Travelling from Canada to the US with my cat...?

Hi I will be travelling from Ontario Canada, across the Niagara Falls NY border with my cat. I am driving, and not flying. I am intending to stay with a friend in the US on vacation for 5 months *which is why I need to take my cat with me* Does anyone know of any quarentines my cat would need to go through? Or any papers she would need, etc? She's only 3 yrs old, a domestic housecat, so except for her initial vaccinations when she was a kitten, I haven't updated her shots. I'm wondering if that will be a problem when I cross the border. Thanks!

The best advice I can give would be to ask your Vet. They should know the procedures for such a trip. At the very least your cat will need a health certificate, which might mean updating her shots. Don't attempt to cross the border without the proper paperwork. You never know what your cat might be exposed to here in the states, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

It will depend on where you are staying in the US. For example, a pet traveling to Hawaii needs to be microchipped, vacinated twice, have a rabies titre test, wait until 120 days after passing that test, get a new health certificate from a vet and pay the fee to have her released from quarantine. Since you are driving and not flying, you aren't going to Hawaii and so you don't have to meet the most strict requirements.
Regulations are subject to change and may vary from place to place. If you plan to enter the U.S. with a pet, contact your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy, or the specific agency mentioned. Their addresses and websites are:

U.S. Customs Service

If you are outside the United States, contact the Customs Attaché or Commercial Officer at your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
or Washington, DC 20229
Tel. (202) 927-6724
http://www.customs.gov

U.S. Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Quarantine (E-03)
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel. (404)639-8107
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal.htm and
http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/imprtper.htm

National Center for Import and Export
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Unit 40
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
Tel. (301)734-3277
Fax (301)734-8226
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ncie

There is no quarantine, but yes, you need to have her vaccinations updated. This should really be done at least a month before your departure. You will need to carry her health record of vaccinations with you when you cross the border. I recommend that you talk to your vet about your plans to take her into the US. He/She will be able to advise you if there are any other health precautions that you need to take. We have never traveled with a cat, but have brought our dogs back and forth between Canada and the US border. Our dogs had to be put on heart-worm medicine while traveling in US because there are parts of the US where this is a problem. In Canada we did not need to do this. I am sure that your vet will know if there is anything that your cat may be susceptible to while traveling, and make any needed recommendations to you.
Enjoy your trip!