Taking pet cats (live) out of United States
Taking a cat out of United States requires an export health certificate, microchip, and rabies vaccination — destination rules drive the timeline.
Details
Cat export from United States requires a veterinary export health certificate issued shortly before departure, an ISO microchip, and current rabies vaccination. Destination import rules drive the real timeline: rabies-titre tests with waiting periods for rabies-free jurisdictions (Australia, New Zealand, Japan), import permits, and quarantine bookings must be arranged months ahead. Airlines apply IATA Live Animals Regulations container requirements. Start from the destination's official import checklist and work backwards.
Quantity limits
Per destination import permit
Documentation required
- Veterinary export health certificate
- ISO microchip + rabies vaccination record
- Destination import permit / quarantine booking where required
The other direction
Bringing pet cats (live) into United States(restricted)