Adopt A Friend
It’s all too easy to fall in love with a cat from Montenegro and think that one of them can become your family’s pet. You can give them a loving home and it’s one less cat on the streets. Everyone’s a winner – right?
Unfortunately, unless you are a resident, it is not easy or straightforward or cheap to legally adopt an animal and remove it from Montenegro.
Many rescue groups in Montenegro have animals for adoption, primarily dogs. One program we’ve worked with that always has cats available is Zhanna Kaganovskaya’s Faithful Heart shelter. They are experienced with adoptions with people from abroad. They can prepare the paperwork and help find transportation options.
If you are in Montenegro and have some time before you leave the country, please see the list of rescues on our Resources page.
As for all adoptions, please ensure that the animal is sterilized as soon as they reach 1 kg in weight. Beware – cats can produce kittens from as early as 4 months old.
If you live outside Montenegro, you will need to research your own country’s requirements for taking animals from Montenegro.
Please note that this is not a service that Kotor Kitties can provide. We fund sterilizations and we do not have the resources to organize adoptions abroad.
The guidelines below will often require your cat to be cared for in a foster home. Kotor Kitties cannot offer this service, but we may be able suggest suitable people to act in this role. You will need to make your own arrangements with them and be responsible for all communications.
All cats and dogs leaving Montenegro, regardless of their destination, are required to have a veterinary inspector provide an official statement of health for exiting the country. This is not the same local clinic veterinarian who provides their shots and certificate, but this travel paperwork can be arranged by the clinic veterinarian. You can also schedule that appointment with the veterinary inspector on your own.
Ask your veterinarian for details, and he will tell you how to proceed in a rational way for your situation.
Cat and Dog Transport Options from Montenegro
There are a number of travel options for you to bring your adopted cat to the US, UK, Russia, or a European Union country.
Flights
A number of airlines will allow you to take your cat in the cabin on a direct flight, with restrictions on the size and design of the carrier and the overall weight. Please check with your airline for their specific carrier requirements for in-cabin or in-hold transport.
You MUST make a reservation for the animal in advance, whether it will travel in the cabin or in cargo. Most airlines allow a maximum of 2 pets to travel in the cabin; any more and they would need to travel in the hold of the plane. There is also a limit on the number of animals allowed in the hold, often only 2 per flight. The animal must have an accompanying passenger, whether in the cabin or in the hold. Be aware that most airlines limit a passenger to one or two animals.
Animal Couriers
If you know that you cannot take the animal on a flight, whether because of size or another issue, you may want to consider a private transport company. A number of transport options are available with this company. For exact prices it will always be best to contact the company directly, but there is only the one company serving Montenegro.
Information as of October 2020. It is suggested that information is reviewed using the links above in case of changes.
For information on taking a pet to Russia, the US, UK, or an EU country, please click on the appropriate flag
