Cats are family. If you’re moving from the UAE to another country, your cats are coming with you. We know that is not up for debate.

If your cat is not used to traveling and this is your first time doing so, we understand that planning can feel overwhelming. In our experience running a cat-friendly ISFM Gold Standard clinic in Dubai, having clear guidance on what to do and working with vets who specialize in handling cats can help ease your worries.

Find out everything you need to know when traveling with a cat from Dubai, including the health checks you need, the documents you must prepare, and other advice from our vets.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a pet export permit from MOCCAE when traveling with a cat from Dubai.
  • The export permit is also known as a pet health certificate. You can obtain it from a MOCCAE-licensed veterinary clinic in Dubai.
  • You need to plan early (at least six months ahead) to ensure you’ll have all the necessary paperwork ready on your departure date.

Table of Contents

Health Checks Required Before Traveling with Cats

The specific health checks required before traveling with a cat from Dubai will depend on your destination country.

As a case in point, the European Union (EU) requires a rabies antibody titration test for dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling to the EU from a non-EU country. The federal government of the United States, meanwhile, does not have such a requirement, but a state may require it.

Note: The UAE is exempt from the EU’s rabies antibody titration test requirement. That said, you can still get a rabies antibody titer done for your cat before you travel to protect you from unexpected travel plan upsets if a rabies antibody titer test suddenly becomes a requirement in your destination country.

You must get a full, nose-to-tail physical examination from a licensed veterinarian in the UAE. The goal is to evaluate your cat’s fitness to fly.

Passing the physical exam is a requirement for the issuance of the health or pet fit-to-travel certificate. This is also known as the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates (MOCCAE) pet export permit.

The MOCCAE export permit is an essential pet travel documentation. A clinic in Dubai (licensed by MOCCAE) can issue this permit.

What Vaccines Are Required for Cat Travel from Dubai?

A current anti-rabies vaccination and proof of it are among the required pet documents for travel to most countries.

The United States is an exception. The U.S. federal government does not require proof of anti-rabies vaccination, but it’s still good practice to have it ready when you fly to the United States with your pet.

Note: Guam and Hawaii have local quarantine requirements.

Aside from giving your pet shots against rabies, you may need to obtain additional vaccinations for your cat before you travel from Dubai with them. You can check with your vet and use MOCCAE’s required cat vaccinations for cats traveling into the UAE as a guideline.

The following are immunizations required for cats traveling to the UAE:

  • Feline Pan Leukopenia
  • Feline Rhinotracheitis
  • Feline Calicivirus

Travel Certificates for Cats in Dubai: Step-by-Step Guide

How do you obtain a vet travel certificate when traveling with a cat from Dubai? Here are the steps:

  1. Find out the specific requirements for cat travel in your destination country, specifically the health checks (e.g., rabies antibody titer) and vaccinations (e.g., anti-rabies vaccine) required by that country.
  2. Find out what documentation your airline or carrier requires for cat travel. 
  3. Set an appointment with a MOCCAE-licensed or -accredited veterinary clinic. Vienna Vet is an ISFM Gold Standard veterinary clinic authorized to issue a pet travel certificate in Dubai. Tell the vet clinic about the purpose of the appointment (i.e., to obtain a vet health certificate for travel). Let them know about the specific documents you need as well.
  4. Bring your cat to the veterinary clinic on the appointed date and time.
  5. A veterinarian will conduct a series of evaluations, which includes a physical examination to determine if your cat is fit to travel and a comprehensive check of your cat’s vaccination and medical records.
  6. The vet will verify that your cat’s microchip is functioning properly. If your cat’s microchip is not working properly, get it replaced as needed.
  7. If a vaccination or specific tests are needed, get them done.  
  8. If (or once) everything is in order, the vet will prepare the essential pet travel documentation. A clinic in Dubai (like Vienna Vet) will fill out and sign the papers you need to meet the requirements of the airline and your destination country.

Important note: Countries have strict timeline requirements for pet travel certificates. Generally, the pet fit-to-travel certificate should be issued within three to 10 days of the travel date.

This has certain implications for how soon you should prepare for traveling with a cat from Dubai.

How Early Should You Prepare a Cat for Travel?

