Cats at POE Windsor/Detroit Tunnel By Car

[jassynicholas 0]

Happy happy morning everyone!

We were just approved today (review coming soon) which means now on to my very last stress until AOS.

Has anyone had any experience bringing cats over. I have two with me in Windsor Ontario and they are the other loves of my life and they must come with me. I've emailed the port of entry and they direct me to the site which states as long as they are healthy they can cross. How do they determine if they look healthy? Both my cats are going to be so scared.:-( Any advice or experiences would be helpful.. Especially by car. I could leave all my stuff behind but not my two babies.

[Pitaya 2,576]

Good question.

easily accessible at the top of the forum page. In particular, the Bringing Animals to America Guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/bringing-animals-to-america

HTH,

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Andy&Vanda 8]

Hi Jassy.. We're in a similar situation with a Persian that we plan on driving from Ontario to Florida with.. so 22 hours in the car.

From what we've looked into, cats do not require proof of rabies shots, like dogs require. We are planning to get a letter from a Vet stating the cat is healthy as a precaution and also an Rx for Xanax. We've just recently tried one dose on him to get him shaved. He turned into a mellow love kitty and was purrfect at the groomers and stayed that way for the better part of a day, so we're optimistic we can do the same thing for car trip.

Hope that helps! Let us know how it goes. GOOD LUCK and Congrats!

[jassynicholas 0]

Hi Pitya. I've read the guides. I've read the Detroit border I've emailed them as well. I'd just like to hear some other peoples experiences as this is going to be a stressful one for me.

If any one has crossed and can tell me how it went for them that would be awesome.

[UnaMexicana 153]

You just need their vet cards and they should be fine. I have been looking all over for information as I am in a similar situation, and it seems that cats are rather easy to get across.

I joke with my husband that we wish I were a cat so it was * that * easy!

Best,

UnaMexicana

[nigel78 1]

I brought my cat with me from Canada I took him to the Vet there's a form online you can print and take. It lists vaccines and that pet is safe and fit to travel....just a note I would take cats to the vet the day before as the form becomes in valid within 24 hours. This was per my vet. The forgot to ask me at Toronto airport so I volunteered the info. Hope this helps

[jassynicholas 0]

Hi Jassy.. We're in a similar situation with a Persian that we plan on driving from Ontario to Florida with.. so 22 hours in the car.

From what we've looked into, cats do not require proof of rabies shots, like dogs require. We are planning to get a letter from a Vet stating the cat is healthy as a precaution and also an Rx for Xanax. We've just recently tried one dose on him to get him shaved. He turned into a mellow love kitty and was purrfect at the groomers and stayed that way for the better part of a day, so we're optimistic we can do the same thing for car trip.

Hope that helps! Let us know how it goes. GOOD LUCK and Congrats!

Thanks! I was thinking of getting a vet letter as a precaution as well. I'm so worried! All the guides say it is not needed but I don't want to take the chance of them denying them entry! Good luck with your fur baby!! I hope it goes smoothly! That's a much longer car ride then mine. My cats don't travel well :-(

[nigel78 1]

Oh sorry one more thing when I crossed by car I drugged my cat he had a reaction it was horrible...not to say this happens a lot. Also the CBP let a drug snigffing dog terrorize my cat, the inside of my car got torn up.

[Pitaya 2,576]

Hi Pitya. I've read the guides. I've read the Detroit border I've emailed them as well. I'd just like to hear some other peoples experiences as this is going to be a stressful one for me.

If any one has crossed and can tell me how it went for them that would be awesome.

OIC, thanks for clarifying. It appears that you will get some good responses.

Good luck on your immigration journey, and hope that your feline friends' journey is quick and uneventful.

[Andy&Vanda 8]

Depends on the drugs used, the dosage and the individual cat's tolerance to it. That's why we practiced with a grooming day which normally traumatizes the cat. The groomer and the cat were both very glad for the sedation.

The border dog sounds awful, but they need to do their job as well. Too bad the cat couldn't be removed before the dogs came.

If someone has a link to the online forms needed, please paste it.. THANKS!

[NewOrleansJerry 12]

Hi!

We brought a dog successfully by air from Ukraine to the US. We had earlier planned to bring a cat, but the cat stayed with Irina's parents. You can get your cats here. Here are links that will help you.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel.shtml

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/animals.htm

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_pets.shtml

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/66/kw/prohibited

http://awic.nal.usda.gov/companion-animals/travel-and-transport

http://www.aspca.org/Home/Pet-care/cat-care

http://awic.nal.usda.gov/companion-animals/travel-and-transport

http://cats.about.com/od/travelwithcats/a/airtravelforcats.htm

Good Luck with the kitties!

Jerry and Irina

[Flames9_RN 358]

If one is flying.many airlines will not allow an animal to fly if they think they are sedated..traveled with our cats/dogs to Nicaragua and Ecuador..good times! But since ur driving that is not an issue.....if u are going to sedate them, best to do what Andy & Vanda did, just to make sure the cat can tolerate it. And of course allergic reactions don't often show up the 1st time, usually the 2nd time........Over thew years I have read many people driving their pets across the border here on VJ and no issues. When I drove from DC to Saskatoon back in 2011 with my dog....no 1 even cared in either direction.....Canadian border people gave her a milk bone!! Best of luck

[Sunnyland 639]

Glad you wanna bring your loved pets with you. Make sure before you bring them to US that you have all their medical history papers from the veterinarian stating their current health. Get rabies vaccinations records, etc. Good luck!

And when they cross the border, take pictures of the little ones so we can see how they did it. Hope they have a safe trip with you.

Edited April 10, 2015 by Sunnyland

[CAMama3 1]

I drove our cats over. They don't like being in the car and meowed loudly whenever I stopped, but we all managed. They were in cat carriers and I had their shot records for the border. They briefly looked in my car at the carriers (to make sure that cats were actually inside?) and that was it I have crossed a few times with pets and I have only once been asked anything about them-- and it was about their food.

[dhlunar 25]

The following is from CBP in regards to bringing a cat into the US: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/56/kw/cat/sno/1

What are the requirements for bringing a cat into the U.S.?

As a general rule, there are no restrictions on bringing domestic cats into the U.S.

There are no vaccination requirements for cats, although cats arriving in Hawaii or Guam are subject to that state's/territory's quarantine requirements.

While a rabies (also known as rage) certificate is not required for entry into the U.S., domestic cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined by an inspector at the port of entry. If the animal is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the owner's expense.

If you are bringing your cat to the U.S. on an airplane, you should check with the airline in which you intent to fly as they may have additional requirements. For example, many airlines require a certificate of health from a veterinarian.