Does anyone know someone that is on the DL that has a cat or kittens in need of a home? I’m going to be honest here, I’m a foreigner with a decent remote home job but I can’t speak Japanese and I don’t have time to go through a month of adoption red tap that is quite honestly outrageous when In the states we could pick our fur babies out of a barn and that was that.
I think my apartment is not keen on pets either but after talking to handful of Japanese people with pets in ‘la ‘no pet’ apartments. This is very common, kind of thing that just slips through the cracks bc many Tokyo apartments don’t allow them, period.
I don’t mind paying for the cat, already bought pet supplies (I’m that determined lol) but need a more ‘off the books seller’ who’s understanding because us foreigners have it difficult out here. And it’s very difficult to adopt even as Japanese person, 3 times more difficult as a foreigner.
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I don’t know about that but let me share another perspective….you know those pet shops with puppies and kittens in the windows right? In those very small spaces. We got our cat from there. There was no plan to get a cat but my husband noticed in the pet store there was an older kitten being left over and she was at neatly 6 months old having a hard time competing with the younger thus smaller and ‘cuter’ kittens. He felt sorry for her and was concerned what would happen to her if she didn’t get a home soon. After visiting her a few times in the shop and seeing her approach him every time he decided to buy her. I know some would say this is how you keep this system alive but we truly feel that she might have not ended up so well if he didn’t decide to buy her.
I got mine via a friend of a friend whose cat had kittens and they needed to find homes for them. Probably an obvious suggestion but got any friends who have wider circles than you and could put out feelers for you?
Perhaps people might disagree, but if you can’t speak Japanese, how do you expect to take proper medical care of your cat? Vaccinations, neutering, health checks, communicating with the vet. I think it would be wise to learn some basic Japanese before adopting an animal. No offense, I love cats too but waited until I was ready to take care of one properly before adopting. That might be the reason things are so strict, because people care about the welfare of the animal, which takes basic language skills you said you don’t have.
No adoption agency will adopt to someone living in a no-pets apartment. Too many bad experiences with cats dying/being lost forever because they were put outside/on the balcony when the landlord or neighbors complained. That’s why adoption agencies ask for copies of your lease.
People slip through the cracks, that’s true. I did the same with my first cat in Japan. Then I moved to a pets allowed place and paid the pet deposit.
There’s nothing stopping you from picking up one of the many, many, many homeless cats and kittens needing homes in the street. They’ll likely need expensive medical care for their FIV, worms, coccidia etc, then neuter surgery and two rounds of vaccinations. You’ll be back and forth the the vet that first month let me tell ya.
I’d say go for it. Just factor in the cost of shipping it overseas with you if you leave!
You never “adopt” a cat, you will soon realize they own you. You don’t own them.
I’m not in Tokyo, but both of my cats were kittens found on the streets. But yeah, like others said, how do you plan on getting the necessary vet care if you can’t speak Japanese? Bringing in a cat like I did or through other non reputable sources without a plan to quarantine them and get them to a vet is asking for trouble. This is how you get some gross parasites in your home including some that infect humans.
Also, the adoption red tape exists for good reason. You should really think about this. It’s an animal that will be your responsibility for 15 years or more.
Edit: also cats love to scratch. Hope you’re ready to explain to your landlord the scratches the cat _will_ leave in the wallpaper.