Flying a Cat Into the United States: Less Paperwork, Not None

The federal rules, in full

According to the CDC's cat import page:

• Cats must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry.
• A cat showing signs of a disease that can spread to people may be refused entry, and the owner may have to pay for an exam by a licensed veterinarian.
• Proof of rabies vaccination is not required for entry, though the CDC recommends that all cats be vaccinated.

USDA APHIS states that it "does not have any animal health requirements" for importing a pet cat (APHIS cat page).

That's the federal list.

Five things people assume, and what's true

"My cat needs a CDC Dog Import Form."

No. The CDC Dog Import Form, the high-risk country list and the CDC-registered animal care facilities are all part of the CDC's dog rules. A cat coming from the Philippines or Thailand does not follow them.

"My cat needs to be six months old."

That is a CDC rule for dogs. There is no federal minimum age for cats, but airlines set their own minimum ages.

"No federal certificate means no certificate."

Airlines often ask for a recent health certificate and vaccination records for international flights, and the CDC itself notes that some states may require health certificates. Check with the airline and the state of final destination before you fly.

"Hawaii is part of the US, so the same rules apply."

Cats arriving in Hawaii or Guam, including from the US mainland, face local quarantine rules. Hawaii requires a passing rabies antibody test and other documents to avoid up to 120 days of quarantine (Hawaii Department of Agriculture).

"Leaving Asia is just a flight."

The departure country often has its own exit process, covered below.

The export side does most of the work

Some examples of what departure countries require for cats:

• Japan: every dog and cat leaving Japan needs an export inspection by the Animal Quarantine Service, applied for through NACCS at least 14 days before export and carried out within 10 days before departure (MAFF).
• Singapore: an export license is required for all pets leaving, at S$50 (normal) or S$100 (express), valid 90 days (AVS).
• Elsewhere: an official export certificate is usually optional for a US-bound cat, but it is often the easiest way to satisfy an airline that wants a government-endorsed health document. We confirm what the authority and airline want for your dates.

Country details are on our route pages, such as Japan to the USA and Singapore to the USA.

If your cat might go back to Asia

Keep the rabies vaccination current and keep copies of any titer reports, even though the US doesn't ask for them. Countries like Japan and Taiwan have long rabies-related timelines for pets arriving from the US mainland, and a lapsed vaccine can restart the process. Our guide to shipping a cat to Taiwan shows what that looks like.

The flight

Cabin travel is not available on every route or airline, and snub-nosed breeds such as Persians, Himalayans and Exotic Shorthairs face restrictions with several carriers, especially in the hold. Practice with the carrier or crate in advance, and see our long-haul preparation guide. Our cat relocation service confirms the airline, mode and crate for your cat.