Flying a cat from Northern Ireland to the United States
USA: Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland. Each state can add its own entry rules.
Yes
A cat can enter the United States (Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland) from Northern Ireland without quarantine when every condition is met. It needs a healthy appearance on arrival. If a condition 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.
- 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. Changing the date re-dates the plan in your browser; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 0 days
Arrival
Arrive on
Which airlines carry cats on this route
| Airline | Cabin | Hold | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | No | No | No | No | No |
No rule changes in 12 months
We have recorded no change to the rules on this page in the last 12 months. 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…checked
page says updated amendment citation in the text: 89 FR 41837, May 13, 2024 (the dog and cat rule, effective 1 Aug 2024); eCFR text as of 2026-09-22
- 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…checked
page says updated December 24, 2025
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-importFederal rules for pets entering the US mainlandchecked
page says updated March 19, 2026
- 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 dochecked
page says updated Aug. 22, 2025
- DAERA (Northern Ireland)daera-ni.gov.uk/services/pets-exportsAn export health certificate is usually needed when a pet's final destination is outside…; Apply on DECS no earlier than 10 days before the pet leaves, and at least 2 working days…checked
- DAERA (Northern Ireland)daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/exporting-animals-and-animal-products-northern-ireland-gb-eu-and-third-countries-including-guidance-and-application-point-daera-export-certificate-system-decsApply on DECS no earlier than 10 days before the pet leaves, and at least 2 working days…checked
page says updated null on page; article:modified_time 2026-09-14
- GOV.UK (APHA)gov.uk/export-health-certificates/export-dogs-and-cats-to-the-commonwealth-of-massachusetts-usa-certificate-8696A cat going to Massachusetts travels on GOV.UK's export certificate for cats to…checked
page says updated 5 May 2026
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/contract-of-carriage.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, fee fromchecked
page says updated revised May 11, 2026
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/trip-planning/military-pet-program.htmlUnited Airlines: manifest cargochecked
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-assistance/service-animals.htmlUnited Airlines: routechecked
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/traveling-with-pets.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, hold, manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosedchecked
- United Cargo (United Airlines, Inc.)media.united.com/assets/m/75be4c49b532e3f5/original/TACT-rules-section-8-3-United-Airlines-PDF.pdfUnited Airlines: manifest cargochecked
page says updated July 2026