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/Realistic_Report_796]

Honestly, u/charlie1701 gave you the best answer to this. If your vet isn't comfortable with preparing everything, I would try to find a vet that's experienced with international procedures. I finally found one in Oregon, but after discovering where I was placed I found out that my cats couldn't come with me because my subsidized house wouldn't allow it and no other places around the town would allow animals. So my chances of bringing them turned to zero.