Traveling with a cat - questions for people who flew with their cat in the cabin

[MordecaiRigby 29]

hi there just wondering did you get your cat the rabies vaccine? also did you get your papers from pettravel.com or did your vet just write up their own letters/record of vaccinations etc?

Yes, the rabies vaccine is the one that the CBP wants to see. The rabies shot must be given 30+ days before travel (no less than 30 days before travel or the cat might get quarantined).

I did not use any papers from pettravel.com. I actually wrote my own "Pet health and immunization certificate" document and asked my vet to sign it (of course she thoroughly checked that all info was accurate) because I wanted to have this document in English and I didn't feel like paying for another certified translation. Obviously, since you're from Ireland, you won't have this problem The health certificate that I put together contained the following:

- data of the owner (first name, last name, address, phone number)

- data of the cat (name, breed, age, color, sex)

- Information that the cat is in good general health and free of signs of any communicable diseases

- info on all the recent immunizations (dates, names of vaccines, names of diseases that they are against, manufacturer)

- contact info for the vet (name, address, phone number, signature, stamp, preferably on letterhead, although mine wasn't and it was OK too)

Document should be dated as close to the travel as possible (definitely no more than 2 weeks). Mine was dated 8 days before travel.

[PriscaLS 1]

I wanted to thank you for creating this thread and reporting back about your experience. This helps me a lot as I will be traveling to the US with my cat as well, and have been extremely nervous about something happening to her or issues with paperwork etc.

I hope my experience goes as well as yours!

[LondonWelsh 0]

Hi there!

Just came across this thread and we are travelling to the US (Chicago) from London with our cat in a couple of weeks. He has to go in the hold though not the cabin.

I'm interested that you said you had to show evidence of the rabies vaccine? It says on the CDC website that it's not needed: http://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/cats.html and Illinois said it's not needed either: https://www.agr.state.il.us/international-import-requirements-for-dogs-and-cats/

Edited: also found this https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/56/~/pets---cats

Can I ask where you found out that the CBP wanted to see it? We don't have time to get our cat the vaccine now and we won't be able to fly with him if this is the case

Many thanks for your help!

LW x

Yes, the rabies vaccine is the one that the CBP wants to see. The rabies shot must be given 30+ days before travel (no less than 30 days before travel or the cat might get quarantined).

I did not use any papers from pettravel.com. I actually wrote my own "Pet health and immunization certificate" document and asked my vet to sign it (of course she thoroughly checked that all info was accurate) because I wanted to have this document in English and I didn't feel like paying for another certified translation. Obviously, since you're from Ireland, you won't have this problem The health certificate that I put together contained the following:

- data of the owner (first name, last name, address, phone number)

- data of the cat (name, breed, age, color, sex)

- Information that the cat is in good general health and free of signs of any communicable diseases

- info on all the recent immunizations (dates, names of vaccines, names of diseases that they are against, manufacturer)

- contact info for the vet (name, address, phone number, signature, stamp, preferably on letterhead, although mine wasn't and it was OK too)

Document should be dated as close to the travel as possible (definitely no more than 2 weeks). Mine was dated 8 days before travel.

Edited September 17, 2016 by LondonWelsh

[lacolinab13 86]

When I flew with my cat from Peru to the US in November, the airline wanted to see the health certificate, but the customs officers didn't ask for any paperwork, just took a look at the cat and sent him through. LondonWelsh, I found the same info you did, that there are no federal vaccination requirements for a cat and that state requirements vary (but most have no vaccination requirements either). If it were me, I would probably give the cat the rabies shot now, get a health and vaccination certificate, and then print out the official pages where it says there are no requirements for cats. I think you'll be fine, worse case scenario would be a quarantine but with cats there are really few concerns.

[LondonWelsh 0]

Thank you

I'm getting him seen at the vets 6 days before travel to get the health certificate so will ask about rabies vax. I had an inclination to print those pages and I think I will!

When I flew with my cat from Peru to the US in November, the airline wanted to see the health certificate, but the customs officers didn't ask for any paperwork, just took a look at the cat and sent him through. LondonWelsh, I found the same info you did, that there are no federal vaccination requirements for a cat and that state requirements vary (but most have no vaccination requirements either). If it were me, I would probably give the cat the rabies shot now, get a health and vaccination certificate, and then print out the official pages where it says there are no requirements for cats. I think you'll be fine, worse case scenario would be a quarantine but with cats there are really few concerns.

[MordecaiRigby 29]

Hi there!

Just came across this thread and we are travelling to the US (Chicago) from London with our cat in a couple of weeks. He has to go in the hold though not the cabin.

