Greece

My boyfriend has landed a job in Greece for the next few years, and I will be joining him as soon as I figure out what to do with his 18 year old cat who shows no signs of dying anytime soon. Does anybody know how to find the regulations regarding bringing a cat to Greece, like vaccinations and quarantine?
Also, I'm looking for information about how to get work or applying for school there, so if anybody has any pointers please let me know.

Well if you are American, you have no chance of living and working legally in Greece. You are also limited to 90 days as a tourist.
You may be able to get a long stay visa as a student but that's probably your only possibility.

Yes, I'm American, and I'm familiar with the 90 day rule. I don't really have a problem with coming back every few months to check on the family here. Personally, I'm not hung up on the idea that I won't be able to have a job for a while, either. Now, any ideas about that cat?

Are you aware that your 'coming back every few months' will need to be for 3 months at a time in order to meet the 90 in 180 rule? You can't just visit the USA for a week or two and then return to Greece.

As for the cat, take it to the vet or find it a new home, don't take it to Greece.

Is Greece a bad place for cats BP?

I found this US Embassy in Athens information on Bringing Pets to Greece.

Greece is overrun with cats silvanocat. Greeks do not believe in neutering etc. They see it as un-natural. They also don't generally think of animals as pets. A cat or a dog is no different than a cow or a horse.

In many places huge populations of cats build up when food is plentiful. ie. tourist restaurant garbage bins. Then in winter they literally starve to death. In many places it is common for people to put out poison to get rid of them. Having a pet cat that you let out of the house is therefore a risky business.

That link to the the Greek rules for importing pets looks pretty clear- no quarantine needed. Just follow the rules. I'd just worry if the cat was healthy enough to endure the stress of the long plane trip, especially if you go with an airline that requires it to go cargo. The poor thing is old. However, if it's healthy enough, and if you think you take better care of it than anyone else you could find to adopt it, then why not take it with you? Although, given what others have said, don't let it outside once you get to Greece!

It's not totally true that as an American, the OP has no chance of living and working in Greece, although I admit the chances are slim. I don't know about the Greek rules, so I'm just throwing stuff out here: 1) does Greece recognize registered partner type relationships? If your boyfriend has a work permit, it may be possible to bring you in on his WP if you can prove your relationship to the Greek authorities; 2) Does your boyfriend have citizenship from an EU country? Then, if you can prove a "marriage like" relationship, it may be possible to bring to you if he's working in the EU; 3) is it at all possible that you could acquire citizenship from an EU country? Maybe through a grandparent or parent?

Like I said, the chances are slim, but it's not impossible.

You can't give your cat to someone in the States? Yes there are loads of cats in Greece, but personally I wouldn't be letting it outside either. Plus the travel and change will put a big toll on the cat!

Like #6 said unless you have some special skills you probably won't be able to stay in Greece unless you're married to someone who is Greek, has a work permit or you're an EU citizen in some way shape or form.

You might be able to go on a study visa or something though, maybe learning greek? where abouts are you going to be there?

First of all, I want to thank everybody who has replied. My boyfriend could get me in as "member of household" but for personal reasons I am not thrilled with the idea (marry me or don't, but let's not pretend, right?). I did not realize I would have to spend 90 days back in the States, though. The cat, unfortunately, is hard to give away because she's not a cute little kitten anymore, even if she is cute. She has always been an indoor cat, so I wouldn't dream of letting her out in Greece anyway. I have to take her to the vet for an evaluation as to whether or not she can travel.
Again, thank you for all the input!

I took my 16 year old cat to Moldova this summer, and had very few problems. Some tips --

Only take him/her if you must. I was shocked to find that absolutely nobody in my family was willing to take my cat for even a three month minimum, so I had to put her through a complete round of immunizations and a microchip before I left. Being an indoor cat, she wasn't at much risk, but rules are rules, and my wallet took a beating. Also, make sure that you visit a USDA approved veterinarian to get a checkup and get the necessary USDA paperwork.

Look for a pet-friendly airline before leaving. The American companies all required my cat to have ridden in the cargo hold during the trip. Even though they say this is okay for animals, I would disagree. If that were so, then it would be okay for people to be in the cargo hold, too. I took the Polish airline LOT to Bucharest, then the train to Chisinau. LOT allowed pets in the cabin under the condition that they were in a carrier small enough to fit under the seat. I found a good one at PetSmart that was a wire zip-up basket with a mesh covering, so she could breathe freely and see well. The American ticket agent charged me the price of a child's fare, but I wasn't charged on the way back. I think it depends on where you're coming from. Also, when the stewardesses saw that my cat was no danger, they let me take her out of her carrier to sit on my lap during the flight. Your cat may be different, but mine is well-behaved, and stayed put the entire flight. Everyone on the flight took turns visiting her to scratch her behind the ears. It was the same story on the train to Chisinau from Bucharest. They spared me from long searches at customs, too. Just keep his/her medical records and medications handy in the pocket of the carrier.

Cats are under less scrutiny than dogs. Cats are generally kept as indoor pets, so if you read the USDA fine print, you'll find that the major concern about communicable diseases and/or infestations are with dogs and livestock. Cats are off the radar. I supposed that the worst I would encounter was possible quarantine upon arriving back in the States, but all they did was look at her paperwork, ask me if she came from the States (yes), and let us in to the country. Don't forget to take him/her out of the carrier when going through screening! He/she may not have to undergo such vigorous screening in Greece, though. When I reached the Moldovan border, the customs agents all smiled and petted my cat, and then asked the state veterinarian to come aboard and give her a once-over, which cost me $1.20 U.S. It took $3 U.S. to have the state veterinarian in Chisinau to give her the checkup and paperwork to return home.

Check to make sure that your cat's brand of food is sold where you're going. I took a 12 lb bag in my luggage, but ran out a month and a half into my stay, and had to switch to some German brand that she didn't like too much. If not, make arrangements to have some shipped to you, if necessary.

Take an extra towel, absorbent pads, and a couple of travel/portable cardboard/sawdust catboxes. The absorbent pads and towel helped with the eventual need to potty. A cat can't really hold out on such a long trip, though mine tried her best. She finally went just before landing, and I was able to wash the towel later. Also, folding the towel over helped to cover the smell until I got to my destination. Once there, the portable catboxes are great for one or two overnights at a hotel or hostel, and are easily disposed of later. Just make sure you place them on a tile surface, as they may leak over time.

Plan to leave some things behind in exchange for bringing your cat. I tried to work out taking the cat as well as my carry-on, but despite the extra ticket for her, getting around while carrying all that stuff was a real pain. Either the cat or a carry-on, but not both.

All in all, the experience with my cat was much less harrowing than people led me to believe. As long as you don't push your luck, you should be fine. Plus, having a cat along makes for interesting conversation with fellow travelers!