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Bringing a cat into the United States: what is (and isn't) required

There is no CDC form for cats, no federal rabies vaccination proof, and no USDA animal-health requirement for a pet cat entering the US. Your cat must appear healthy and can be inspected at the port of entry. Check your destination state and your airline instead — and note Hawaii and Guam impose their own quarantine rules even on cats from the mainland.

Almost everything written about 'CDC pet import rules' is about dogs. For cats, CDC's position is short: cats must appear healthy on arrival, they are subject to inspection, and a cat showing signs of a zoonotic disease can be denied entry or required to have a veterinary examination at your expense. CDC recommends rabies vaccination but does not require proof of it.

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services states it has no animal health requirements for importing a pet cat into the US. CDC does not require a general health certificate either — but some states do, and airlines frequently require one, so get a certificate if your airline asks.

The exceptions that matter: Hawaii and Guam apply their own quarantine regimes to cats arriving even from the US mainland. See our Hawaii route page if that is your destination.

Related questions

Does my cat need the CDC Dog Import Form?

No. The form, the 6-month age rule and the high-risk country framework are dogs only.

Does my cat need a microchip to enter the US?

No federal rule requires one for cats entering the US. Your destination state or airline may still ask.

Can my cat be refused entry?

Yes, if it appears ill with a disease communicable to humans — CDC can require a veterinary examination at your expense before entry.

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-11

Official sources for this page

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.