CAROL SMILLIE

Pets are part of the family; if you go, they go. I recently acquired a pet passport for our dog, Jess, so that we can take her on holiday with us. But it took a lot of time to organise, so I would get cracking on the forms as soon as possible.

Animals are very adaptable. I know people who have taken their dogs with them when they have emigrated and it's been a brilliant success. Their tips include realising that it will take your dog a while to acclimatise. The Australian heat can be difficult for an animal that has lived in rainy England, and it will tire more quickly in hotter weather. Don't take it on long walks until it has got used to it.

Elderly dogs don't do well with big moves. Is your pet fit to travel and will the stress of a 24-hour flight be too much for it? If it has medical needs, make sure that your vet provides you with enough medication to cover you for at least a month after you arrive. This will give you time to set things up with your new vet.

Be prepared for your cats to take a while to settle in. Make sure that they are chipped and registered with your Australian vet, just in case they stray. Also ask the local vet whether there are any poisonous plants, snakes or spiders that you should be looking out for in your new garden. If you have children, make sure that they know how important it is to close the garden gates and watch out for their animals.

Then remember the nice bits; taking a dog to a new country will help you to integrate socially with your new neighbours.

The TV presenter Carol Smillie lives in Glasgow with her husband and three children. She supports the University of Glasgow's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

EMMA MAGNUS

It is perfectly feasible to take pets on long-haul flights, especially since the pet passport scheme was introduced in 2000. It has reduced the amount of time pets need to spend in quarantine as all health checks are contained within each animal's document or “passport”. Your pets will be quarantined for a month in Australia, but you will be able to visit them. Be prepared to be surprised at how adaptable they are.

There are a couple of things you need to think about. First, the money. It will cost at least £2,000 to transport a dog (depending on its size) and two cats to Australia. Then you have to pay for the month's quarantine, micro-chipping, veterinary costs, transport to and from airports and all the paperwork. Overall, you could be looking at £3,000 to £3,500.

Second, the process can be quite lengthy. Make sure that you contact your vet and the flight companies as soon as possible as it can take nine months to a year to complete the paperwork and health checks needed for long-haul travel.

You also need to think about the emotional impact on the animals. Pets travel in International Air Transport Association-approved crates within a specially prepared hold. They are not tranquillised as they travel within a warm and dark area, which should encourage them to settle. They have water containers in their crates and are given a small meal before they leave, so they should not need to go to the toilet during the journey.

I would suggest that you use a specialist agent to arrange your journey; ask your local airport or vet to recommend one. Have the crates delivered several weeks beforehand so that your pets can get used to them before they fly. Introduce them as a new bed and let your dog and cats associate them with “good things” such as toys and food. The crate will appear quite snug, but this is a safety precaution to stop the animals moving around too much during turbulence and when they are moved on and off the plane.

Emma has a masters degree in applied animal behaviour and animal welfare. She is the author of How to Have a Relaxed Rabbit (Pet Behaviour Centre, £3.50)

Send your top tips for perfect pets to body&soul@thetimes.co.uk

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Pet travel companies:

Airpets Heathrow,

01753 685571, airpets.com

Par Air, 01206 330332, parair.co.uk ; PetAir UK, 01725 551124, petairuk.com

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Airline-approved carriers: 0800 07443029 doghealth.co.uk ; from £27.49

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A guide to the UK's Pet Travel Scheme (Pets) and pet passports is available on the Defra website, defra.gov.uk or call

0870 241 1710