to get the pet they always dreamed of, and be agreeable about shipping.

Therefore, if you aren't able to drive and meet me to pick up your new bundle of joy, you have a few options on shipping. They are:

#1 You fly into Springfield, Missouri (SGF airport) and meet me to pick up your baby and take it home with you.

#2 I ship your baby to you using the pet shipping company Pet Air (www.flypets.com) who only ship pets from me on Thursdays, except during holiday and times of weather restrictions.

#3 I ship your baby directly through the SGF Airport to your airport of choice.

I listed these options in the order I prefer - granted, I have only had 1 person fly in to pick up their baby. Option 2 and 3 have been about 50/50.

There are differences in the costs for shipping. Here are some estimates on them for you:

#1 If you choose to fly in and get your new bundle of joy, you will have to pay the cost for your ticket to fly into SGF (Springfield, Missouri). Given that the airport here is rather small, it's likely you would have to find accommodations and transportation to and from the airport until you are able to get a flight back home. Costs for local hotels/motels can vary, and I'm sure there would be an extra charge for a pet friendly room. Then flying home, you would probably have the option of purchasing an additional ticket for your baby to have a seat next to you, or you can use your baby as your carry-on baggage. Either way, you'll definitely have the cost of the health certificate which is required for shipping, costing $30 at my vet's office. You'll also need a kennel, averaging about $30, unless you bring one with you.

#2 If you choose to have your baby shipped to you through Pet Air, the cost varies from airport to airport. It is generally between $171 and $224. You'll definitely have the cost of the health certificate which is required for shipping, costing $30 at my vet's office. You'll also need a kennel, averaging about $30.

#3 If you choose to have your baby shipped to you through the local Springfield, Missouri airport directly to your airport the shipping is usually between $192 and $295 depending on the airline. You'll definitely have the cost of the health certificate which is required for shipping, costing $30 at my vet's office. You'll also need a kennel, averaging about $30.

FACTORS AFFECTING SHIPPING
Obviously we have all heard the horror stories about the pet that escaped at the airport and was turned into an urban legend, being sighted frequently all over the country. Thankfully I have yet to have any pet escape their cage at an airport, and I hope I never do!

Kennels are rated by their safety, and some are appropriate for shipping through the airlines, others should only be used for transporting your pet to and from your veterinarians office, etc. I purchase the highest safety rated kennels for shipping.

Only once in my years as a breeder have I had any kittens delayed in getting to their destination by weather or missing a flight. The airlines seem to factor in the time frames when they schedule the shipping, and make sure there is enough time for kittens to be transferred from plane to plane. So I really feel this is not a big issue.

The issue that I encounter on just about a monthly basis is problems with the airport personnel. The agents at the counter feel like their word is law. Anyone shipping pets is not a 'customer.' I'll be adding some dated blog information about these issues later to substantiate these assertions!

The #1 issue with shipping is the temperature! Requirements are at least 35 degrees and no more than 85 degrees. In extreme winter and summer this hampers shipping ability in a BIG way! Mainly because in Springfield there are no flights during the night! By using Pet Air, the kittens are transported back to Kansas City, MO, where there are unlimited flights available (compared to Springfield) and they can ship in the middle of the night to avoid the high temperatures during summer months. Also, they have direct flights, whereas any pets shipped out of Springfield have to change planes in a variety of cities including: Cincinnati, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago or Atlanta.