Bringing a Cat to the USA: CDC & APHIS Requirements 2026

Importing a cat to the United States from Latin America involves complying with two separate federal agencies: the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). Each has different jurisdiction and requirements that must be met in parallel, not in sequence. Understanding what each agency requires, on what timeline, and which documents are issued by whom is the first step to ensuring the move goes without complications.

Unlike dogs, cats are not subject to the CDC's rabies vaccine controls that came into effect in 2024. But that does not mean cats enter without documentation. APHIS requirements apply and are mandatory for all domestic felines. Below, we explain each point with updated information for 2026.

Do cats need a rabies vaccine to enter the USA?

This is the most frequently asked question, and the answer is nuanced. The CDC, which has enforced strict rabies controls on dog imports since 2024, does not require cats (Felis catus) to have a rabies vaccine as a condition of entry into the United States. Cats are not considered an epidemiological rabies risk vector under current federal regulations.

However, there are two practical considerations that should not be overlooked:

• USDA APHIS may require it depending on the destination state: some southwestern US states have additional local regulations. Florida, Texas, and California generally accept cats without a federal rabies vaccine requirement, but it is worth verifying the rules of the specific destination county.
• The airline may require it: several international airlines include the rabies vaccine in their documentation requirements for transporting cats, regardless of what the CDC requires. American Airlines, United, and Delta request it as part of the complete health certificate for international routes.
• Veterinary recommendation: even if not federally mandated, a current rabies vaccine protects the animal and simplifies any border inspection. At Pet Cargo (USDA/APHIS License #58-T-0201, IPATA member #2149), we recommend keeping it up to date for all cats traveling internationally.

In practical terms: if the cat already has a current rabies vaccine, there is no issue including it in the documentation. If it does not, the cat can still enter the USA as long as the rest of the paperwork is in order — but it is advisable to check the specific requirements of the airline and destination state.

ISO 11784/11785 microchip: mandatory for international flights

The microchip is the universal identification requirement for any animal crossing an international border. For cats entering the United States from Latin America, the required standard is ISO 11784/11785 — the same standard used by Europe and most of the world.

Key points about microchips in cats:

• Frequency: the ISO chip operates at 134.2 kHz. Readers at US airports are compatible with this standard. The older American 125 kHz chip is not accepted as the sole identifier for import purposes.
• Implantation: must be placed by a licensed veterinarian, in the neck area (between the shoulder blades is most common in cats). The procedure takes seconds and requires no anesthesia.
• Registration: the chip number must match exactly what appears on the health certificate and on any official documentation. A one-digit discrepancy can result in a border hold.
• Rabies vaccine after the chip: if the cat receives a rabies vaccine as part of the travel documentation, it must be administered after the microchip, not before. Vaccines administered before the chip was implanted are not valid for international certifications.

The microchip has no expiration date. Once correctly implanted, it is valid for the animal's lifetime. If the cat already has a chip that is not ISO 11784/11785 (for example, a 125 kHz chip implanted in the USA years ago), the solution is to implant a second ISO chip alongside it — a routine procedure.

Veterinary health certificate: what it must include

The health certificate is the central document of any international cat relocation. There are two levels: the private veterinary certificate (issued by the treating veterinarian) and the official certificate (endorsed or issued by the country of origin's official health authority). For US entry, what APHIS requires is the official certificate, not just the private one.

The complete health certificate for importing a cat to the United States must include:

• Animal identification: name, species, breed, color, date of birth, sex, and ISO microchip number.
• Owner and destination data: name and US address where the animal is headed.
• Declaration of good health: the veterinarian certifies that the animal was examined within the past 10 days and shows no clinical signs of infectious disease or conditions that would contraindicate air travel.
• Vaccination record: details of all vaccines administered, including dates, products used, and date of next booster.
• Declaration of freedom from internal and external parasites: many airlines and APHIS require proof of recent deworming treatment.
• Signature and stamp of the licensed veterinarian: including professional license number.
• Official endorsement: in Argentina (SENASA), Colombia (ICA), Mexico (SENASICA), Peru (SENASA Peru), and Brazil (MAPA), the private certificate must be reviewed and stamped by the official authority. This step can take 2 to 5 business days depending on the country.

The health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue until US entry. If the flight is delayed or the animal is in transit longer than expected, the certificate may expire and require re-issuance.

Country-by-country differences (Latin America vs. Europe)

CDC and APHIS requirements are federal and apply to all cats entering the USA regardless of country of origin. However, the practical process varies significantly depending on the issuing country's health authority.

