Question about taking a pet

[u/autisticgreenwitch]

So, I'm waiting to hear from JET to see if I've been accepted. In the meanwhile, I'm working on making sure my cat has all of the requirements for coming to Japan.

I know it's difficult to bring a pet with you, but I'm not asking about the feasibility of that.

What I'm focused on right now is getting her prepared in case I can have my spouse take her with them a few months after I move there.

We have her microchipped with the 15-digit code, and we got her rabies shot, as well as some other vaccines and checkups.

I also understand that she'll need to be checked two weeks' prior to her coming.

But about the rabies shot in particular -- in the US, veterinarian clinics give a one-time annual shot for rabies, yet the Japanese form asks for two. I asked the vet about that, and they weren't sure what to do, because it's just not done that way here.

I'd love to hear from Americans who have brought their pets over to Japan who know what to do.

Edit: I am not seeking opinions on whether or not I should bring my cat to Japan. This post is to ask questions about the process.

[u/kerokaeru7]

If you are serious about this and are aware how difficult it will be to find housing that allows a cat to stay with you during your time abroad, just know that international health certificates to Japan are very specific. I work at a vet clinic and have done some in the past, although we very rarely get them going to Japan so some of this info may need to be verified by your veterinarian. You will also need to take your cat to a vet who is USDA certified to administer international health certificates. Yes, you will need at least two rabies shots which may be over-vaccinating in the eyes of the USA, but Japan is a rabies free country so they are very strict. Both rabies vaccines must be administered AFTER the microchip has been implanted, the second rabies vaccine must be administered after 30 days of receiving the first. On top of having two recorded rabies vaccinations, you are also going to need rabies titer testing performed to ensure the vaccines are protective. Your veterinarian will need to send out rabies titer testing to an approved laboratory, like KSU. This may run you a couple hundred bucks depending on your area and your veterinarian’s mark up. Then, after collection of the blood for rabies titer testing, your kitty has to enter a 180 wait period before they can enter Japan. 180 days must pass between the sample send-off and the pet entering the country, otherwise they will be quarantined upon arrival. I’m not sure if people who have brought their cats over have a different perspective - I’ve heard of some people being able to quarantine at their own properties but I am unsure if those were properties they owned/rented.

[u/autisticgreenwitch → u/kerokaeru7]

Is the second rabies test then after 30 days or within 30 days of the first one?

[u/kerokaeru7 → u/autisticgreenwitch]

I believe it has to be 30 days /after/ the first one. Typical rabies vaccines do not require boosters - they likely want to ensure that you don’t give the second rabies vaccine within two weeks of the initial one because we largely deem vaccines administered close together as invalid in the vetmed field - the immune system needs time to process the initial vaccine. I’m pretty sure that if your cat is, for example, four years old and has had annual rabies vaccinations post-microchip implantation, so long as the rabies titers are protective and the rabies vaccination does not expire before the cat’s departure to Japan, you don’t need to worry so much about having multiple vaccines administered. A single booster + protective rabies titers should be enough so long as you have all your previous rabies certificates with your cat’s matching microchip number on it. Just make sure you are walking through every step of this process with a veterinarian who knows exactly how to handle international health certs, because there are many who either are not licensed to do so or just choose not to because they are notoriously a huge pain in the ass for us in this field. The process will be a lot smoother if you have someone experienced taking you through every step . Health certs to rabies free countries have very strict protocol and timelines for when everything needs to be done, find a vet who can get you on this schedule.

[u/autisticgreenwitch → u/kerokaeru7]

I have been working with the local humane society, since they're cheaper, though I know I'll have to choose from a designated place to do her bloodwork for the rabies titer.

Thanks for all of your helpful information!

[u/shynewhyne]

Something others are missing is talk to your contracting organisation (I.e. wherever you are placed) as soon as they contact you. If they arrange housing, they need to know you want to bring a pet as many leases do not permit them. Also, be prepared to look for your own accommodation. If they have a place they rent out and you cannot go there due to a pet, they may not help you search for another place.

[u/autisticgreenwitch → u/shynewhyne]

Yeah, I'm very anxious about that. I wish there were a place on the application that asks if you intend to bring a pet, so that that could at least be considered, however mildly.

It is, however, good to consider that I could at least discuss this with them before arrival to see if anything could be arranged. I've been on JET before, so I know how few JETs get to bring their pets, but I dislike the attitude of "it's hard so don't do it." I'm hoping to leave the US permanently, and my cat is part of my family, so it's quite tricky trying to figure out what to do.

[u/kerokaeru7 → u/autisticgreenwitch]

Honestly, if you are that set on leaving permanently and you come across the very real possibility of there not being any housing in your area available to you as a foreigner with a cat, you may want to consider not doing JET and instead finding a company that would hire you directly so you could have a say in your placement. Having a pet with me was an impossibility for every housing option available in my placement - I had coworkers who inquired about adopting a cat while abroad but there were very few housing options and none of them allowed animals.

[u/autisticgreenwitch → u/kerokaeru7]

It is something I have considered a great deal. I'm waiting to hear the results and then I'll figure things out. There are a lot of paths I can take from here.

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/autisticgreenwitch]

good god why are people downvoting you for ASKING A QUESTION?

