Flying a cat FROM Argentina TO the USA

[MizzMarr]

Hi fellow expats. I'm starting to do some mental preparation for heading back to the States in early 2012 and part of that includes planning for taking our beloved cat back with us. I've started researching the airlines (Taca seems the way to go, especially since we can bring her in the cabin with us) as well as approved carriers, but am having a bit more trouble finding info on what certifications/vacciations, etc., she will need to have (and have documented) to leave Argentina.

I saw on the Embassy site that you need: a rabies and health certificate from your veterinarian to the S.E.L.S.A. (Instituto Lazareto), Brasil and José C. Balbín, Dársena Sur, Puerto de Buenos Aires. Tel: 4361-4632, Monday through Friday from 12:00 to 4:00 PM. S.E.L.S.A. will retain the animal's health certificate and give you an official document called "Certificado Sanitario de Viaje" Present this document to Argentine and US Customs authorities.

I assume that I need this certificate translated--can someone confirm? Also, any ideas about what should be included on the health cert besides rabies vaccinations?

It seems that entering the States with her will be pretty lax (she's a healthy girl, but I plan to make sure she's 100% current on her shots by the end of July and will get her examined again prior to leaving if necesary) but would love any advice/tips from those who've done it!

Much obliged!

 

[RobDana]

Hi there

I just made the trip in early April with our cat and had many of your same concerns. In the end it was fairly painless. The vet looked her over 5 days prior to our trip and gave me a letter stating she was healthy. I took the letter along with her current rabies certificate to Instituto Lazareto and was told that there was a new requirement in the US that had to be certified by the Vet 3 days prior to travel. I called the vet and he came back with another letter 3 days prior which I took back to Lazareto, waited about an hour and they handed me the official document (no translation required) to travel with. I flew American and checked her in. Entering the US was non-eventful, they hardly looked at any of the papers.

A few comments;
I would check with Lazareto before you get the vet's certificate to save yourself a trip and have the 'latest' information. The requirements from the US change occasionally and the vet's can't possibly keep up with all countries.
I debated how to bring her in the cabin but in the end decided it was probably best to check her. In the end I think I made the right choice. It is traumatic for both you and her but I think it would be worse to have her nearby and have to listen to her cry for 8 hours and for her to see and hear you but be stuck in her carrier.

Please PM me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to chat with you about my experience.

Rob

 

[MizzMarr]

Thank you so muuch, Rob! This is extremely helpful information. I'm pretty sold on having her in the cabin with us especially since we'll be traveling from the heat of summer (here) to the depths of winter and I worry about her in a cargo hold. I may take you up on a PM as the trip gets closer and pick your brain. Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

 

[Merlinova]

Hello Guys,

I also found this information very helpful.Thanks!!
I´ll be moving back to the US next week and (of course) I´ll be bringing my cat with me.
I´ll be travelling to Houston stoping in Mexico for a couple of hours. Iwill have to check in my cat, and my concern is for him to be too scared, so I was wondering, Rob, did you give your cat some drops to make it sleepy?Did the vet sugest you something?
I´d really appreciate your comments.
Thanks a lot!!
Is

 

[MizzMarr]

Merlinova, be careful drugging your cat for a flight. All the info I have found online about it says it's possible quite dangerous as the drugs may disrupt their ability to maintain balance and equilibrium in the air. Also read that the decreased air pressure in the airplane will magnify the effect of the drugs on your feline and could kill him/her. google it and you'll find a ton of info. Best of luck!

 

[Jcyordenana]

Hello,
Another option for traveling with your cat is Continental--they have a special cargo for your pet that's pressurized / climate controlled just like the passenger cabin.

Most reputable vets do NOT recommend tranqulizers for your cat for travel. One vet explained it to me as the difference between knowing that you are taking a valium and someone slipping one in your drink without your knowledge. The former is sleepy bliss, the latter, pretty terrifying and disorienting. Tranquilizers interfere with the cat's ability to maintain equilibrium.

happy travels!
Julie ( who flew to BA with two 18 year old cats, and everyone lived to tell the tale!)

 

[mcaffa]

I'll be making the big move back to Wisconsin in March 2012 and I'm already getting stressed out about what to do with my cat(s).

One of my babies passed away last week (RIP Quincy). I'm toying around with the idea of getting his older brother a new friend in a few weeks but am afraid to do so, since I'll have to fly with both of them all by my lonesome. If I travel with just one cat, I can bring him in the cabin with me, which I would prefer to do. But since I'll be traveling alone, if I have two cats with me, I'll need to check both in or choose which one to accompany me in the cabin. I guess checking both in wouldn't be the worst thing but I will have 2-3 connecting flights and will be leaving here when its still hot out and arriving in Wisconsin during the winter. The weather and the multiple connections are making me think that checking them in would not be the safest way to go. I'd like to figure things out soon, so I can decide on whether or not to get a new kitty here or hold off until I get back to the US.

I'm also wondering where I can get IATA and airline-approved carriers down here. Did you guys get yours down here? If so, where did you go?

 

[sheawj]

Thanks so much for this post and all the replies! We were wondering as well for our move back.

 

[georgie]

This is a really great thread as I will also be taking a cat back from Argentina to Wisconsin in a few months. Thanks everybody for the great information. Any updates from those taking their cats would be appreciated. Just FYI, 19 years ago my Mom brought a dog and cat to the USA from Africa. and they had to stop over in Brussels for one night. We were naturally worried but when they saw us... bliss. And both went on to live to a ripe old age. Remember that animals live in the present, they don't experience trauma like we do. They endure and then they move on.

 

[Isolak]

This is an update in hopes that it will help others.

I flew back to the states from BA last week with my 3 cats (Sept. 2, 2011). I followed all the guidelines/advice in earlier posts - meaning, I got the health certficate from the vet, and got the required travel document from Senasa at the far end of Puerto Madero, just past the casinos (thank you all by the way, your comments/advice were all helpful). BUT, I would like to warn everyone that ANOTHER STEP has been added to the leaving process at the airport.

I was told that this new step has just been added - last Friday, Sept. 2, was supposedly the first day of this new required step. Before you can get check in at the ticket counter with your bags/cats at the airport, you must visit a new little window that SENASA has in the main terminal. It it located just past and little to the left of where incoming passengers come through customs. It is a TINY window in a corner, there is no door, but the window is labeled SENASA and has a little bell. You must present your travel documents here and of course pay yet another fee to get permission to fly out of the airport. You all know the routine by now - you must go to the bank (inside the airport), pay in cash, and bring the receipt back to SENASA to get your form. I paid 167 P for 3 cats. * BEWARE * - there is often a huge line at the bank with people wanting to exchange money, so allow yourself plenty of time. Once you get your receipt, take it back to SENASA and you will get a form and 1 copy - the original is for you, the copy you must present to your airline. Later on I also had to present a copy to the police before they would carry my cats out to the plane, but hopefully your airline can make you a copy. For this extra step, I would allow yourself at least 2 hours!!!!!!!! You all know how complicated things can get in AR and how long a seemingly simple thing can take. I had not counted on this extra step and BARELY made my flight.

FYI, we came back on United, which allows you to check animals as luggage as opposed to having to check them as cargo (Continental). By checking them as baggage and not as cargo you avoid having to have/pay a broker and save A LOT of money.

GOOD LUCK!! I hope this has been helpful.

Oh, and P.S. My cats all made it safely home after a very long trip. They have been resting after their long journey but are all VERY HAPPY to be home.