California Quarantine Law for Importing Cats
When you are traveling to California from outside the United States with your pet cat, your cat is subject to inspection and quarantine at the port of entry. Pets returning to the United States are also subject to these procedures.
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California Import Laws
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Unlike some states, California does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats coming into the state, nor does it require a certificate of veterinary inspection, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). All cats at ports of entry to California must appear healthy, subject to veterinary inspection.
Quarantine
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulates the importation of domestic cats to any state in the United States. It has quarantine stations in three ports of entry into California, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. If an imported cat appears unhealthy or ill with a communicable disease, quarantine is necessary.
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Considerations
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When traveling to the United States from an international destination with your cat, contact the airline you plan to use as it may require a veterinary health certificate for your cat, even though the CDFA and the CDC do not. All veterinary inspections and quarantine for cats appearing ill are at the owner's expense.
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References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Bringing a Cat into the United States
- California Department of Food and Agriculture: Health Requirements for Admitting Domestic Cats and Dogs into California
- California Department of Food and Agriculture: Small Animal and Pet Questions and Answers
- Pet Friendly Travel: International Pet Travel -- Taking Your Pet Animal to a Foreign Country
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: San Francisco Quarantine Station
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Quarantine Station Quick Reference List
Resources
- Photo Credit cat image by milemarsovac from Fotolia.com
