Flying a cat from the European Union to the United States
Scope and research limits
USA: Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland. Each state can add its own entry rules.
This guide covers the journey and pathways stated here. Residence, travel history and connections may change which requirements apply. Confirm these before using the countdown.
Yes
A cat can enter the United States from the European Union without quarantine when every condition is met.
To meet the entry rules
- a healthy appearance on arrival
If a requirement is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense.
Full answer
A cat can enter the United States from the European Union without quarantine when every condition is met. It needs a healthy appearance on arrival. If any is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense. Last verified 24 September 2026.
- Rules allow in cabin
- Airline decidesA cat may arrive through any US airport. The federal rules we read set no cabin, hold or cargo limit for cats, so the airline decides.
- Quarantine
- NoneIf a rule is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense.
- Rabies titer
- Not required
- Lead time
- 0 days
Your deadlines, counted back from arrival
None of these steps is a hard deadline. Each step says how long before arrival it falls. Pick an arrival date and your browser works out the calendar dates; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 0 days
Pick an arrival date to see the calendar date of each step.
Arrival day
Requirements without a countdown
These conditions still apply. Choosing an arrival date does not check them.
The cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry.
Fails if: Signs of a disease that can pass to people.
A cat needs no proof of rabies vaccination to enter the United States, but CDC recommends it, and the US destination may ask for more.
CDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do.
Destination entry documents do not establish compliance with the departure country's rules. Confirm national departure documents with that member state's veterinary authority before booking. This shared EU planner has not researched every national export procedure.
Leaving Spain for a country outside the EU, the owner meets that country's requirements. Spain's agriculture ministry issues the certificates needed through its Agriculture Areas (Áreas de Agricultura). Applies only from Spain, Ceuta, Melilla or Canary Islands.
This plan assumes one air journey, with every step done before you leave. Unless you give a departure date, it assumes you leave the day before arrival or on arrival day. Times are local to the United States (America/New_York).
Which airlines carry cats on this route
All 3 airlines carry cats on this route: 2 in the cabin, 1 as manifest cargo.
This is what airlines offer. An airline can offer less than the rules allow.
Hold means checked baggage. Manifest cargo is a separate booking, even when the animal travels in the same aircraft hold.
| Airline | Cabin | Hold (checked baggage) | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Quoted on request | ||||
| Delta Air Lines | 200 EUR | ||||
| Lufthansa | Quoted on request |
- American Airlines: From May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs.
- American Airlines: American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals when the ground temperature at the origin, a connection or the destination is above 85 or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Between 20 and 44 degrees it needs a vet's acclimation letter, and even then carriage is not guaranteed.
- American Airlines: American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more.
- American Airlines: Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an American flight number that another airline operates. American Eagle and American Connection flights are not affected.
- American Airlines: A pet shipped from outside the United States must be booked through an IATA-regulated freight forwarder or professional pet shipper.
- Delta Air Lines: Delta's travel-agency site lists Ireland among places Delta takes no cabin pets to or from, while delta.com gives the steps for a cabin pet to Ireland. Check with Delta before booking a cabin pet to or from Ireland.
- Delta Air Lines: Delta Cargo accepts no pets at Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA) or London Heathrow (LHR), even for military and Foreign Service families.
- Delta Air Lines: Pets do not fly in the hold or as cargo if it is above 80°F (27°C) or below 20°F (-7°C) while they are on the ground at any point. Between 20°F and 45°F they need a Certificate of Acclimation.
- Delta Air Lines: No animals in the hold or as cargo on any Delta-operated Boeing 767 or Airbus A330-200.
- Delta Air Lines: No warm-blooded animals in the hold or as cargo on Boeing 757 flights to or from Europe.
- Lufthansa: Dogs and cats must be at least 12 weeks old, or 15 weeks for carriage from, to or via Germany. Dogs travelling to the United States must be at least 6 months old. Pregnant animals are not accepted.
- Lufthansa: Checked pets are not accepted on connecting flights via Munich. Through-checking checked pets is possible via Frankfurt, subject to reservation and the other carriage requirements.
- Lufthansa: Checked pets need a container compliant with current IATA rules, secured with metal screws. Ventilation openings must not exceed 25 × 25 mm for dogs or 19 × 19 mm for cats. Confirm the complete container specification before booking; non-compliant kennels are refused at check-in.
- Lufthansa: Use a securely fastened soft carrier at most 55 × 40 × 23 cm in size. The total weight of the transport container, including the animal, must not exceed 8 kg. The animal must stand naturally, lie down and turn in the closed carrier.
- Lufthansa: For cabin pets on flights from or to the USA, register online at least 72 hours before departure. The Service Center cannot register these cabin pets.
- Lufthansa: For checked pets on flights to the USA, register online at least 72 hours before departure.
- Lufthansa: Lufthansa may refuse pet bookings on particular routes, including Ireland. Confirm acceptance for the exact destination before buying a ticket.
- Lufthansa: Snub-nosed dogs and cats are barred from the checked hold. They may use the cabin within its limits; separate freight requires a forwarder’s confirmation.
No rule changes recorded since
We have recorded no change to the rules on this page since , when our log began. See every recorded change.
