# HS code for cat food in the United States > Cat food imported into the United States is usually classified under HS code 2309.10 when it is dog or cat food put up for retail sale. It sits in heading 23.09, “Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding”. Cat food can also fall under 2309.90, depending on the packing. The tariff of the United States has 25 national lines under these codes. The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 2309.10 is free. Source: https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/for/cat-food Last updated: 11 October 2026 ## Key facts - Most likely code: [2309.10](https://border.bot/hs-codes/230910) - Chapter: [23: Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder](https://border.bot/hs-codes/23) - Candidate codes: 2 - HS edition: HS2022 - National lines: 25 - General duty (MFN): free ## Summary Cat food imported into the United States is usually classified under HS code 2309.10 when it is dog or cat food put up for retail sale. It sits in heading 23.09, “Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding”. Cat food can also fall under 2309.90, depending on the packing. The tariff of the United States has 25 national lines under these codes. The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 2309.10 is free. ## How to choose the right code Is it put up for retail sale? Use 2309.10 when it is dog or cat food put up for retail sale. Use 2309.90 when it is an animal feed preparation not put up for retail sale. ## Codes for cat food Each code is listed with its legal text from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, quoted as published, and the condition under which it applies to cat food. ### [2309.10](https://border.bot/hs-codes/230910) (most likely) Legal text: “Dog or cat food, put up for retail sale” Heading 23.09: “Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding” Applies when it is dog or cat food put up for retail sale. ### [2309.90](https://border.bot/hs-codes/230990) (possible) Legal text: “Other” Heading 23.09: “Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding” Applies when it is an animal feed preparation not put up for retail sale. ## National lines in the United States The tariff of the United States splits these codes into 25 national lines, listed with their published text and general duty. The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 2309.10 is free. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment. ### Under 2309.10 - 2309.10.00.10 “In airtight containers”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.10.00.90 “Other”. General duty (MFN): free ### Under 2309.90 - 2309.90.10.05 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Bird seed”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.10.15 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Other pet food, put up for retail sale”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.10.20 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Poultry feeds, prepared”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.10.30 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Dairy cattle feed, prepared”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.10.32 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Other cattle feed, prepared”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.10.35 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Swine feed, prepared”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.10.45 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Other livestock feed, prepared”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.10.50 “Mixed feeds or mixed feed ingredients > Other”. General duty (MFN): free - 2309.90.22.10 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Containing over 10 percent by weight of milk solids > Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions > Milk replacer”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.22.90 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Containing over 10 percent by weight of milk solids > Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions > Other”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.24.10 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Containing over 10 percent by weight of milk solids > Described in additional U.S. note 2 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions > Milk replacer”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.24.90 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Containing over 10 percent by weight of milk solids > Described in additional U.S. note 2 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions > Other”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.28.10 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Containing over 10 percent by weight of milk solids > Other > Milk replacer”. General duty (MFN): 80.4¢/kg + 6.4% - 2309.90.28.90 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Containing over 10 percent by weight of milk solids > Other > Other”. General duty (MFN): 80.4¢/kg + 6.4% - 2309.90.42.10 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Other > Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions > Milk replacer”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.42.90 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Other > Described in general note 15 of the tariff schedule and entered pursuant to its provisions > Other”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.44.10 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Other > Described in additional U.S. note 2 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions > Milk replacer”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.44.90 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Other > Described in additional U.S. note 2 to this chapter and entered pursuant to its provisions > Other”. General duty (MFN): 7.5% - 2309.90.48.10 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Other > Other > Milk replacer”. General duty (MFN): 80.4¢/kg + 6.4% - 2309.90.48.90 “Other > Animal feeds containing milk or milk derivatives > Other > Other > Other”. General duty (MFN): 80.4¢/kg + 6.4% - 2309.90.60.00 “Other > Other > Animal feeds containing egg”. General duty (MFN): 1.9% - 2309.90.70.00 “Other > Other > Other > Preparations, with a basis of vitamin B12, for supplementing animal feed”. General duty (MFN): 1.4% - 2309.90.95.00 “Other > Other > Other > Other”. General duty (MFN): 1.4% ## Similar products Products in the same category as cat food, or classified under the same headings. - [Dog food](https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/dog-food): 2309.10 - [Dog leads and collars](https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/dog-leads-and-collars): 4201.00 ## Check your exact product Describe your product, or paste its page, and the classifier suggests the code in the tariff of the United States with its reasons. - [Classify your exact product](https://border.bot/tools/hs-code-classifier?product=cat+food&destination=US) ## Classification depends on the exact product The right code depends on what the product is made of, how it is made and what it is for, so two products sold as cat food can fall under different codes. Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the HS code for cat food? Cat food imported into the United States is usually classified under HS code 2309.10 when it is dog or cat food put up for retail sale. It sits in heading 23.09, “Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding”. ### Does the packing change the HS code for cat food? Yes. Use 2309.10 when it is dog or cat food put up for retail sale. Use 2309.90 when it is an animal feed preparation not put up for retail sale. ### What is the duty on cat food imported into the United States? The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 2309.10 is free. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment. ## Sources and updates The legal texts are from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026. The national lines are from the tariff release of the United States (2026HTSRev21), live on border.bot since 9 October 2026. The duty rates are from the live rates release, live on border.bot since 9 October 2026. The conditions and questions on this page were written for cat food by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again. Official source files: - https://hts.usitc.gov/reststop/exportList?from=0000000000&to=9999999999&format=CSV&styles=false Machine-readable: https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/for/cat-food.json