[AnotherCat]

While I can understand the pain of having a pet in quarantine it seems to me that China's requirements were fair and easy. And especially so in comparison to many countries.

In my own country, New Zealand, generally speaking all cats imported (except those from Australia) have to undergo quarantine and a permit to import has to be obtained. Cats coming from rabies free countries (or where rabies is well controlled) are generally only quarantined for 10 days if they pass a vet's inspection on arrival. BUT for the quarantine to be that short the cat must have been under a strict 6 month regime of veterinary supervision, mandatory vaccinations, and treatments for internal and external parasites prior to departure from its home country. The cat has also to have been microchipped prior and the chip reading entered on each vet visit's documentation (to avoid substitution of pets). All that has to be supervised and documented only by NZ Government approved vet's in the country the cat departs from.

If the cat arrives with incorrect documentation or if the above requirements have not been met, or it does not come from a rabies free (or well controlled) country then the cat has to be quarantined for 6 months. I am not aware of the current situation but some years back helping arrange very long flights from Europe for 2 cats via USA (so about the longest journey possible), they had to stay in the same aircraft all the way including during the refueling, freight, and passenger loading, etc., stopover in the USA - the cats were checked at that time. Interestingly, once the cats' flight was booked they had priority over all other freight except for zoo animals.

The quarantine premises here are privately owned and one can choose which one (but there are only a few available). Usually, they will allow visitors but it is often thought to not be a good idea as after each visit the cat (and some owners) may go through separation anxiety. So I am not surprised that you were not allowed visits in China.

I don't know where you departed from, but if it was the USA then, just as an example, if coming to NZ you would have had to go through 6 months of various predeparture veterinary treatments and supervisions and obtain a permit prior to the cat's departure. Subject to a satisfactory vet's inspection on arrival and all required 6 month prearrival surveillance and documentation in order the cat would only be required to be quarantined for 10 days. USA is not rabies free (but is well controlled) so if the cat's inspection and documentation were not in order I would expect that the cat could be deported or would be subject to up to 6 months quarantine.

If you departed from China to NZ, just as another example, the cat would likely be quarantined for 6 months.

I have a little familiarity with Australia and Papua New Guinea and as far as I know they have requirements somewhat similar to NZ (I am unsure but I think the UK is also much the same for cats coming from countries outside of the EU pet passport zone - maybe someone knows?).

Here the main health concerns for arriving cats are rabies, internal and external parasites, and canine influenza (which affects cats as well as dogs and is highly contagious). Rabies is not regarded as well controlled in China but even so I would suspect that they would be concerned about its possible arrival in China in imported cats, as well as parasites and canine influenza. If, for example, China did not require any long period of veterinary surveillance and treatments for your cat prior to your departure to China I would have thought that 1 months quarantine in lieu of that was extremely reasonable and their requirement of that should not be complained about by any responsible cat owner.