Does a cat need titers and the CDC form?

No: the CDC federal rules are about dogs. A cat needs the airline's and sometimes the state's requirements - a shorter list, but check it ahead.

What if we land at night?

By member reports, outside working hours the pet stayed in paid boarding until morning - a cost of hundreds of dollars. Pick a flight matching the port's working hours.

Bringing a pet to the US: CDC rules and experience

Updated: September 9, 2026Author: Alina Kanametova

Dog imports are governed by CDC rules (updated August 2024); cats are treated more leniently. What to file, what the costs are, and what members warn about. Verify requirements on cdc.gov for your departure country.

CDC dog rules depend on where the dog spent the last six months and changed through 2024-2025: the CDC Dog Import form, rabies requirements, approved airports. The only reliable source is cdc.gov.

The paperwork

For a dog: the CDC Dog Import form, a microchip, a current rabies shot, and for high-risk countries also titers and an approved airport. Cats have no federal vaccine requirement, but the airline and the state may add their own. The airline's own list (crate, certificates) is separate.

Costs and timing

The notable line items by member reports: titers (done in advance at an accredited lab), the pet's flight, and - the surprise one - airport boarding: those landing outside the quarantine service's working hours paid per day of waiting. Plan arrival within working hours.

Routes via third countries

From Russia pets travelled via third countries in 2025; CDC rules still key off where the dog spent the previous six months. People managed it themselves without services - with time margins for every country on the route.

Community takeaway

The community verdict: the pet is its own small "case" with forms and deadlines. Start months ahead: titers and certificates do not happen in a week.

The official sources for this topic

FAQ

Does a cat need titers and the CDC form?: No: the CDC federal rules are about dogs. A cat needs the airline's and sometimes the state's requirements - a shorter list, but check it ahead.
What if we land at night?: By member reports, outside working hours the pet stayed in paid boarding until morning - a cost of hundreds of dollars. Pick a flight matching the port's working hours.