Mr Sniffles and Thuy

“There was no question Petraveller couldn’t answer, no problem they could not solve.”

Petraveller relocated adorable Domestic Shorthair Mr Sniffles safely from Sydney to Hanoi. Pet mum Thuy talks about her pet’s beautiful personality and tells us why she chose to partner with Petraveller for Mr Sniffles’ international relocation to Vietnam.

Thuy brought home Mr Sniffles when her friend’s cat had a litter and was looking for forever homes for the kittens. Thuy smiles as she recalls, “We came to get Mr Sniffles on a rainy day and carried eight-week-old Mr Sniffles home in a cardboard box on foot. We knew nothing about caring for a cat but loved him and his perpetually pink nose since the moment we saw him.”

Mr Sniffles is an active and curious kitty; he is very sniffy around strangers, shoes or shady corners. Thuy talks about her pet’s temperament. She laughs and says, “Mr Sniffles doesn’t react to being chided and repeats his offences with a nonchalant attitude. It plays to our advantage every time he’s had a traumatic experience like getting desexed, or being forced to walk a bit in the park.”

Most cats are easily stressed in unfamiliar situations, but Mr Sniffles recovers quickly and lets nothing faze him. Thuy shares, “My housemate didn’t like cats before moving in with us, but she now carries Mr Sniffles on her shoulders around the house and lets him sleep on her bed every day. She says Mr Sniffles is unlike other cats because he’s super dependent. He only hangs out in rooms occupied by people and loves kisses and butt scratches.” 

Thuy adds, “Mr Sniffles has had limited contact with men but gets acquainted with our girlfriends quickly. He’s scared of doorbells and dogs but loves chicken, yoghurt, custardy foods, and sleeping on our legs. Mr Sniffles meows every time he does his business and waits until someone comes to clean up after him. He’s food motivated but is used to a water-rich diet. So, he doesn’t know how to drink water when he feels thirsty from eating dry foods.”

Thuy was moving back to her home town in Hanoi, Vietnam. “We were always going to move back to Vietnam and were determined to take Mr Sniffles with us. We never anticipated the pandemic and have remained in Australia these past two years because we couldn’t leave Sniffles behind,” says Thuy.

Pet relocation is stressful for pet parents especially if they are flying with their pets for the first time. Thuy says, “Mr Sniffles’ relocation has been a constant source of anxiety because of his unwillingness to part with us and the dangers of travelling by air. Our number one fear was that no one would care for our needy Mr Sniffles during his flight and that he would be left behind or forgotten or lost in transit. Having to send Mr Sniffles back home ahead of us to a completely new environment and climate is nerve-racking. But past this hurdle, we will have a happy and secure life in our own home, surrounded by family and friends.”

To make the entire relocation process easy, Thuy chose to hire an international pet relocation agency to help relocate Mr Sniffles safely to Hanoi. She reached out to Petraveller to handle her pet cat’s journey. 

Thuy says, “Petraveller was the number one recommendation from two pet owners we spoke to who successfully relocated their fur babies from Australia to Vietnam. Hearing about Petraveller’s dedication towards animal welfare, including the photo updates and personalised care from real people in similar situations gave us the confidence to choose Petraveller. The communication was excellent, and we were provided with prompt instructions and updates every step of the way.”

Thuy continues, “Petraveller gave us pep talks and relieved our anxieties around parting with Mr Sniffles. Reading through everyone’s stories on Petraveller’s Instagram and website, it was clear that Petraveller approached every single relocation with an admirable level of commitment.”

We are happy to say that Mr Sniffles was a well-mannered kitty on his flight to Vietnam. Thuy was delighted with the pet travel experience. She says, “Relocating a pet is no easy feat. Sending my Sniffles from Sydney to Hanoi from one lockdown to another presented many challenges. If it weren't for the absolute legends at Petraveller, we would have lost all our wits. From day one, the dedication Petraveller exhibited in Sniffles' relocation has been the deciding factor that sets them apart from every other service we looked into. There was no question they couldn’t answer, no problem they could not solve. They supervised every step of the process and reached out to us regularly. I’m so grateful that Petraveller exists and that I’ve found them. I hope others choose Petraveller and find their peace of mind.”

Thank you, Thuy, for trusting Petraveller and for your kind words of appreciation. We wish you many memorable adventures with darling Mr Sniffles in Vietnam.