Before moving to Thailand, we struggled with the decision to bring our cat and dog with us. We questioned whether owning pets in Thailand would be anything like owning pets in the USA. At the time we were researching our move (2012), we found little information on websites and forums that gave us hope or confirmed our fears.
Fast forward to 2016. We’ve spent the last three and a half years with our big ol’ American cat in Chiang Mai, Thailand and had our fair share of ups and downs.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
Luckily it’s been relatively easy to take care of our cat in Thailand. He doesn’t mind the hot weather and loves chasing bugs and lizards (both outside and inside our house). After a lot of searching via motorbike (good luck with those online listings!), we found a decent pet shop that has a good variety of everything he needs. And thanks to a friend’s recommendation, we have a friendly vet who we’ve used for check-ups and minor emergencies. We’ve settled in nicely, but there are a few things we wish we’d known before committing to being pet owners in Thailand.
For starters, we had no idea just how difficult it would be to find a pet-friendly home. Let’s be clear: there ARE pet friendly 4+ bedroom family houses beyond the city limits. However, we had our hearts set on living near Chiang Mai’s city center but found out the hard way that apartments and condos don’t allow pets.
And to think if we brought our dog, an 85 lb American Bully, we’d be pulling our hair out trying to find an affordable pet friendly residence with a fenced-in yard somewhere in town. (From one dog owner to another, a fence is a must-have, non-negotiable feature to protect your dog from Thailand’s strays). Not to mention, he doesn’t quite fit the ‘cute, small dog’ look. That’d make it a challenge to take him anywhere with us, something we were all too familiar with back in the USA.
If you want to know what pet friendly homes, daycare and boarding facilities, vets, and pet shops we’ve come found in Chiang Mai, sign up to be notified when our membership site goes live.
Anyways, that’s just our experience. So we asked some of our fellow pet-owners to share their own stories. Here’s what they had to say in response to our questions:
What has been your experience with veterinary care in Thailand?
Diana lived in Chiang Mai for three years and nursed her two cats, Lucky and Penelope, back to health after rescuing them from the city streets.
Vet care in Thailand can be hit or miss — largely in part due to the language barrier.
I lived in Thailand for almost three years and worked with an animal sanctuary — Elephant Nature Park — during that time. Within my first week of living in Chiang Mai, I rescued a tiny little street kitten dying of parvo. I rushed him to the vet the park uses, Dr. Nook, who saved his life. She and her team ended up saving his life a couple of times, actually. Dr. Nook was thorough and always provided clear explanations of what was going on, not only for my cats (I ended up with two), but also when I visited her with other animals rescued. She and her staff were caring and gentle — they even consoled me when animals I cared for had to be put down.
However, not all veterinary practices are the same. I also had to rush my cat to a 24-hour hospital and he was misdiagnosed with parvo for a second time. (Oddly enough the tests, which they showed me, came back negative). It is really important to find a vet other westerners use, or a vet that the animal sanctuaries use. These tend to be the ones with the most experience and updated facilities.
Any funny Thailand pet stories? Any cautionary tales?
Nick and Michael have lived in Thailand for two and a half years and brought their cat, Karma, from the USA.
Karma, Michael and I arrived in Chiang Mai January 2014. When we first moved to Chiang Mai we lived on the ground floor. Our cat baby Karma is an indoor cat but a little outdoor avenger at heart. (She has a record of escaping/sneaking out and not coming back until morning.)
We noticed that some of the Chiang Mai neighborhood cats started to come around. They would stay ten feet from our screen door and meow. She would just stare at them. She never meowed. This went on for a few weeks until one day I noticed a few cats scoping out our place, looking at Karma.
I didn’t really think anything of it. Until…I opened the screen door to take out the trash and Karma bolted out the door full speed. This was her big escape that she’d been planning.
I screamed for Michael. I was shocked and just stood there and didn’t do a thing. Michael ran outside in his underwear, panicked. (Mind you, this is in the center of the complex so everyone can see and everyone was home because it was early evening.)
I finally ran out after him and told him to go back inside. I chased Karma down as she rounded the corner of another building. She looked lost, like she was thinking, “Where the hell am I?” I was very calm and acted like she’d done nothing wrong and snatched her up into my arms.
