Arriving in Texas with a cat
What Texas requires when a cat arrives — whoever you are arriving from. These rules hang off the arrival, not the trip type: a flight from Frankfurt and a flight from Los Angeles are treated the same here. Requirements can change — always confirm with the authority before you travel.
🏛️ Additional rules for Texas
These requirements come on top of the country's — they can only tighten or add, never loosen.
Rabies vaccination Required
From 12 weeks of age rabies vaccination is mandatory. A vaccination certificate — or a pet passport carrying the required information — is accepted as proof. The animal only counts as currently vaccinated once 30 days have passed since the initial vaccination, which lengthens the lead time of the trip.
⚠️ Unlike New York, Texas explicitly accepts the pet passport as proof of vaccination. Two states of the same country, opposite statements about the same document.
Quarantine Required
If the initial rabies vaccination was given less than 30 days before arrival, the animal must be confined at home for the balance of the 30 days. Animals under 12 weeks arriving from another country must be confined until 30 days after their initial vaccination.
Notes
Texas itself does not require a health certificate. In the same sentence the authority points out that most airlines do — so travelling without one is not a safe conclusion.
🗓️ Read at the state authority on 01/08/2026.
Source: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/notifiable-conditions/zoonosis-control/pets/pets/entry
Arriving from abroad? The rules of USA
Arriving from Germany/the EU, the national entry requirements of USA apply on top. Arriving from another part of the same country means crossing no international border — then only the section above applies.
🔴 Required
Health certificate Required
Not required by CDC, but by most airlines (usually issued within 7–10 days of travel) and by some states. Check your airline’s deadline before booking; states we have captured are listed below under “Additional rules”.
🟡 Recommended
Import permit Not required
No permit; no CDC form for cats
Microchip Not required
Not federally required (recommended)
Rabies vaccination Recommended
Not required by CDC for cats entering the U.S.; CDC recommends rabies vaccination for all cats. The U.S. destination (state) may have additional requirements.
Minimum age / young animals Recommended
Cats: no CDC minimum age; valid rabies vaccination (~12 weeks).
Rabies titer test Not required
No
Other tests Not required
None
Parasite treatment Not required
Not required
Official endorsement of the health certificate Not required
CDC does not require a health certificate for entry into the United States – and therefore no endorsement by a veterinary authority either.
Quarantine Not required
None
Registration Not required
Standard
🐾 Local rules (in-country)
These apply on the ground in the destination country — to everyone, not as an entry condition — and depend on the breed and situation (e.g. public transport, listed breeds).
Breed restrictions On site
No federal breed bans
Muzzle / leash On site
None (cat)
⚠️ Notes & grey zone
Notes
CDC requires that cats appear healthy on arrival. Cats are inspected at ports of entry and may be denied entry if there is evidence of a zoonotic disease; if a cat appears ill, examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense may be required. USDA APHIS Veterinary Services has no animal health requirements for importing a pet cat.
Authority: USDA APHIS (CDC-Hunderegel gilt nicht für Katzen)
Read at the responsible authority on 30/09/2026. 📄 Official source ↗
Check your specific route & airlines →For informational purposes only. Regulations change frequently — verify with the relevant authorities before travel.