CDC Cat Import Form: What US Rules Really Require When You Bring a Cat Into the Country

There is no CDC cat import form. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created a mandatory online import form only for dogs, under a final rule effective August 1, 2024, and that same rule states in writing that it "does not substantively change how cats are imported into the United States" (CDC/HHS, Federal Register, 2024). If you searched for a cat-specific version of the CDC Dog Import Form, it does not exist — cats entering the United States only need to appear healthy at the port of entry, with no CDC-mandated rabies certificate or permit.

This confusion is understandable. News coverage of CDC's 2024 dog rule was heavy, the rule's official title mentions both species, and pet-shipping companies often bundle "dog and cat import requirements" into one article. This guide separates fact from assumption using CDC's own regulatory text, so you know exactly what is (and isn't) required before you fly a cat into the U.S.

What the "CDC Cat Import Form" Search Is Actually About

Most people typing this query are really looking for one of three things: the CDC Dog Import Form (mistakenly assumed to have a cat equivalent), a general pet health certificate for air travel, or confirmation that cats need any federal paperwork at all. As of September 2026, the answer from CDC's own final rule is that cats do not have a dedicated import form, permit, or online submission requirement.

Why the Rule's Title Mentions Cats At All

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published its final rule as "Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Importation of Dogs and Cats" in the Federal Register on May 13, 2024, effective August 1, 2024. The rule text explains that cats appear in the title only because the underlying regulation (42 CFR Part 71) historically covers both species together for administrative purposes. The substantive changes — a new CDC import form, microchip requirement, minimum import age, and serologic testing for dogs vaccinated abroad — apply only to dogs. The rule states directly that these new tables and requirements "do not apply to cats" (CDC/HHS, Federal Register, 2024).

What CDC Actually Requires for Cats (2026)

According to CDC's importation guidance, a cat entering the United States must simply appear healthy at the port of entry. CDC states that cats "aren't required by CDC to have a rabies vaccination certificate to enter the United States," though CDC recommends vaccination and notes that many states and destination countries require it separately (CDC, Bringing an Animal Into the U.S., 2026). If a cat appears ill — showing signs like coughing, sneezing, or lethargy — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or a CDC quarantine officer can require a veterinary exam at the owner's expense before the cat is allowed to enter.

Step-by-Step: Bringing a Cat Into the U.S. in 2026

1. Confirm your airline's paperwork rules. Airlines such as American, United, and Delta often ask for a veterinary health certificate for international routes even though CDC does not require one for cats.
2. Get a health certificate if your carrier or destination requires it. A certificate from an accredited veterinarian, often dated within 10 days of travel, covers most airline and state requests.
3. Vaccinate against rabies if recommended or required. CDC does not mandate this for cats, but your destination state, the origin country, or your airline may.
4. Check state and territory rules before booking. Hawaii and Guam require quarantine for all incoming cats, even from the U.S. mainland, regardless of federal rules.
5. Arrive with your cat visibly healthy. CBP and, when present, a CDC officer inspect the animal on arrival; illness can trigger a required exam or added quarantine.
6. Keep original documents on hand. Even without a CDC cat import form, carrying your health certificate, microchip records, and any state permits speeds up entry.

CDC Cat Rules vs. CDC Dog Import Form: Side-by-Side

The clearest way to see why there is no CDC cat import form is to compare it directly against what CDC actually requires for dogs under the 2024 rule.

Sources: CDC final rule (Federal Register, May 13, 2024); CDC Dog Import Form and Instructions, cdc.gov/importation (2026).

Who Actually Regulates Cat Imports

Three federal and territorial layers can touch a cat crossing into the U.S., and none of them issue a "cat import form":

• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Handles public health risk — mainly checking that the animal appears healthy on arrival, since cats are not currently linked to the same rabies variant risk that triggered the 2024 dog rule.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Inspects pets and animal products at the physical port of entry alongside CDC when needed (CBP, Bringing Pets and Wildlife into the United States, 2026).
• USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service): Focuses on agricultural and livestock-related import rules; for household pet cats, APHIS mainly points travelers back to CDC and destination-state requirements rather than issuing its own cat form.

