How to adopt a cat in Japan

13 comments

1. I can’t give you advice on a specific place to go, but I can give you the priority list they go by when considering people that are capable of adoption, from most to least desirable:

   Japanese couple (with or without child age 5+)

   Japanese couple (with child younger than 5)

   Single Japanese female (living /w family)

   Single Japanese female (living alone)

   –

   –

   Single foreigner female/single Japanese male (with or w/o family)

   –

   –

   –

   –

   Single foreigner male.

   ​

   The positions will move a couple ranks depending on the size of your home/apartment, but generally unless you’re living with a Japanese spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend your chances are very low for adoption. Your chances are basically zero without very high fluent/near native Japanese if you’re trying to apply entirely solo as a foreigner in an average size apartment. I recently went through the process myself and spoke with a few of the staff and vets of the shelter, and have heard similar for people who don’t want to patronize the horrible pet shops and have tried to adopt instead.

2. [japan cat network](https://www.japancatnetwork.org/)

   [Kawakuji Animal Rescue](https://www.kawakujirescue.org/)

3. The fact you’re looking for “a good city run shelter that will be easy to adopt from” kinda shows how little you understand the situation here.

   What is your visa?

   Are you renting?

   Did you pay a pet deposit?

   What is your Japanese ability?

4. Try jimoty: https://jmty.jp/tokyo/pet-cat/g-all

5. The adoption process here in Japan is a hell.

6. Good luck for that. Google around and even the Japanese people are fed up of cat volunteers. Seriously, the whole crazy cat lady image applies to them.

   They will come up with a whole bunch of requirements if you get past screening to cover all sorts of what if scenarios so be prepared to invest in cages and gates by the front door unless you want your cat to learn how to use keys or drown itself in the toilet.

   That’s one of my most stressful times in Japan, second only to being an English teacher.

7. Go and hang out down near the river with some food. Snatch one up. Take the wildlife killer off the streets. One less.

8. >So I’m just wondering if anyone knows a good (city-run) shelter where easily adopt one.

   I am unaware of any city run shelter in Japan. If they pick up stray cats (stray dogs are considered a safety issue cats aren’t) they’ll immediately euthanize them.

   NGOs aren’t going to let you adopt because to many foreigners just abandon their pets when they leave the country or when they move and the new apartment won’t allow pets. And honestly like you said you just got here you’re probably the highest risk of abandoning a pet.

   Never mind the elephant in the room of does your landlord even allow pets…

9. I adopted my cat from this shelter:
   http://alma.or.jp/

   They of course required my apartment allow cats and I needed a Japanese person to be a guarantor (to agree to take care of the cat in case I couldn’t someday). I went to one of their open shelter days and then submitted an application. After they dropped off the cat with my guarantor present I stayed in communication with them for a week or two as part of a “trial” to make sure everything was going ok. I don’t think any of the staff can speak English, so I’m assuming my ability to speak Japanese was important.

   For what it’s worth, I’m a single American female.

   Edit: Should probably mention I was required to buy a large cage and pay an adoption fee as well.

10. Foreigner who adopted a cat in Kansai here.

    First and most important step, check with the landlord. My rental agreement said I could have pets, but had to ask permission. Landlord had me sign a new contract agreeing to pay one month rent to cover damages from the cat.

    I had to provide photos of my rental house, my rental contract and the pet contract from the landlord before the cat café I adopted from would consider me.

    They wanted me to cat proof the house, so I had to buy gates for my front and back doors, as well as put bars on my windows (I used cheap extendable shelves for that). Also had to buy a cage and a carrier to show I was ready to quarantine kitty if need be and had the means to take him to the vet.

    I probably spent over ¥70,000 just setting the house up to the café’s standards. Had to provide photos of everything and agree to let his foster mom visit the house for an inspection.

    The great news is my little dude came to me neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. I paid about ¥35,000 for his adoption fee. His foster mom delivered him to my door. He was decently socialized from his time in the cat café (I chose him because he tended to hide in the toilets or in a corner so wasn’t getting much attention from visitors). He’s really blossomed now that he’s got his own space.

    Was the whole process a massive struggle? Not really. My Japanese is just ok enough to get through it. I was recommended to the café by a fellow foreigner who adopted from them so that likely helped (even though I live quite far from them, they happily delivered my kitty to me). It was expensive buying all the stuff they requested, but still cheaper than buying a kitten here.

    I will say the adoption contract had some stuff in it that was mildly eyebrow raising but I don’t know if it’s enforceable. Like obviously he was rescued from the streets, so not letting him outside is in the contract – but it stipulates he’s not even allowed to go for walks on a harness. (He’s shown zero interest in outside or wearing a collar so we’re ok there). It sort of implied a catio is a no-go too. Sending them updates is in the contract, as is telling them immediately if he gets outside and is lost. Just stuff I’d probably do naturally but they felt it necessary to write in the contract.

11. If you’re on Facebook, Cat Network Japan and Kawakuji Animal Rescue are both foreign run cat adoption / rescue groups you can join. They do adoptions around Tokyo and sometimes the greater Kanto area

    I adopted my cat from a private shelter last year (in Gunma) as well, and had no issues (though I’m married to a Japanese citizen and speak Japanese very well, so my experience might not be the norm), but I didn’t have any issues setting up appointments to meet the cats and then adopt the one we wanted.

    In either case you have to provide official proof from your landlord that pets are allowed in the building, as well as pay adoption fees (and usually are required to spay or neuter the cat too).

12. you are going to be living here “for some time”

    how long is that exactly? if it is less than 15 years you shouldn’t adopt a pet.

13. Everyone says they know the responsibilities of owning a pet until their livelihood and income is at stake and then the first thing they’ll axe is their pet.