You should start preparing a cat for travel six to eight months before your departure date. This will give you enough time to:

  • Learn the specific health checks, vaccinations, and documentation requirements of your destination country and chosen airline.
  • Get the required vaccinations.
  • Conduct a comprehensive health check to detect issues.
  • Schedule and accomplish laboratory and radiology diagnostic tests to investigate potential issues and fulfill travel screening requirements, if any.
  • Get treatment for and recover from any issues (e.g., parasitic infestation, skin conditions, dental problems, respiratory concerns) that may render your cat unfit to travel.
  • Get a microchip replacement, if necessary.
  • Prepare all the required travel paperwork.
  • Book your flights, making sure the airline knows you’re traveling with your pet cat.
  • Come up with a backup plan (e.g., cat boarding) just in case your cat is not allowed to travel with you, as planned, due to treatment or other procedures requiring a longer time to complete.

With any and all problems addressed and resolved long before your travel date (and travel logistics sorted out months before your travel date), you won’t have to rush anything and are more likely to succeed in bringing your cat with you when you leave Dubai.

In this scenario, all you’ll have to do is obtain your travel health certificate within the indicated timeframe (e.g., no later than 10 days before your travel date). You’ll have time for some pet grooming, so your cat will be more comfortable and look healthy when inspected by travel authorities in the UAE and your destination country.

Common Mistakes Pet Owners Make When Preparing Travel Documents

Be careful to avoid these mistakes when traveling with a cat from Dubai:

  • Not researching what documents are needed for pets to travel to their destination country, and on their choice of airline
  • Neglecting to check cat breed restrictions, if any
  • Booking flights without first checking the airline’s cat travel guidelines, in-cabin or in-cargo, carrier size limits, pet size limits, etc.
  • Neglecting to make sure the microchip works
  • Not having the required pet travel documentation
  • Not making sure all pet vaccination, screening results, and treatment information are up-to-date, complete, and clearly logged in a digital database (accessible by scanning the identification information on the cat’s microchip) and available as printed files that can be readily presented to border control authorities, if needed

Frequently Asked Questions About Common Skin Issues in Cats

Do I need an export permit to take my cat out of Dubai? ▼

Yes, you need an export permit to take your cat out of Dubai. Also known as the pet health certificate, you must present it when boarding your flight and to the border control authorities in your destination country. You can get this from a MOCCAE-accredited veterinary clinic like Vienna Vet.

How long does pet travel paperwork take in the UAE? ▼

Pet travel paperwork takes months to prepare in the UAE. While the pet health certificate must be recent (issued within three to 10 days of the travel date), ensuring that the pet has all the necessary immunizations, passes all required tests, and is fit to travel requires months of preparation.

Can my cat travel in the cabin from Dubai? ▼

Yes, your cat can travel in the cabin from Dubai, depending on your airline. Some airlines require cats to be checked in as baggage or cargo (e.g., Emirates), while some allow in-cabin travel subject to weight and size restrictions (e.g., Turkish Airlines).

Whether your cat is traveling in the cabin or cargo hold, notify your airline when you book your flight that you’re traveling with a cat. Advance booking (at least 48 hours) is required. Your cat must also be in a pet carrier that satisfies the airline’s rules.

Worry-Free Travel From Dubai With a Cat

For worry-free travel from Dubai with a cat, make sure to prepare proof of your cat’s health checks, immunizations, and any applicable treatments. All paperwork, including the pet health certificate issued by a vet clinic in Dubai, must comply with strict timeline requirements.

We recommend that you contract the services of a pet relocation service provider six to eight months before your target departure date. Vienna Vet works with Blue Sky Pet Relocation, which provides end-to-end, destination- and airline-specific pet relocation support, prescribing tests and immunization, as needed. They can ensure you have all the destination- and airline-required health certificates for international pet travel from Dubai ready, as and when needed, to ensure seamless and worry-free travel for you and your pet cat.

Expert Reviewer

Dr. Shifna Shaan
Veterinarian

Dr. Shifna Muhammed Shaan is a veterinarian at Vienna Vet with nearly seven years of experience caring for pets in the UAE. A graduate of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, she focuses on internal medicine while also providing care in dentistry, dermatology, cytology, and routine surgeries.

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