We thought that it was the end. Had we come all this way only for her to escape and join her stray cat friends? Or worse, eaten by the local dog gang that we affectionately called, “The Rat Pack”.
Two and half years later, Karma is still enjoying Thailand and she’s hasn’t pulled any escape attempts since.
Has your view on pet ownership changed now that you live in Thailand?
Kati and Elias have lived in Thailand for two years and bought their dog, Dara, in Chiang Mai when she was a puppy.
Sure, my view on pet ownership has changed. As an American, we often obsess over the things we do, which include taking care of our pets. We’re told that our dog or cat must get their shots on a regimented schedule and that we must buy them the most expensive, high-end food. Otherwise, we’re reprimanded or labeled as horrible pet parents. In the US, it’s not uncommon to be pressured into spending money on the best of the best but it’s nothing like that in Thailand.
In the US, there’s also this mentality of hyper commitment. Yes, owning a dog is a commitment, but my world doesn’t revolve around my dog, Dara. I adopted her after moving to Thailand and I don’t think of taking care of her – from feeding and giving her attention to the daily walks and yearly vet checks – as a life-consuming task. There’s a more a relaxed attitude in the Thailand courtesy of the ‘sabai sabai’ mentality. I can make sure my dog is healthy and happy without going overboard.
What’s the most difficult or easiest thing about owning pets in Thailand?
Alana received her dog, Manee, as a gift a year after moving to Thailand.Â
I had never had a pet before so I don’t know what it would be like to have my dog in another country. But compared to my hometown of Seattle, Thailand doesn’t seem particularly pet-friendly or accessible.
In Chiang Mai, for instance, it’s difficult to walk your dog because they aren’t allowed in the public parks. However, some owners pretend not to see the signs and sneak them in anyway. There aren’t any great spaces for walking and especially not for letting a dog off a leash.
Transportation can get tricky to if you rely on a motorbike. I sometimes ride with my dog on the bike with me but I couldn’t if she was much bigger.
What is the biggest difference in pet culture compared to your home country?
We rescued our cat, MooShu, from an animal shelter in the USA and brought him to Thailand.Â
There’s a difference in owning pets in Thailand, most notably in breed preferences and treatment.
Breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs, Chihuahuas, Terriers, Spaniels, as well as any toy dog breeds, are very popular. There is ample affection, toys, food, and other general resources for small dogs. It’s common to see them well-groomed, sometimes to the point of being dolled up with bows or flashy collars. It’s arguably quite cute! Every once in a while we see them carried around in fashionable doggie carriers or held in their owner’s arms like infants. However, Thailand doesn’t seem to be as pet friendly towards cats or large dogs. In America, on the other hand, cats and dogs (of all sizes) seem to be enjoyed relatively equally.
Also, many Thais look down on neutering/spaying and (especially) euthanasia. Although there are animals rescue centers that accept ‘donations’ of street dogs and cats, there are still hordes of intact strays roaming around who are too often rarin’ to reproduce. The sheer number of strays is both a nuisance (adjusting your route to avoid going by territorial dogs, especially if you are taking your own dog for a walk) and a danger (getting into a car or motorbike accident because a stray dashed in front of your vehicle). This is opposite to the USA, in which strays are promptly picked up by a government service and put in a shelter and eventually put down if they aren’t adopted out.
If you own a pet in Thailand, what has your experience been like? Leave a comment below.
I am from the US and am considering moving to Thailand for 1-2 years. I have a 70lb dog who I would not leave behind. We would both be going to Thailand, and unless I changed my mind, we would eventually be returning to the US after a year or so. Would this be too much for my dog? He’s good in planes. I’m more worried about customs, and then his life in Thailand. I don’t want to move and then my dog be in a worse situation. His life currently is good.
