Cat Food in Checked Luggage?
Mar 25, 2012, 5:33 pm
#1
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Cat Food in Checked Luggage?
My cats are moving to Belgium in May, and I was wondering if I could put some of their canned and dry food in my checked luggage so that they will have familiar food while they adjust to their new home. I couldn't find anything on the TSA website. Thank you!
Mar 25, 2012, 5:59 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Shouldn't be a problem. It is only raw food, fresh produce or uncooked food that is a concern. Sealed canned food should not be a problem.
Mar 26, 2012, 11:21 am
#3
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I have flown many times with both canned food and dry kibble in my checked luggage for my dog without an issue. Just pay attention to the weight of your bag so you don't get hit with an overweight luggage fee from your carrier. @:-)
Mar 26, 2012, 12:42 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2005
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They confiscated the cat treats I was bringing home for my cats from Europe. Cooked, processed cat treats, not raw, were deemed a threat to American farming and were taken and destroyed.
I realize the OP is heading the other direction, but I would consult the Agricultural /importation laws of the EU before packing the kibble. TSA has no interest in it.
Mar 31, 2012, 8:35 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Coventry, UK
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I am going to be traveling from the UK to the US (EWR) in June, and was wondering if it was possible to pack some of their food for them (canned) of if I'd be better off just picking up something for them when we got them from cargo?
Mar 31, 2012, 11:41 am
#7
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Tinned and bagged cat food will be ok. I do it all the time from the US to Cyprus - mostly tinned food and treats.
Mar 31, 2012, 11:44 am
#8
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Mar 31, 2012, 12:03 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Sorry to hear that your cats are moving away. Will you at least be able to visit them often?
If yes, and if they have iPhones, you might want to look into the video chat options offered with iChat.
If yes, and if they have iPhones, you might want to look into the video chat options offered with iChat.
Last edited by DillMan; Mar 31, 2012 at 12:08 pm Reason: TYPO
Mar 31, 2012, 1:02 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,734
On the customs forms you receive on the plane, there are questions about what you are carrying, including if you have any meat products. Do say yes, because if you don't and they find your catfood, it's an expensive fine and you and the cats might be on the next plane back to where you came from.
However write on the form "commercially prepared, canned meat product" - that statement comes from advice I've been given by the ag inspection people. They will ask to your cans. According to some regulation related to the mad cow disease scare, beef from countries which have had mad cow outbreaks in the last 10 years is not allowed and will be confiscated - like the cat treats we tried to bring into the U.S. The fish flavor was allowed, the beef was confiscated. For reasons that they did not explain, the ag inspectors also confiscate mutton/lamb based products.
So if you have poultry/fish/rabbit/venison cat food, it should be allowed in.
Why are the cat/cats flying cargo to the U.S. and not in cabin?
Apr 1, 2012, 12:01 am
#11
Original Poster
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To clear up the confusion I am also moving to Belgium with my beloved kitties. Sorry for the bad English-made it seem that I was sending them away when I'm not.
Apr 1, 2012, 2:04 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2005
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Originally Posted by BOS2DCA
To clear up the confusion I am also moving to Belgium with my beloved kitties. Sorry for the bad English-made it seem that I was sending them away when I'm not.
Apr 1, 2012, 6:28 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Since BOS2DCA will be accompanying the cats, I think he should get them an iPad instead, so they call all play YouvsCat.
BOS2DCA I am so happy to hear you are taking your kitties and not shipping them off. How exciting it must be for all of you! If you can't find regulations specific to pet food you may check to see what the people food regulations are and plan accordingly.
Mar 13, 2019, 7:04 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 3
you can only put dry food for your cats and just a couple of cans of wet food