If you're moving a cat from Canada to Australia, there is a parasite treatment issue you need to know about before you get started. The products DAFF requires for external parasite treatment in cats are not all available in Canada. This is a confirmed, ongoing issue — and it requires an extra step to resolve.
What the problem is
DAFF requires cats moving to Australia to be treated with an external parasite product that kills fleas and ticks on contact. Oral systemic products including NexGard, Bravecto, Simparica, Credelio, and Revolution are not accepted.
The specific products on DAFF's approved list for cats include fipronil-based topical treatments. These products are not all available for cats in Canada through standard veterinary channels.
This is confirmed on the CFIA's own export page. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency states directly: "The external parasite treatments for cats on Australia's list of approved products are no longer available in Canada." The CFIA is working with Australia to address this, but the issue remains active.
What you need to do
You must apply for a permit variation from DAFF. The permit variation allows you to use an alternative product or arrangement that meets the biosecurity intent of the external parasite requirement.
Contact DAFF at imports@aff.gov.au and explain the situation. Reference the Canada cat parasite issue specifically. DAFF is aware of it and processes these variations regularly.
Do not purchase or administer any external parasite treatment until you have confirmed the product is acceptable to DAFF for your specific permit.
Practical steps
- Contact DAFF at imports@aff.gov.au to flag that you are moving a cat from Canada and ask about the current permit variation process for external parasite treatment.
- Share the CFIA export page for cats with your vet so they understand the issue. The CFIA export page is at inspection.gc.ca.
- Do not purchase or administer any external parasite treatment until DAFF has confirmed the product is acceptable for your specific permit.
The rest of the process is the same
Apart from this parasite issue, the Canada-to-Australia cat import process follows the same overall structure: RNATT blood test, CFIA identity verification appointment, 180-day wait, RNATT declaration at CFIA, import permit, quarantine at Mickleham. Cats do not need CIV vaccination, Leishmania testing, or Brucella testing. The practical timeline is approximately 7 months.
Regulations can change. Always verify directly with DAFF at agriculture.gov.au and CFIA at inspection.gc.ca before starting the process.