Cat Travel to Japan

Name: Ashley
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
From: England
To: Japan

Hi There,

I'm curious as to what the requirements are for allowing my cat to move to Japan with me, more specifically, Sapporo (though my options are open right now). In the near future I'll be moving to Japan permanently to teach English and I'd like to take my cat with me as he's quite attached to me. He follows me around everywhere and meows at my bedroom door relentlessly whilst I am at college (according to my parents) so I feel like I can't just leave him behind.

I've heard a lot about a possible six months in quarantine but no concrete answers so far so I've decided to ask. I honestly couldn't bare the guilt of leaving him in quarantine for six months, and not to mention the stress from the travel could do some damage as well. If that's the case I think it may be a better idea to not take him with me, but of course that is also something I hate to imagine doing.

In addition to this, I know that a lot of places do not accept animals so my search for a place to live would be that much harder but if I can take him with me then I'm willing to give myself that restriction.

So yeah, any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ashley

Hi Ashley,

Thanks for your question -- we understand that pets are part of the family and it sounds like your kitty loves you very much! Here is some information about how you can bring her to Japan with you.

First, take a look at these pet import requirements via the Animal Quarantine Service of Japan. If planned correctly, you should be able to avoid a long quarantine. The process is very particular, as you can see, but we've helped many pets move to Japan and they've been able to go home to their families pretty quickly.

For general information about moving pets internationally, please take a look at these frequently asked pet travel questions. Your cat may not love the traveling experience but there are ways of preparing him as best you can (including by following these cat crate training tips).

The bottom line is to begin planning early, talk to your vet for help and advice, and continue to reach out to pet travel experts when necessary. If you're interested in finding out about our door-to-door services, you can fill out our free quote form.

Thanks again, and good luck with everything!