A cat named Eva makes history at Cochin airport, after hopping on a flight from Doha

The cat was brought from Doha by K A Ramachandran, who has moved back to Kerala after spending 34 years in Qatar. An automobile mechanic by profession, Ramachandran said his son Rineesh, who is also employed in Doha, insisted that he take Eva along on his return.

“She was found abandoned near our apartment in Doha a year ago. I took the kitten to my flat and nurtured it. Soon, she became a member of my flat, where she remained in my room. She eats only cooked fish and chicken. Veterinary doctors believe that Eva belongs to a Turkish breed. When I decided to return to Kerala, I could not leave Eva orphaned again in Doha,” he said.

The cat did not require quarantine, neither in Doha nor in Kochi, as it had all the required documents and vaccination certificates, Ramachandran said. (Image source: X/@KochiAirport)

Arduous process

Ramachandran, a native of Chelakkara in Thrissur district, said the process of bringing a pet from abroad is an arduous one.

After a veterinary doctor examined Eva, it was issued a pet passport with all its details, including age, which was marked as one year and three months. Then, an application was submitted with the airlines – Air India, in Eva’s case – with copies of vaccination certificates, health certificate, the owner’s flight ticket, and passport. All the documents from the vets have only seven days’ validity before the stipulated day of travel, Ramachandran explained. Besides, a no-objection certificate has to be obtained from Animal Quarantine and Certification Services under the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry in order to bring a pet to India, he said.

Ramachandran said he had to pay 340 Qatari Riyals – a price that depends on the weight of the pet (3 kg in Eva’s case) and its bag (2 kg). (X/@KochiAirport)

While the cat did not require a flight ticket of its own, Ramachandran said he had to pay 340 Qatari Riyals – a price that depends on the weight of the pet (3 kg in Eva’s case) and its bag (2 kg) – to take it with him in the plane. The bag with the cat was kept under his seat, he said.

The cat did not require quarantine, neither in Doha nor in Kochi, as it had all the required documents and vaccination certificates, Ramachandran said.

“At Cochin airport, Eva’s arrival was a big excitement for everyone. Customs clearance and other processes were hassle-free. I never knew that my cat’s arrival was going to make history at the airport,” he said.