I took my cat Boo from New Zealand to Minnesota. It was a tough decision, but I decided to do it in the end because I knew Boo was strong enough to handle it and I knew I'd be a wreck without him.

Boo is an outgoing and resilient cat. Bettie is very shy and skittish. Should we move back to NZ, I do not know that I would want to put Bettie through that. She freaks out during small moves. Boo handled it well, but he was a little weirded out after the flight but seemed to recover within 24 hours. Bettie, I think it would take her weeks to feel secure again, and I don't know if I could stand to put her through that.

I guess what I'm saying is, you have to go with your gut and trust your pets' limits. The money is worth it. I believe it cost us around $1000 US to do it, and I don't miss it at all, even when things have been tight. Boo, and my relationship with him, are priceless. I'm glad I trusted my gut on this one. And as sad as it would make me to have to move internationally without Bettie, I know I'd be making the best decision *for her* by finding her a kind, loving home with someone I trust and can remain in contact with.

Don't know if my rambling on the topic helped, but either way, I know what you're going through and how hard it is.