Travel
Minimum age for pet travel
In short
Destinations and airlines each set their own minimum ages for travelling cats and dogs. A government's age rule and an airline's age rule are separate rules, and both can apply to the same trip.
Key points
- Government and airline ages are listed separately below and are never combined.
Governments
United States: Dogs: only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months
Minimum age
Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S.
United Kingdom (Great Britain): Rabies vaccine from 12 weeks
Your vet needs proof the animal is at least 12 weeks old before giving the rabies vaccine. [GOV.UK: Bring your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain]
Canada: Personal dogs less than 3 months
Accompanied by owner
When you arrive in Canada you'll need the following: proof of the dog's age (you get this from a veterinarian); and the dog appears healthy and meets humane transportation requirements
Canada: Domestic cats
Less than 3 months
When you arrive in Canada you'll need the following: proof of the cat's age
Airlines (each airline's own rule)
Delta Air Lines: Pets in the cabin
Minimum age, domestic travel
Please review the following requirements to ensure a safe and healthy flight with a small pet traveling in the cabin: Your pet must be at least 8 weeks old for domestic travel.
Minimum age, travelling to the U.S. from another country (Delta's own rule)
Your pet dog must be 6 months old if traveling to the U.S. from another country and a pet cat must be at least 16 weeks old.
United Airlines: Pets in the cabin
Minimum age
On domestic flights, puppies and kittens must be at least 2 months old. On international flights, dogs must be at least 6 months old to comply with CDC requirements. Kittens need to be 4 months old to comply with vaccination requirements.
Each row is quoted from the official page named in it and applies only there. Rules change: confirm with that source before you travel.