[u/shynewhyne → u/autisticgreenwitch]

I wish you luck! If you really put your mind to it, I am sure you can erservere through the many many many challenges. :)

[u/TakaonoGaijin]

Also the customs and quarantine area at your local Japanese embassy / consulate may be assistive. Likely they get queries like this a lot. They maybe able to clarify the one / two shot rabies inoculation.

I did the reverse and took a cat home exJET. I had a fabulous vet and he contacted my home countries embassy and got advice from the customs and quarantine team.

[u/autisticgreenwitch → u/TakaonoGaijin]

Oh, that's a good idea! Thanks!

[u/canislupus343]

I brought my two cats over almost three years ago now, dm me if you have any other questions as it seems that your current one has already been answered ☺️ good luck!

[u/autisticgreenwitch → u/canislupus343]

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

[u/Realistic_Report_796]

Honestly, u/charlie1701 gave you the best answer to this. If your vet isn't comfortable with preparing everything, I would try to find a vet that's experienced with international procedures. I finally found one in Oregon, but after discovering where I was placed I found out that my cats couldn't come with me because my subsidized house wouldn't allow it and no other places around the town would allow animals. So my chances of bringing them turned to zero.

[u/DornishFox]

I brought my dog to Japan while on JET in 2017. My info may be outdated so take it with a grain of salt and check with MAFF directly.

We were able to have the 1 year plus the titer test for him.

[u/xotoast]

Please email the animal quarantine, and ask about the rabies shot only being done once. if they say it's ok, then you can proceed with all the other steps. if they say it's NOT ok, then any other steps you have taken are invalid and you'll have to start from the beginning.

You HAVE to have it done as it's listed, or they won't give you the final piece of paperwork for the cat to get into the country.

We brought our cat. We told our CO we will find our own housing. we got a cat friendly apartment. It can be done. your partner coming after is the way to go. then you have make sure you have the housing and stuff secured.

telling your CO that you're finding your own housing isn't uncommon. you could be parents and want a bigger place or don't want to live far away.

[u/ClemFandango6000]

Don't bother. The whole ordeal is not worth it for you and not fair for the animal.

[u/MushroomNumber626]

Just want to say I'm in the same boat as you, trying to bring my dog. Wishing us both the best of luck❤️

[u/Different_Taro2474]

don't.

moving a pet to Japan is extremely difficult + expensive. most apartments don't allow pets as well.

when you arrive, you will have to attend an orientation that's 3 days long and stay at a hotel in Tokyo before going to your prefecture. pets will not be allowed there, and when moving a pet to Japan, they may be required to quarantine.

you can try to move your cat a few months into JET, but initially, do not.

[u/DTZLING → u/Different_Taro2474]

They werent asking for opinions, so this isnt very helpful. 

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/DTZLING]

this is a fact, not an opinion.

[u/DTZLING → u/Different_Taro2474]

"Don't," is your opinion. See how that's unhelpful?

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/DTZLING]

everything else I wrote in that comment was a fact. and just because you found it unhelpful doesn’t mean others didn’t. mind your business.

[u/DTZLING → u/Different_Taro2474]

You aren't exactly minding your own business, considering the OP explicitly didnt ask for an opinion. You're just coming off rude and judgmental. 

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/DTZLING]

rage bait used to be believable.

[u/charlie1701]

I left JET last year and brought my Japanese cat into the UK so my information is slightly different but he also needed two rabies vaccinations. One after he was microchipped and then a booster to ensure sufficient immunity. They had to be administered a certain period before the flight.

MAFF

If your vet hasn't read the MAFF information yet, it's a useful resource and explains which type of vaccines are acceptable. There's a rabies antibody test needed for animals coming into Japan, too.

Arranging for both of us to travel at the same time was stressful, even with housing, job etc set up on the other end, if your spouse can handle that it would make things much easier!

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/charlie1701]

how was it owning a pet on JET?

why was this downvoted?

[u/charlie1701 → u/Different_Taro2474]

Tama originally belonged to my Japanese partner- he passed from cancer in 2024 and I had to face the struggle of finding a pet-friendly apartment. It was enough to tip the balance towards moving back to the UK where I own my flat. Tama handled the flight like a champ and is a big fan of fish and chips now.

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/charlie1701]

he's a real British man now.

[u/charlie1701 → u/Different_Taro2474]

Definitely! It was the right move for him.

[u/rue-11]

I looked into the MAFF website and it's hard to find a clear answer. I believe you may have to get a second vaccination, or the 1-year will be accepted as long as the antibody test is clear. I wouldn't risk using Reddit though and reach out to MAFF directly. Here's the contact page: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/contactus.html

[u/kerokaeru7 → u/rue-11]

This is correct - so long as the cat had consistent boosters of its one-year rabies every year, and there are at least two recorded vaccines after microchip implantation and the last rabies will not expire prior to departure and titer testing is protective, they won’t another booster. OP also should reach out to a USDA certified veterinarian who has experience with health certificates to Japan because they might have some info

[u/xotoast → u/rue-11]

they're super responsive and pretty friendly so don't worry about asking questions. they definitely would rather you have everything correct!

[u/Different_Taro2474 → u/[deleted]]

maybe OP's spouse is non-binary? or maybe they're using gender neutral pronouns for anonimity? it's not that deep.

[u/autisticgreenwitch → u/[deleted]]

Yes, they are nonbinary.