How to Bring a Cat from Japan to the U.S.: Jojo's Story

The Story of a Ridiculous Idea

There were many feral (and stray) cats living around the University of Tsukuba, and the Ichinoya dormitories to the far north of the campus were no exception. There were informal clubs dedicated to feeding the cats, and providing them with makeshift shelters made out of storage bins to host them and their inevitable kittens.

Therefore, the cats living near Ichinoya in 2013 were very fat and happy. With the exception of one.

She was a scrawny, short-haired mackerel tabby. While the feral cats had their food brought to them, she did not, and resorted to meowing at the doors of the lower-level balconies until one would come out and share some rice and salmon from their onigiri.

April 27, 2013, she meowed at the door of room 34-103.

Her life would never be the same.

Okay, moving on from the terrible prose, when I came back from Japan, I brought this cute cat with me. However, for many reasons, you can't just walk on a plane with a cat, shove it under your seat, and fly. It's a process, one that differs based on the countries involved, and one that has changed even from when I brought back Jojo.

The main parties you have to keep in mind, if you're flying directly from Japan to the U.S., are Japanese regulations, the airline, and U.S. regulations.

Reminder: These are regulations as of March 31st, 2017. Things change.

Japanese export regulations: A health check must be conducted at the airport. It is recommended you make an appointment. It seems they are also able to issue veterinary certificates of good health required by some airlines (I took Jojo to an outside veterinarian.) See the link for additional forms.

Airline regulations (limiting this to a few major carriers. See links for further info:)

• Delta: No longer allows pets in the cargo hold. Cats are allowed in the cabin on flights averaging less than 12 hours, but must be able to fit comfortably in a carrier that fits under the seat. Opinions vary on whether the average cat can fit comfortably in such a container.
• American: Cats are only allowed in the cargo hold from Japan to Los Angeles (not the opposite direction.) Cats are allowed in the cabin (under the seat.)
• United: Cats are allowed in the cargo hold and in the cabin (under the seat.)
• Make sure you call your airline in advance to let them know you are traveling with a cat! There is a rather small limit on how many pets can travel.

U.S. import regulations: Restrictions on cats are looser than those on dogs. Cats are not required by the U.S. to have certificates of good health or rabies vaccinations, however, your state may have different rules. For example, NC does requires rabies vaccinations, however, I was able to take her to get one a few days after arriving.

There are additional requirements, such as for the kennel (United has an excellent example page,) veterinary certificates of good health, and transport fees.. Please check carefully with the parties involved, and monitor for changes in regulations.

Don't forget that moving an animal, especially a stray, from its native environment is very stressful for the animal. Likewise, be wary of interacting with animals you do not know. They can carry illnesses such as rabies even if they look completely fine, or they may be aggressive. Bringing a stray home is a big decision that takes lots of careful planning, for the move and for the future, and money, so think wisely before you do so.

Jojo is now plump and happy, just like those feral cats she hated so much. Her coat is shiny, she no longer has to worry about fleas or ticks, and she knows where her next meal will come from. She is the most affectionate kitty I have ever met. I wouldn't say I recommend bringing a stray home from another country, but I certainly don't regret it.

University of Tsukuba reunion

~Decchan