If your trip also involves livestock, working animals, or agricultural stock rather than a household pet, USDA APHIS import permits are the relevant paperwork — a different track entirely from pet cat travel.

Where On-Animal Identification Fits (and Where It Doesn't)

None of the CDC, CBP, or USDA APHIS pet-cat rules above require or reference a biometric ID product. That said, for owners managing livestock or farm animal identity more broadly — where paper tags get lost, damaged, or, as seen in Pakistan's August 2025 flood response, washed away entirely — a separate identity record can matter for reclaiming animals after a disaster. Animal Passport is a phone-based digital record that uses a muzzle photo (nose print) as a unique biometric identifier, alongside owner details, breed, an estimated age from a dental photo, a body condition score from a side-profile photo, and vaccination history. It is a livestock identification and record-keeping tool, not a government-issued travel document, and it does not replace any CDC, USDA APHIS, or airline import paperwork for pet cats or dogs. For more on how digital ID has been used in the field, see the Animal Passport blog.

Common Mistakes When Researching Cat Import Rules

• Assuming the 2024 rule's title means new cat rules. The rule names cats in its title but explicitly leaves cat import requirements unchanged.
• Confusing airline requirements with federal requirements. An airline asking for a rabies certificate does not mean CDC requires one — check both separately.
• Ignoring state and territory rules. Hawaii and Guam quarantine incoming cats regardless of what CDC requires nationally.
• Mixing up pet cats with EU pet travel schemes. The EU Pet Travel Scheme and similar frameworks are separate systems that do not apply to U.S. entry; see the next section.

Not the Same as an EU Pet Passport

If you found this page while researching "pet passport" requirements generally, note that the European Union's pet travel scheme (EU Pet Passport, non-commercial movement of pet animals) is a completely different, EU-specific system governed by EU Regulation 576/2013 and issued by an authorized veterinarian in an EU member state. It has no legal standing for entry into the United States, and CDC's cat and dog rules have no equivalent "passport" document. Do not confuse either of these official government or EU systems with Animal Passport's biometric livestock ID product described above; they solve different problems for different audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an official CDC cat import form?

No. CDC's 2024 final rule created a mandatory import form only for dogs. Cats have no equivalent CDC form as of 2026.

Do cats need a rabies vaccine to enter the United States?

CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats entering the U.S., though CDC recommends it and some states, destination countries, or airlines may require it.

What documents does CDC actually require for a pet cat?

CDC does not mandate a specific document for cats. The core CDC requirement is that the cat appears healthy at the port of entry; airlines and states may separately require a health certificate.

Why does the CDC's 2024 rule title mention cats if there's no new cat form?

The rule updates a regulation (42 CFR Part 71) that historically groups dogs and cats together, but the rule's substantive changes — the import form, microchip, and testing requirements — apply only to dogs, not cats.

Do Hawaii or Guam have different cat entry rules?

Yes. Hawaii and Guam require quarantine for incoming cats regardless of origin, including from the U.S. mainland, independent of any CDC rule.

Is the CDC cat rule the same as an EU pet passport?

No. The EU Pet Travel Scheme is a separate system for movement within and into the European Union, governed by EU regulation, and has no bearing on U.S. entry requirements for cats.

Does USDA APHIS issue a cat import permit?

For household pet cats, USDA APHIS generally does not issue a separate import permit; it directs travelers to CDC and destination-state rules. APHIS import permits are more relevant to livestock and agricultural animals.

Can Animal Passport's biometric ID be used instead of a health certificate for a cat?

No. Animal Passport is a livestock identification and record-keeping tool built around muzzle biometrics; it is not a substitute for any CDC, USDA APHIS, or airline paperwork required to bring an animal into the U.S.

Animal Passport, last updated September 2026. This article summarizes publicly available federal guidance for general information and is not legal advice; always confirm current requirements directly with CDC, USDA APHIS, CBP, and your airline before traveling with an animal.