Cat Travel between Dubai and the United States

Name: Arsalan
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Maine Coon mix
From: Dubai, UAE
To: San Francisco, CA, USA

Dear PetRelocation,

My wife and I are moving to San Francisco for a few months, and are trying to decide whether we should move our cat Zoe with us for the duration or whether we should keep her in Dubai.

I am sure you can imagine that we really don't want to leave her behind that long, and would love to have her with us at all times! (But are ready to do whatever is best for her.)

Your advice in this matter would be highly appreciated, as we have never been through something like this before.

Really appreciate your time and assistance.

Arsalan 😊

Hi Arsalan,

Thank you for your question -- deciding whether or not to bring a pet on a non-permanent relocation is definitely a challenge and we certainly understand that you hate the idea of spending time away from Zoe!

First, you'll want to weigh the costs (financial and time-related) of meeting the travel requirements involved with this trip. Going to the United States means securing a health certificate and proof of rabies vaccine, and returning to Dubai will take a little more effort (your cat will need to be microchipped if not already, receive full vaccinations, and have all the required import documents). These things take time to complete and you'll end up spending several hundred dollars, as well.

There's also the matter of how well Zoe will handle two long airplane journeys. Pet travel is safe when planned correctly and we find that pets are pretty resilient, but since this isn't a permanent relocation, it's worth considering whether she might be happier staying in Dubai with a trusted friend, relative or boarding facility.

Lots of pet owners struggle over this kind of decision and there is no right answer, of course. All you can do is consider all factors, talk it over with your vet, and think about what is best for Zoe. Feel free to contact us if you'd like any further assistance.

Hope this helps... Good luck and travel safely!