q5.pdf - TOKYO — So you’re about to move to Tokyo and want...

TOKYO — So you’re about to move to Tokyo and want to bring your cat.
Where do you begin?
Japan is a nation of cat lovers: Cat cafes are everywhere; 3D cats live on
billboards ; lucky cat charms wave in storefronts. This is the country that
gave rise to Hello Kitty.
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But bringing a cat here is tricky. Like most island nations, Japan is
hyper-cautious about the spread of rabies.
Fret not, however: It is possible, with enough planning and a
well-padded savings account.
The Washington Post has compiled this guide after extensive field
research. Our process took 13 months to complete, but it is feasible
within eight. Here are 28 easy steps to import your neko-chan from the
United States to Japan.
The first step in Penny's trans-Pacific journey was to find an experienced vet
to help navigate the process. (Michelle Ye Hee Lee/The Washington Post)

1. Find an experienced, U.S.-based vet to guide you. Preferably one who
gives you a mix of forewarning and optimism, like our vet, who said:
“This will be complicated, but we can make it happen.” (If you’re moving
to Japan first without your pet , have a partner and/or friends who can
take your pet to appointments for you. This step may take longer than
eight months.)
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2. Fall into a subreddit rabbit hole researching tips from others who
navigated the process .
3. Get overwhelmed, then request a quote from a pet moving service.
Receive a quote for $5,400 to move both of your cats. Shake your fist at
capitalism, and decide to figure it out on your own instead.
4. Schedule your cat for a rabies shot, rabies booster and rabies antibody
titer, which measures whether your cat will produce an immune
response against rabies. Check with your vet to make sure their lab is on
the approved list from the Japanese government. Your cat’s rabies
antibody level must be equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml. Look up
“IU/ml” on Google.

Japan honors Tama the cat, stationmaster with four paws, at lavish
funeral
5. Ask your Tokyo housing agent to help you find an apartment that
allows pets. This will greatly limit your housing search because there
aren’t many options for foreigners with pets.