Job Discussion Forums

[istanbullheaded]

Hello, please help me with any info you have about leaving Turkey with animals, especially cats. I'm leaving for the US with my two cats, and fear the ridiculousness of the bureaucracy involved and having to stay or do something else drastic, like losing the ticket because I don't have some paper or other. Please help me out of this nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[scot47]

Notify the airline in advance. You will have to pay for the animals. The cats should be in the approved boxes for animals. You will need a veterinary certificate.

As to getting them into the US of A ..............................?

[Bogazicibaby]

oops I replied to the wrong message Should have looked at this topic instead of the pul topic. I see now that your going to take them to the US

ok, looks like you only need a general health certificate if the airline requires one. I cut and pasted the info from US custom Regulations and from CDC's web page. Getting a health certificate is pretty cheap so it wouldn't hurt to have one. (said as the child of a veterinarian and ex veterinary technician)

Pets taken out of the United States and returned are subject to the same requirements as those entering for the first time.

All birds and animals must be imported under healthy, humane conditions. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations require that careful arrangements be made with the carrier for suitable cages, space, ventilation, and protection from the elements. Cleaning, feeding, watering, and other necessary services must be provided. Under the Animal Welfare Act, the Department of Agriculture is responsible for setting the standards concerning the transportation, handling, care, and treatment of animals.

All domestic cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry. If the animal is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the owner's expense. Cats arriving in Hawaii or Guam, both of which are free of rabies, are subject to that state’s/ territory’s quarantine requirements.

. Pets taken out of the United States are subject upon return, to the same regulations as those entering for the first time. The U.S. government does not require general certificates of health for pets. However, because airlines sometimes require health certificates for pets traveling with them, you should check with your airline prior to your travel date.

Cats
Pet cats are subject to inspection at ports of entry for evidence of infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans. If a cat appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian might be required. There is no rabies vaccination requirement for cats. Following entry into the United States, all cats are subject to state and local vaccination requirements. All pet cats arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements.

[FGT]

I don't know about transporting animals into the States but I had a friend with a dog (Alice-RIP) who regularly flew from Ankara to Izmir. According to him, there was only one pet allowed on each flight and a standard class pet could lose the space if a first class pet was also travelling, hence he and Alice travelled business class. Check with the airline. There are also strict rules about size and type of travelling box, water dispensers etc that you need to be aware of before you travel. Good luck!

[lucy k]

You might want to check out the US consulate site. http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov/
I haven't read it in detail, but I think there might be some information on there about taking cats back.

[istanbullheaded]

Thanks, everyone, esp Bogazicibaby, for your help!

[Bogazicibaby]