Published: 30 November 2024
NT Bureau
Doha
A cat from Doha, called Eva, has become a celebrity in India’s southern state of Kerala after becoming the first pet to have flown in to Cochin International Airport from abroad, after the airport became only the 7th in the country to be equipped to receive pets, local media have reported.
“Eva the cat was a VIP at Cochin International Airport on Thursday, becoming the first pet to have flown into the airport from abroad in its 25 years of commercial operations. One-year-old Eva’s arrival from Qatar was made possible after the airport recently acquired the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) certification, becoming only the seventh airport in the country that can receive pets from abroad,” Indian Express reported.
The cat was brought from Doha by K A Ramachandran, who 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, the report said.
“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,” Ramachandran told the daily.
He said bringing a pet from abroad was an arduous process, and they flew on Air India.
While the cat did not require a ticket, he had to pay 340 Qatari Riyals to take it with him in the plane. The bag with the cat was kept under his seat, he said.
“At Cochin airport, Eva’s arrival was a big excitement for everyone. Customs clearance and other pro-cesses were hassle-free. I never knew that my cat’s arrival was going to make history at the airport,” he said.
Also, videos of Eva’s arrival in Kochi and the welcome she received were shared widely on social media.
