Regulations for traveling with animal to/from Canada and the USA?
Question by Annie: Regulations for traveling with animal to/from Canada and the USA?
I’m going to be at college next year and staying in apartment (which is cheaper than the dorm). I’ll be buying a cat from the shelter, and will be flying frequently with her to and from my college in Canada to my home in the USA, for summer/winter holidays, etc. What are the regulations for this? I know with most countries, the cat would have to be in quarantine- but often things are different with Canada because it’s so close to the US. What are the regulations?
Best answer:
Answer by Karen L
You need a certificate of rabies vaccination for the cat to come into Canada. Surprisingly, there is no such requirement for pet cats entering the US. You can check this stuff at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and US Customs and Border Patrol websites. You may also need a health certificate to show the airline. However, check carefully into all of what flying with the cat entails, because there are often restrictions on pets in the cabin, and some airlines will not fly any animal in baggage at some times of the year because of heat/cold/heavy traffic. Flying can be stressful for them, too, especially in baggage, and if you have a flight delay or cancellation it could be worse. You have no good way of letting a cat pee in an airport if you’re delayed for 4 hours. Finding a good place to board the cat or having someone look after it while you’re away might be much more sensible in every way. I would not fly any of my cats unless there was no other choice, say if I was moving house. I once had a cat escape from his carrier in flight and was lucky to get him back. He must have been terrified to break out of it.
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