Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mamagata]

I read the postings on traveling with cats and getting food/supplies for them in Korea, but I have questions about how cats affect your living situation.

I'm planning on taking my kitty with me to Korea this fall and I am wondering if cat lovers can comment on what it is like living with a cat in their apartments. I have heard that Koreans don't like cats but I really do and I will definitely be bringing my kitty.

I have a small (450 sq ft) 1 br in the US right now and the cat runs around and sometimes does naughty things like trying to eat the carpet. I'm figuring that I won't have carpet in Korea but that I might have another small apartment.

Questions:

1) Have you had any problems with your cat that made the housing agency/landlord or even neighbors get mad?

2) Has your kitty been an issue with your employer?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[fadedgirl]

hi!
welcome to Korea
there's a website for foreigners that foster stray animals in Korea
etc etc etc...there're forums too...animalrescuekorea.org
personally I have a dog and my coworker has a cat.
Neither one of us has had problems having our pets in our apartments. Ask your school to clear it with your landlord. Mine doesn't live in the building and since my dog is pretty quiet, no one really even knows that I have her.

good luck!

[mamagata]

thanks, fadedgirl!

What do others think? Should I clear it with the school+landlord first? Seems like the proper thing to do.

[fermentation]

[frankhenry]

[mamagata]

thanks, fermentation. i won't be taking my cat to work, though youngsters do seem to find her interesting.

nor, frankhenry, will i be allowing her feces to linger too long and cast a foul smell over the whole apartment building.

[fermentation]

[Straphanger]

Agreed with "ask the landlord" and *get it in writing* before you put down any deposit / key money. Koreans, as a rule, don't like cats. There are exceptions, but everybody poll your students. They just don't like cats. They aren't pets to them, they're a necessary evil.

[Daegudavid]

Living with cats in Korea has presented me with no real problems. However, if you take them outside, people will try and eat them... Seriously. Old men and women hate animals even more than they hate foreigners, and will try and harm your cat.

[schwa]

You cannot assume that all apartments accept cats. Some do not. This from experience, as I have two cats & have househunted here.

You also have be prepared to pay cash for any damage your cats might cause. A bit of wear & tear on wallpaper & flooring is generally okay if you stay more than a year (the landlord customarily refurbishes that when you leave) but if your cat damages woodwork, expect costs. Likewise with employer-supplied furniture -- nobody wants to inherit a cat-scratched or stained sofa or mattress.

If you're good with that, it can be fine, but just showing up with an unannounced cat could be very problematic.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Karea]

What else is gonna clean up a few mice (and hopefully rats)?

[Illysook]

Will some kind soul please post directions to the cat cafe?

I miss my cat, but I didn't want to put her through all the traveling when I didn't know what I was getting into. I would definitely bring her if I was coming back.

Having said that, I did cat sit for someone for a few weeks. It's not much fun in a one room apartment when the little guy tracks his litter into your bed. Try to make sure that your apartment at least has one of those laundry room/porch areas.

[yellow111]

the cat cafe is directly across from the park in hongdae where they have the free market.

[Milwaukiedave]