Latin America:

• Argentina: the certificate must be issued or endorsed by SENASA (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria). The procedure is managed through veterinarians accredited with SENASA. The certificate is issued on the official form and may require apostille in some cases.
• Colombia: the ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario) issues the international zoosanitary certificate. The private veterinarian drafts the certificate and ICA reviews and endorses it at the counter.
• Mexico: SENASICA issues the Zoosanitary Export Certificate. The process is initiated with the SENASICA Official Veterinarian at the departure airport.
• Peru: SENASA Peru handles pet export certificates. The process can be completed at SENASA offices at major airports.
• Brazil: MAPA (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento) endorses the certificates. The process is generally faster than in other countries in the region, with offices at major international airports.

Europe: cats arriving from the European Union enter with the EU Pet Passport, which already contains all required information in a standardized format. APHIS recognizes this document as equivalent to the official certificate. The process is generally more straightforward with less bureaucratic endorsement overhead.

The main difference between Latin America and Europe is not the final outcome but the number of intermediate bureaucratic steps. In Latin America, the cat's owner must coordinate the private veterinarian, the official authority, and in many cases a specialized agent. In Europe, the accredited veterinarian handles everything through the EU Pet Passport.

Step-by-step process with timeline

This is the recommended order for planning a cat relocation from Latin America to the USA:

1. 90 days in advance: verify that the cat has an ISO 11784/11785 microchip. If not, have one implanted as soon as possible — it is the starting point of all documentation.
2. 60–90 days in advance: if including a rabies vaccine in the documentation (recommended), administer it after the microchip is confirmed. The vaccine needs time to become valid: most require 30 days to be considered current.
3. 30 days in advance: check with the country of origin's health authority (SENASA, ICA, SENASICA, etc.) for current endorsement processing times. Timelines vary and can stretch during high-demand periods.
4. 14 days in advance: confirm the pet reservation with the airline. Pet bookings are independent of the passenger ticket and have limited spots per flight.
5. 10 days in advance: the veterinarian performs the clinical examination and issues the health certificate. This marks the start of the 10-day validity window.
6. 5–7 days in advance: submit the veterinary certificate to the official authority for endorsement. If the endorsement takes time, calculate that the certificate will still be within the 10-day window at the time of US entry.
7. Day of the flight: carry all originals. Photocopies are not accepted at any border control.

The most critical timeline is the 10-day window. If the official endorsement is delayed and the certificate is issued too early, it may expire before entry. Coordination between the veterinarian and the official authority requires advance planning and, in many cases, active management.

Common mistakes that delay travel

These are the errors that most frequently cause delays, border holds, or the need to reissue documentation:

• Non-ISO chip: a cat with a 125 kHz chip (common in animals chipped more than 10 years ago at clinics using American-standard technology) does not meet the international standard. The reader may not detect it or may not recognize it. The solution is to place a second ISO chip, but this must be done with adequate lead time.
• Rabies vaccine administered before the chip: if the vaccine was administered before the microchip number was recorded in the health history, it is technically not valid for international certification. USDA APHIS requires the chip to be identified in the vaccination record.
• Expired certificate: the 10-day window is tight. Any delay in endorsement, flight change, or extended layover can push the certificate past the deadline. Always plan with margin.
• Discrepancies in owner's name: the name on the certificate must match the traveler's passport exactly. A variation (for example, using a middle name in one document but not the other) can raise questions at customs.
• Failing to book the pet space with the airline: perfect documentation is useless if the airline has no space for the animal on that flight. Pet reservations have limits per flight and sell out.
• Undocumented deworming: some airlines and some flights with layovers in countries that require it (for example, Panama or Colombia as a transit point) ask for proof of deworming treatment. If it is not in the certificate, it can cause a hold.

Each of these errors has a solution, but most require time. The only one with no immediate fix is the one discovered on the day of the flight.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my cat in the cabin on a flight from Argentina to the USA?

It depends on weight and the airline. Most airlines allow cats in the cabin if the combined weight (cat plus carrier) does not exceed 8–9 kg. Direct flights from Buenos Aires to Miami or New York generally accept cabin pets. The required documentation is the same as for cargo: the animal still goes through a health inspection upon arrival in the USA.

Does my cat need quarantine when arriving in the United States?

In general, no. The USA does not require mandatory quarantine for domestic cats from Latin America, provided the documentation is in order. Some ports of entry conduct more thorough inspections than others, but quarantine is an exceptional measure, not the norm, for cats with complete documentation.

What happens if my cat's paperwork is not in order upon arrival?

If the documentation is incomplete or expired, USDA APHIS may detain the animal until the situation is resolved, or in extreme cases order the animal returned to the country of origin. That is why documentation must be complete before the flight — it cannot be fixed at the destination.

Does Pet Cargo handle the documentation process or only the physical transport?

Pet Cargo coordinates the entire process: documentation, management with SENASA or the relevant official authority, airline reservation, approved flight kennel, and follow-up until delivery at the destination. As an agency with USDA/APHIS License #58-T-0201 and IPATA member #2149, we work directly with regulatory authorities and know the actual processing timelines in each country in the region.