taking cats and pet food over the US border into the US

[photogirl67]

hi all

I'm new to this group and I've searched but can't find anything to answer this. We are going from Alberta to AZ for winters (snow birds) and have two cats. We know we need shots and papers for them - can any vet do that? Is there a special form we need ahead of getting to the border?

we will be driving over in an RV and they will be with us. We also heard that you can't take dry cat food over the border - that they take it. Is this true? Does anyone know about that?

thanks.
Darlene

[Reba]

Call your normal vet and ask them if they have the wellness certificate for the cats. They will need to have rabies shot at least 30 days before you leave, if they have not yet had it this year.

Never heard of them confiscating cat food, but really, I think there's cat food available in the US just in case they do. Most of the same brands that are in Canada

[Steven]

Check on www.fda.gov for allowed cat foods. I seem to recall an article that mislabelled dildos and cat food were the two things most often seized by CBP at POEs with Ontario.

[agnelson]

I always make sure my cat's dildos are correctly labeled.

[Steven]

Actually iirc it wasn't dildos, it was some penis enlargement kit made in Québec and CBP have been specifically warned to seize them because it's not described that way on the packaging. And certain types of cat food.

[photogirl67]

30 days prior? Okay, good to know thanks!

I'll register my dildos before I leave too, LOL.

[lawsrlaws]

When there was a ban on beef, the Ag Specialists were taking cat and dog food. That was over a year ago, and the beef ban has ended.

[miguelramosv]

This is the rule on cats:

All domestic cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry. If the animal is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the owner's expense. Cats arriving in Hawaii or Guam, both of which are free of rabies, are subject to that state's/ territory's quarantine requirements.


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Don't get a vet certificate, as long as they look "healthy" this is ok. Getting the certificate is a waste of money. Dogs are a different story.

I took my cat in with no documentation - no issues. Good luck!

-- Fri Jan 29, 2010 3:34 pm --

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal/dogs.htm