View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:40 am Post subject: Cats and apartments |
|
|
I'm trying to do some research about pet friendly apartments in Japan and I've learned a few things, but I've been finding contradictory information. All the sites agree that pet apartments are hard to find and expensive. I understand that part so far. I've accepted that I would have no spending money if I kept a pet.
Thing is, I'm a cat person. So naturally I've been trying to find out about them. Some of the sites I've found say that dogs are allowed more than cats. Is this true? I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around that one. If I did find a cat friendly apartment, would I have to declaw? Personally I think that's a horrible thing to do to a cat, but I need to know what I would be getting into.
Anything you could share would be appreciated. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
timothypfox
Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 492
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
You don't need to declaw your pet. Just make sure it has a cardboard scratch board that you regularly change.
An apartment agent can help you find a pet friendly building. They may slap on an extra annual "insurance fee" against pet damages. My fee was only about 3000 yen. A small amount considering. I found the prices for pet friendly apartments about the same - just the choices are much more limited but do exist...
If you are trying to find an apartment before you come, you are bound to find all places more expensive that you would coming here and then finding an apartment. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
If I can find a job that won't mandate their apartment, I can do the guest house method until I find something. What I'm thinking of doing is coming first (leaving kitty at home), then sorting the apartment situation out. The last time I came to Japan I was there about 6 weeks, and kitty survived with my mother. Kitty can probably survive "grandma" more than that.
I know it will cost an exorbitant amount of cash to do it this way, but I've been preparing for that. After all, I need to save for plane tickets, rabies shots, layovers, more plane tickets, you get the drift.
I know it sounds weird, but this is one job I know I can do yet I'm unwilling to leave my cat behind. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
I knew a guy with three cats. He had to live in a house.
Look at athome.co.jp
You can select pets, then you will see that there are fewer options available.
I have two dogs so I remember what a pain it was when I moved. I live in a house now. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
cat mother
Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 62
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We found our pet friendly apartment through an agent. It was cheaper than a regular apartment, because it was in an older building.
Our cats had to be chipped (the agent required their chip numbers) and we had to provide a signed document stating they were going to be kept strictly indoors. There was also an extra cleaning fee and that's it. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ALX
Joined: 19 Sep 2012 Posts: 36 Location: The Big Hill
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Are you bringing your pet from the States? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm still in the early planning stages, but I want to bring one cat. I already know she'll need chipped and blood tested. I'm currently on the east coast right now, though, so I'll most likely split the flights up. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
timothypfox
Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 492
|
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I live with three cats in an apartment. My wife and I brought all of these over through the states a year and a half ago, and did the whole pet immigration thing. We only told the housing agent we have one cat, and if anyone says anything we are looking after my mother-in-laws cats for the weekend. But, landlords and such are not nosy the way they are in the states. No surprise visits to endless and feeble repairs on hot water pipes that should have been fixed years ago. Workmen come to your home scheduled ahead of time and without a nosey landlord or housing agent in Japan. All is good... Not sure about guest houses though... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki
|
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks, all of you have been a great help. I wouldn't have the cat in a guest house with me, just in the apartment.
If you don't mind me asking, how did the cats hold up on the plane ride? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
timothypfox
Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 492
|
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
The cats were scared, and angry and meowing like crazy when I spent time with them in Tokyo before going on to Kagoshima! But, they bounced back after a few days on arrival without a need for a vet visit.
If you're asking details about 'how to', there was a recent post about that that has the website you need etc. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
OneJoelFifty
Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463
|
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
I know a few Japanese people that live in apartments that say there are no pets allowed, but keep cats anyway. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ZennoSaji
Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 87 Location: Mito, Ibaraki
|
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
OneJoelFifty wrote: |
I know a few Japanese people that live in apartments that say there are no pets allowed, but keep cats anyway. |
But they aren't Gaijin. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ALX
Joined: 19 Sep 2012 Posts: 36 Location: The Big Hill
|
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Do you think American cats understand Japanese cats right away or do they need time? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kathrynoh
Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 64
|
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've got a few Westerner friends who've kept unauthorised cats in apartments. One of them had her landlord living in the same building and he must have known but didn't say anything. Was probably glad to have a tenant in the place and didnt' want the trouble of kicking her out.
I lived in a share house with Japanese housemates and they would have been fine with me having a cat. She had two cats herself. I found that place on Craigslist - there are some good places on there if you shift though the crap.
People in Tokyo, from what I've seen, don't let their cats outside (except for an occasional walk on a lead!). I'm not sure if there are really strict laws about it or what. [/quote] |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki
|
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
No way would my cat be going outside, so that's something I wouldn't have to worry about. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|