Where every rule above came from
- eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-42.xmlA cat may arrive through any US airport; The cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry; An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it…; The dog is denied admission and returned to the country it left; The airline must refuse to board a dog whose importer has not shown the CDC Dog Import…
- Official Journal of the European Union (Publications Office CELLAR; EUR-Lex ELI http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2026/131/oj)publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/12bce2c0-297f-11f1-8803-01aa75ed71a1.0006.03/DOC_1No EU-wide exit procedure is published; each destination's own rules apply
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/catsA cat needs no proof of rabies vaccination to enter the United States, but CDC…
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-importFederal rules for pets entering the US mainland
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-us/index.htmlThe cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry: what fails; The cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry; A cat needs no proof of rabies vaccination to enter the United States, but CDC…; CDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do
- European Commission (DG SANTE, Food Safety)food.ec.europa.eu/animals/live-animal-movements/dogs-cats-and-ferrets/listing-territories-and-non-eu-countries_enNo EU-wide exit procedure is published; each destination's own rules apply
- European Commission (DG SANTE, food.ec.europa.eu)food.ec.europa.eu/animals/live-animal-movements/dogs-cats-and-ferrets/eu-countries-specific-information_enDestination entry documents do not establish compliance with the departure country's rules; Leaving Spain for a country outside the EU, the owner meets that country's requirements
- Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (Spain)mapa.gob.es/es/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/desplazamiento-animales-compania/default.aspxLeaving Spain for a country outside the EU, the owner meets that country's requirements
- European Union (Your Europe portal, European Commission)europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/pets-and-other-animals/index_en.htmNo EU-wide exit procedure is published; each destination's own rules apply
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals.htmlFrom May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals-policy-and-restrictions.htmlAmerican Airlines: route, manifest cargo, snub-nosed; American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals when the ground temperature at the…; American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more; A pet shipped from outside the United States must be booked through an IATA-regulated…
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/downloads/know_before_you_go_FEB2026.pdfAmerican Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more
- American Airlines Cargoaacargo.com/downloads/rates/International_to_International_Live_Animal_v1.09.pdfAmerican Airlines: route
- Delta Cargo (Delta Air Lines)deltacargo.com/content/dam/cargo/images/delta-cargo-news/Aircraft_Crate_Compatibility%20March%202025.pdfNo warm-blooded animals in the hold or as cargo on Boeing 757 flights to or from Europe
- Delta Cargo (Delta Air Lines)deltacargo.com/Cargo/catalog/products/petsDelta Air Lines: route, manifest cargo; Delta Cargo accepts no pets at Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA) or London…
- Delta Cargo (Delta Air Lines)deltacargo.com/Cargo/catalog/restricted-animalsDelta Air Lines: snub-nosed
- American Airlines (Tariff No. AA1, published by Airline Tariff Publishing Company as agent)aa.com/content/images/tariff/american-airlines-general-rules-of-the-international-tariff.pdfAmerican Airlines: cabin; Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an American flight number that another airline operates
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.htmlAmerican Airlines: cabin, hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosed; From May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs; Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an American flight number that another airline operates
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/international-connection-pet-travelDelta's travel-agency site lists Ireland among places Delta takes no cabin pets to or from, while delta.com gives the steps for a cabin pet to Ireland
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/special-circumstances/military-travel/petsDelta Air Lines: hold (checked baggage), snub-nosed; Pets do not fly in the hold or as cargo if it is above 80°F (27°C) or below 20°F (-7°C) while they are on the ground at any point
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/overviewDelta Air Lines: route, cabin, fee from
- Delta Air Lines (Delta Professional, travel-agency site)pro.delta.com/content/agency/us/en/products-and-services/pet/pet-policies.htmlDelta's travel-agency site lists Ireland among places Delta takes no cabin pets to or from, while delta.com gives the steps for a cabin pet to Ireland; No animals in the hold or as cargo on any Delta-operated Boeing 767 or Airbus A330-200; No warm-blooded animals in the hold or as cargo on Boeing 757 flights to or from Europe
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/shipping-your-petDelta Air Lines: snub-nosed; Pets do not fly in the hold or as cargo if it is above 80°F (27°C) or below 20°F (-7°C) while they are on the ground at any point
- Lufthansalufthansa.com/us/en/tiere-als-handgepaeckLufthansa: fee from; Use a securely fastened soft carrier at most 55 × 40 × 23 cm in size
- Lufthansalufthansa.com/us/en/tiere-als-uebergepaeckChecked pets are not accepted on connecting flights via Munich; Checked pets need a container compliant with current IATA rules, secured with metal screws
- Lufthansalufthansa.com/us/en/dangerous-dogsLufthansa: snub-nosed; Snub-nosed dogs and cats are barred from the checked hold
- Lufthansalufthansa.com/us/en/travelling-with-animalsLufthansa: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo; Dogs and cats must be at least 12 weeks old, or 15 weeks for carriage from, to or via…; For cabin pets on flights from or to the USA, register online at least 72 hours before…; For checked pets on flights to the USA, register online at least 72 hours before departure; Lufthansa may refuse pet bookings on particular routes, including Ireland
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.
Related pages
See everything that applies in the United States, or what changed across the site.