Cats?

[Okiebollweevil 0]

As to the New York requirements on pets, most states cannot interfere with any interstate movement whether cargo or people or impose local rules on transient cargo or people. That is why the statute cited makes exceptions for animals in transit via the state of New York. Not being a New York lawyer I cannot give you any more certainty than this, but having a copy of the statute you posted on VJ and the applicable federal regs will do no harm.

Nothing like making an undue burden on interstate commerce and supremacy clause (federal preemption) argument at the border with your cat! Bravo! Anyway, the individual states still have a way out if you recall:

Maine v. Taylor 477 U.S. 131 (1986) – the court held that a Maine statute prohibiting the import of minnows into Maine in order to preserve the health and integrity of their minnow population was valid, despite the fact that it was facially discriminative, because the state interest was a valid one and no alternate method of protecting such an interest was available. So if any state can make that argument about their pet populations you can have something to argue.

But were the minnows moving on to another destination or coming into Maine to freeze their little tails off? I have always found it helps to befuddle officials with the law than try to explain anything rationally. Hmmm, I wonder if that philosophy will work on USCIS folks. Doubt it, they seem to be secure in their own little world.