I'm interested that you said you had to show evidence of the rabies vaccine? It says on the CDC website that it's not needed: http://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/cats.html and Illinois said it's not needed either: https://www.agr.state.il.us/international-import-requirements-for-dogs-and-cats/

Edited: also found this https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/56/~/pets---cats

Can I ask where you found out that the CBP wanted to see it? We don't have time to get our cat the vaccine now and we won't be able to fly with him if this is the case

Many thanks for your help!

LW x

Hi LondonWelsh,

In my case the rabies vaccine had to be administered because otherwise the cat wouldn't be allowed OUT of my country (one thing is what USA authorities want from you when you enter their country with cat, another thing is what the airlines want to see to even let the cat on board). The Polish certificate from the County Veterinarian Inspector had a question about rabies on it and it was specified on the airlines website that the pet needs to have had a rabies shot.

You are absolutely right - the CBP and CDC websites don't mention the quarantine (and there probably really isn't any for cats). I found the info about quarantine on the website of the airline I was traveling with. It says: "NOTE! In case of carriage of animals to the United States of America a 30 day-long quarantine since the last vaccination against rabies is required." http://www.lot.com/us/en/travelling-with-pets That information is probably either outdated, or it only pertains to dogs, and not all pets. My bad, sorry.

However, even though my cat was not examined by anyone at the Chicago airport upon arrival (I didn't even have to take him out of his container), the CBP officer asked about the cats documents and they were thoroughly examined.

[LondonWelsh 0]

Hi Mordecai, thanks for your reply!

We are flying American Airlines and they don't have any specific requirements other than the certificate of health - I'll fly with that and his other documents. I think we'll get him the rabies shot anyway to be honest but it'll only be 6 days before he flies, better safe than sorry though!

Thanks LWx

Hi LondonWelsh,

In my case the rabies vaccine had to be administered because otherwise the cat wouldn't be allowed OUT of my country (one thing is what USA authorities want from you when you enter their country with cat, another thing is what the airlines want to see to even let the cat on board). The Polish certificate from the County Veterinarian Inspector had a question about rabies on it and it was specified on the airlines website that the pet needs to have had a rabies shot.

You are absolutely right - the CBP and CDC websites don't mention the quarantine (and there probably really isn't any for cats). I found the info about quarantine on the website of the airline I was traveling with. It says: "NOTE! In case of carriage of animals to the United States of America a 30 day-long quarantine since the last vaccination against rabies is required." http://www.lot.com/us/en/travelling-with-pets That information is probably either outdated, or it only pertains to dogs, and not all pets. My bad, sorry.

However, even though my cat was not examined by anyone at the Chicago airport upon arrival (I didn't even have to take him out of his container), the CBP officer asked about the cats documents and they were thoroughly examined.

[millefleur 5,037]

Hey everyone, joining in the topic here with a couple questions and an experience about flying with my cat in the cabin.

I just flew my cat over to my sister in Austria, who is now the owner. He flew in the cabin and it was.....kind of crazy. However, it was such a short flight, I'm wondering if this would be possible on a longer flight to the US? So, here goes.

My cat, an Abyssinian, is leash trained. So he was in a harness with a leash the entire time. He absolutely freaked out during take off, which I read was normal. We had this carrier (soft shell zipped with a flat bottom) and during the flight he actually completely busted out of the carrier and the zipper became broken. He absolutely hates being in the carrier, and despite having a padlock on the zipper, he still busted out of it! I put him in my lap and the cabin crew were kind of upset about it, so I ended up putting him in an IKEA bag (those reusable shopping bags) with his head poking out and he just curled up on my lap in the bag and was completely chill for the rest of the flight. Didn't even meow, just slept in my lap for the 2.5 hours flight. I sort of tried to put him back in the carrier for landing, but since it was totally busted, it was just like holding the carrier over him while he was in my lap. He was calm and absolutely chill during the landing, probably because he felt close to me.

It was just so much easier with him not being in the carrier....I was wondering, did anyone manage to take their cats out of the carrier during the flight? Is it allowed, were you able to sneak it somehow? With our cat it just went from completely freaking out and meowing constantly inside the carrier to total silence and quiet outside of it. We actually had given the cat this "Stop Stress" medication before the flight....had almost not affect in terms of calming him down while in the carrier it seems.

Also, the poor kitty peed in the carrier a bit due to fear. And that was only a 2.5 hour flight!! I'm really concerned about when my sister takes him on the long haul to the States, 13 or so hours....we're debating whether or not to try another kind of sleeping pill/medication on the cat. I seriously think the cat would be much calmer if he could be in my sister's lap (like he was on mine) and I'm wondering if anyone else tried that during their experiences.

Also, if anyone used a tranquilizer/medication successful, what was the name? Let me know, thank you!