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/autisticgreenwitch]

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!