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Bringing a cat from Canada to the United States
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Health on arrival | Your cat must appear healthy. US officers may inspect any cat and can require a veterinary examination at your expense if it shows signs of disease. | Arrival |
| No CDC form, no US health certificate | Do not let dog rules confuse you: there is no CDC form equivalent for cats, and USDA APHIS has no animal-health requirements for pet cats entering the US. Airlines and destination states may set their own rules — check both before you fly. | — |
| Rabies vaccination certificate (for the return) | Canada requires cats 3 months and older to enter with a veterinarian's certificate, in English or French, showing the animal and stating it is currently vaccinated against rabies. The US is not designated rabies-free by Canada, so carry the certificate for the homeward crossing. Cats under 3 months are exempt. | Before you leave Canada |
| Microchip (optional) | Not required by either country on this route, but a chip is your cat's best protection if it escapes in transit. | Any time |
Your preparation timeline
- 1Before travel — Confirm the rabies vaccination is current and pack the certificate for the return to Canada; check airline and destination-state rules
- 2Travel day — Your cat must appear healthy; be ready for a visual inspection
- 3Coming home — Show the rabies vaccination certificate to Canadian border officers
Costs you can plan for
No US or Canadian government fee applies to this route. Your costs are your veterinarian's (vaccination and certificate, if needed) and the airline's pet carriage fee if you fly.
Questions people ask about this route
Does my cat need the CDC Dog Import Form?
No — there is no CDC form for cats at all. The form is dogs-only.
Does my cat need a rabies vaccination to enter the US?
Not under federal rules; CDC recommends it. Canada will require the vaccination certificate when your cat re-enters Canada, so keep it current regardless.
What about Hawaii or Guam?
Both run their own quarantine regimes and impose them even on cats arriving from the US mainland. This page covers entry to the mainland United States — check the Hawaii page if that is your destination.
Can my cat be refused entry?
A cat that appears ill can be inspected and may need a veterinary examination at your expense. A healthy cat whose owner carries the Canadian return paperwork is a routine crossing.
Related guides
- Bringing a dog from Canada to the United States
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
- CDC — Bringing an animal into the United States
- CFIA — Import Reference Document (rules for animals entering Canada)
- Government of Canada — Travel documents for your pets
We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.
Want a professional to run this route for you?
Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.