Eva, the cat, becomes first pet to land at Kochi airport

Cochin International Airport received a very important passenger on Thursday, Eva, a pet cat. Eva made history by becoming the first animal to have flown to the airport from abroad. The international airport received its Animal Quarantine Certification Service (AQCS) in October earlier this year.

There are only six airports in India with AQCS facilities through which animals can be flown in. The purpose of the quarantine certificate is to prevent the spread of dangerous exotic diseases into the country.

According to a report by The Indian Express, Eva, the one-year-old cat was flown in from Doha, Qatar by K A Ramachandra from Chelakkara in Thrissur district. They arrived on an Air India flight.

Ramachandra, having worked in Qatar as an automobile mechanic for 34 years is moving back to Kerala. Nearly a year ago, Ramchandra found Eva abandoned near his apartment in Doha. He nurtured the kitten, and soon Eva became a part of the family. The vets believe she belongs to a Turkish breed. Ramachandra said he could not leave Eva orphaned again in Doha, when he decided to return to Kerala.

It is a tedious process to transport a pet from abroad. Eva was issued a pet passport after a veterinary examination. An application with copies of vaccination certificates, health certificate, the owner’s flight ticket and passport was then submitted to the airlines. All the documents from the vet are only valid for seven days prior to the date of travel. A no objection certificate must be obtained from Animal Quarantine and Certification Services in order to bring a pet to India, Ramachandran said.

The cat does not require a ticket. Ramachandran said he paid 340 Qatari Riyals for the pet and its bag. This price depends on the weight of the pet, in his case 3kg and the bag which weighed 2kg.

As Eva had all the required documents, she did not have to be quarantined in Doha or in Kochi . “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.

Luka, a Lhasa Apso was the first animal to be flown out of the Kochi airport in June 2024.

On popular demand, Kochi airport is fully equipped with a pet station, veterinary services and a quarantine facility, to ensure the smooth transport of pets.