IAH to SEA
Houston to Seattle Pet Relocation
Heading to Seattle from Houston? We arrange the pickup at your home in the Houston area, book the flight into SEA, and arrange the drop-off at your new address anywhere in the Seattle area.
Bringing your pet home to Seattle
A flight is the fastest way to get a pet from Houston to Seattle: about 4.5 to 5 hours airborne. Pets ride as airline cargo inside an approved crate.
Pets leave Houston on weekdays, when the cargo office is open, and summer dates between June 1 and September 15 are checked case by case. The flight to Seattle is about four and a half hours. Washington's temporary rule for pets from Texas needs the health certificate within five days before arrival.
We look for the flight and time of day that put the least strain on your pet, and we work out the timing with you so a person is waiting at both ends. Airline space, weather and breed rules affect every booking, so nothing is final until the airline confirms the flight.
Quick facts
- Airports
- Houston IAH to Seattle SEA
- Flight time
- About 4.5 to 5 hours (scheduled)
- Hand-in
- At IAH airport cargo, no more than 4 hours before the flight
- Pickup
- Usually about 1 hour after landing, within 4 hours
- Health certificate
- Needed, within 5 days of the flight
- Summer
- Not on days over 85°F
Your price
What your Houston to Seattle price includes
Three things set the price: your pet's size and weight (the airline bills for pet and crate weighed together), the two addresses, and any add-ons. For most dates, the form shows the price on screen along with what it covers.
Included
- Home pickup in the Houston area and IAH cargo check-in
- The cargo booking, airline charges included
- Pickup at SEA cargo and delivery to your home in the Seattle area
- Paperwork, labels, flight tracking and updates along the way
Want to take care of one end on your own? Just untick it on the form.
Extras
- A correctly sized airline crate, set up for the flight
- Two or more pets: one crate per pet, unless two young ones qualify to share
Step by step
How it works on this route
- 1
See your price
Enter your pet's size and your travel dates. Most dates show a price straight away.
- 2
Crate and paperwork
We settle on the crate size. A vet in Houston signs the health certificate within 5 days of departure.
- 3
Space reserved
Once cargo space to SEA is secured, the details come to you.
- 4
Pickup in Houston
Your pet leaves home for IAH cargo and is handed in at most 4 hours ahead of departure.
- 5
Home in Seattle
After landing, your pet is picked up at SEA cargo and taken to the new home.
Airline rules that matter on this route
- Health certificate: any pet in the cargo hold must have one, signed by a licensed vet within 10 days of departure. Details on our vet health certificate for flying page.
- Temperature: as a rule, pets go in the cargo hold only when every airport on the trip has a forecast of between 45°F and 85°F. The dates are in summer heat rules.
- Breeds: the cargo hold is closed to snub-nosed breeds, such as every bulldog, boxer, pug and mastiff, plus Persian and Himalayan cats. The full list is in snub-nosed breeds and flying.
- Size: a limit of 150 lb for pet and crate combined, and crates no bigger than the 500 series. Larger pets get a custom quote. Sizes are on airline pet crates.
- Pickup on time: the airline gives 4 hours after landing for collection, so we plan the pickup before booking.
Still have questions? Try the FAQ or our guide to Alaska Airlines pet cargo.
Entry rules for Washington
Two sets of rules apply: the airline's, and those of the state your pet is moving to. For any pet flying in the cargo hold, the airline needs a health certificate from a vet within 10 days of the flight (14 days for Hawaii). Ask for it from a USDA accredited vet, on an official state form or an electronic certificate, with the rabies vaccine details on it. That one certificate meets the state rules below in almost every case.
Coming from Texas: under a temporary Washington rule, your pet needs a health certificate issued within 5 days before it arrives in Washington. We plan the vet visit around it.
- Dogs, cats and ferrets 90 days and older need a current rabies vaccine. Washington has no exemptions.
- A family pet with a current rabies certificate does not need a state health certificate. The airline still needs one for a pet in the cargo hold.
- Dogs 6 months and older need a heartworm test or preventive, unless you have owned the dog for more than a month.
- Rescue and rehomed pets need a health certificate.
Rules for every state on our routes: pet entry rules by state.
Last checked against the official pages on October 6, 2026.
Airline and state rules can change, so check the official page before booking.
Delivery areas in Seattle
We arrange delivery anywhere in Seattle, including Downtown, Capitol Hill, Ballard, Fremont, Queen Anne, West Seattle, and across the region: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Tacoma, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, Des Moines and more. Enter your address on the form to see what it costs.
Leaving Houston
Your pet leaves from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). We arrange home pickup in Houston and nearby areas, including The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland, Spring.
Check the pet license rules for your new home in Seattle on the Seattle Animal Shelter site.
Settling in Seattle
- See a local vet within the first few weeks, records in hand.
- Put your new address on file with the microchip registry.
- For week one, stick with the usual food, bedding and daily schedule.
Houston to Seattle: questions
What does it cost to fly a pet from Houston to Seattle?
How long is the flight from Houston to Seattle?
Can you deliver my pet to my door in Seattle?
Is a health certificate required to fly to Seattle?
Can pets fly from Houston in summer?
Do I have to be on the same flight as my pet?
Get your Houston to Seattle price
Your pet's size, the address in Houston and your new Seattle address. Most dates show the price on screen.