Traveling With Cats: Belize Edition

If you're planning a trip to Belize and want to bring your cat, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Firstly, you'll need to obtain an import permit from the Belize Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA). This permit needs to be applied for each time you travel to Belize and is required for all cats entering the country. Additionally, your cat must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering the country. It's also recommended that your cat receives a ticks and tapeworm treatment within 30 days of entering Belize. All cats must also be vaccinated against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calici Virus, and Panleucopaenia. When entering Belize, your cat will undergo a quarantine inspection at the port of entry, and you may be required to pay additional fees for veterinary inspection if arriving from a country considered at-risk.

Import Permit

To take your cat to Belize, you will need to obtain an import permit. This is a requirement for all cats entering Belize from the United States. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to obtain an import permit:

Visit the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) website or any BAHA office to obtain the latest import requirements and download the permit application. You can also contact BAHA via phone or email:

• Phone: 011-501-824-4872/99
• Fax: 011-501-824-4889
• Email: [email protected]

• Submit the completed permit application to the BAHA office or email it to [email protected]. Your veterinarian must fill out the form.
• Pay the associated fee. There is a cost involved in obtaining the import permit, and failure to obtain one may result in a fine.
• Wait for approval from the Agriculture Department of Belize. They will approve the form and send it back to you, typically via fax.
• Ensure you meet the conditions of importation that accompany the import permit. These conditions include:

• Recent international veterinary certificate (issued within 14 days of travel) showing that your cat has been vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Belize. The three-year rabies vaccination is not accepted, and pets entering Belize before the waiting period has expired will be home-quarantined.
• Valid rabies certificate obtained more than one month in advance and under a year of the travel date.
• Ticks and tapeworm treatment within 30 days of entering Belize.
• Compliance with other conditions as specified by BAHA.

• Be aware of any additional requirements for cats entering Belize, such as quarantine inspection at the port of entry for cats coming from countries considered high-risk for certain diseases, such as screwworm in cats from South America. There may be an additional fee for this veterinary inspection.
• Notify the Director of Animal Health at least two days before your cat's arrival in Belize. This is required to ensure that a veterinary officer is present at the time of entry, as all pet animals entering Belize must be inspected by a BAHA official.

By following these steps and obtaining the necessary import permit, you can ensure that you comply with the regulations for bringing your cat into Belize.

Veterinary Health Certificate

To take your cat to Belize, you will need a veterinary health certificate. This must be issued by a licensed veterinarian in your country of origin within 14 days of entry. The certificate must be legible, accurate, and complete. It is also strongly recommended that cats be vaccinated against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calici Virus, and Panleucopaenia. Cats should also be treated against endoparasites and ectoparasites within 30 days of exportation.

If your cat is under four months old, a rabies vaccination is not required to enter Belize. However, your cat will be held in home quarantine until 30 days after the vaccination can be administered by a registered veterinarian. If your cat is older than four months, it must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Belize. They do not honor the 3-year rabies vaccination, and pets entering Belize before the waiting period has expired will be home-quarantined.

In addition to the veterinary health certificate, you must also file for an import permit from the Belize Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA). After your veterinarian has completed the import permit form, you will need to send it to the Agriculture Department of Belize for approval. They will then fax it back to you, and you will need to pay a fee for this service. Failure to file an import permit may result in a fine and your cat being placed in quarantine upon entry.

It is also recommended that you identify your cat with a microchip and register your contact information prior to travelling, as this will help identify your cat if it is lost or separated from you. If your cat does not have a microchip, make sure they are wearing tags that identify them and have your contact information.

Finally, a ticks and tapeworm treatment is required within 30 days of entering Belize.

Vaccinations

To take your cat from the United States to Belize, you must ensure that your cat has been vaccinated against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calici Virus, and Panleucopaenia.

Your cat must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months before entering Belize. If your cat enters Belize before this time, they will be home-quarantined. Belize does not honor the 3-year rabies vaccination.

It is strongly recommended that your cat has a microchip implanted by a veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or trained nurse. You should receive documentation about the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your cat's information in the manufacturer's database. If your cat does not have a microchip, they should wear a tag with identification and your contact information.

Your cat must be treated for ticks and tapeworm within 30 days of entering Belize.

Your cat must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in your country of origin within 14 days of entry.

Ticks and Tapeworm Treatment

To take your cat to Belize, you will need to ensure that it has received a ticks and tapeworm treatment within 30 days of entering the country. This is in addition to the other requirements, such as the need for a valid import permit, a health certificate, and proof of certain vaccinations.

Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that are common in mammals, usually found in the small intestine. Cats are at a high risk of tapeworm infestations due to their natural behaviours and instincts. The most common species of tapeworm observed in cats is Dipylidium caninum, also known as the flea tapeworm. This species of tapeworm has a life cycle that includes an intermediate host, in this case, a flea larva. When a flea larva ingests a tapeworm egg, the egg develops inside the larva as it matures into an adult flea. Cats can then inadvertently swallow the infected flea during grooming or in response to a flea bite, thus becoming infected with the tapeworm.

Tapeworms can also be transmitted to cats when they hunt and eat infected rodents. This is likely more of a concern for outdoor cats. Additionally, mothers can pass tapeworms to their kittens.

To treat tapeworms in cats, you will need to administer a deworming medication, also known as an anthelmintic, that contains the active ingredient praziquantel. These medications are available from veterinarians and typically come in the form of tablets or injections. After treatment, the tapeworm dies and is digested within the cat's intestine, so worm segments are usually not visible in the stool.

To prevent tapeworm infections in cats, it is important to focus on flea control and prevention. This may involve using flea control products and treating your house and yard for fleas. Additionally, preventing cats from hunting and eating rodents can help reduce the risk of tapeworm infestations.

Entering Belize by Air

When entering Belize by air, there are several requirements that must be met. Firstly, pets must enter Belize via the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Ladyville. Pets can arrive either in the cabin, as checked baggage, or as air cargo. It is important to notify the Director of Animal Health at least two days in advance of your arrival. Veterinary inspections at the airport will only be conducted during daylight hours, between 9 am and 4 pm.

Upon arrival, all domestic cats must be free of any communicable diseases transmissible to humans. If your cat shows signs of illness, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required, and this will be at your own expense. Unvaccinated kittens will be confined at home until they are old enough to receive their rabies vaccination (3 months), after which they will also be subject to a 30-day home confinement period.

To enter Belize with your cat, you must obtain an import permit from the Belize Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA). This can be done by submitting an application to any BAHA office. Once the veterinarian has completed the import permit form, send it to the Agriculture Department of Belize for approval. They will then send the approved form back to you, and you will need to pay a fee for this service. Failure to obtain an import permit may result in a fine and your cat being placed in quarantine upon arrival.

In addition to the import permit, your cat must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in your country of origin within 14 days of entry. While endorsement by a government agency is usually not required, it may be necessary depending on your country of origin's export requirements. It is recommended that your cat receives a ticks and tapeworm treatment within 30 days of entering Belize.

Lastly, while Belize does not require your cat to have a microchip, it is strongly recommended that you have one implanted by a veterinarian or veterinary hospital before travelling. This will help identify your cat if it becomes lost or separated from you during your travels. If your cat does not have a microchip, ensure that it wears identification tags with your contact information.

Frequently asked questions