I brought 3 rescue dogs and a cat to Thailand over from India where I lived and ran a c.n.r program, my dogs had a terrible start in life we were looking forward to a safer environment for our pets.unfortunatly on one fateful morning out on a walk with our dogs ,they ingested some poison 0ne survived, it was the worse day of my life and now 10 months on I still cry of the memories of them .So be very careful poisioning is very common in Thailand . we decided to adopt 2 pups from a shelter although they… Read more »
Hi, just back from Bali & based on recent laws- it’s a non-entry export for dogs! I was very much looking forward to relocating, but cannot go back without my 15 y o girl & being comfortable of her safety & quality of life. Seems only option in snuggling her in via Jakarta via a Pet agency, but then she wouldn’t have the Balinese dog tattoo in her ear & still require quarantine for 3 days (she’d die)! Any updates or direction would be helpful. Pet passport is still selling Indonesian passport? I may go to the consulate too here… Read more »
We’re sorry, but we don’t have any extra information to give you. We think the best source of correct info is the consulate. We wish you all the best!
Hi there! I am an exchange student staying here for a year and been debating whether or not to get a puppy from JJ Market. I don’t want to get a load I am not ready for so I am researching as much as I can. Do yall know about pets sold in public markets, vaccinations required for them (for fear of potential diseases), and process to take them back to your home country?
Adopting a puppy is a huge endeavor and we commend you on your decision. However, we are hesitant about purchasing a pet from a large market because 1) it may come from a puppy mill and 2) there are countless puppies at shelters that need good homes. There doesn’t seem to be any mandatory vaccines in Thailand (laws are more guidelines), so we recommend getting the list of vaccines from your home country and then asking your Thai vet to administer those to your pup. Rabies is a must. Additionally, each country is different when it comes to importing your… Read more »
We plan to relocate to Thailand with our Irish wolfhound and French mastiff. Did younfly your own animals or use a an animal transporter! What were the hiccups?
We hired a pet shipper to book our cat’s airline ticket through cargo (we were required to – the airline would not speak to ‘civilians’). Other than that, we arranged everything else ourselves – figured out which documents to acquire, when and where to submit completed forms, researched and bought the crate, etc. The biggest hiccup was figuring out the timeline of events and who to contact in Thailand to get our paperwork approved, which we then write about in another post, Shipping a Cat to Thailand.. By far, the most stressful thing about our move to Thailand was shipping… Read more »
Pro-tip for Bangkok pet owners: the Japanese vets tend to be more experienced (and arguably more loving) than the Thais. Check out the Thonglor neighborhood to find them.
Thanks for the tip!
I have a 19 year old cat that I brought with me from the US. Sadly, is not looking like she’ll make it back home. I’ve heard that vets in Thailand do not euthanize, but if i was home, now would be the time. Does anyone know of a vet that can help? I like in Bangkok.
We’re sorry to hear this! We know what a heavy decision this is. Although it’s difficult to find a vet that euthanizes pets, it’s not impossible. We’ve heard that Sukhumvit Vet on Soi 51 will do it (house calls, too) as well as Thong Lor Pet Hospital and Ari Pet Hospital. Much love!
Awesome blog, really helpful! I move to CM with my indoor cat soon. Trying to figure out my housing options I approached the estate agency and they told me that there was no flats available for cat owners in CM and the only option was a house. I’m single and definitely not a fan of suburbs and village lifestyle and would ideally prefer to live around Nimman or Suthep areas in a condo. Are there many small houses/townhouses in that area? Is the situation with pet-ftiendly condo owners really that though? Would it be easy to find something without agency?
Hi Yana, thanks so much! We have come across a few pet friendly condo listings in Chiang Mai over the years and know of at least one pet friendly serviced apartment on that side of the city called Flora House (on Chan Kian Road. Houses are available throughout Chiang Mai, including in Nimman and Suthep. We actually found our house without the help of an agency (within a KM of the the old city). It wasn’t listed as pet friendly, but we were able to negotiate once meeting with the owner. For much broader insight we recommend posting your question… Read more »
We rescued our dog (a mini pinscher) in Thailand. Having him there was awesome (though finding a pet friendly apartment in Bangkok is nearly impossible), but taking him out of the country was a total pain.
Vet care is high quality and very inexpensive (AWESOME), but not entirely reliable. Getting all the paperwork we needed to export him out of the country and imported into another was a complete headache and involved a lot of phone calls, bribes, and chasing around.
Awesome summary. As far as exporting pets, we hear it’s a bit easier if you originally imported your pet into Thailand and kept that paperwork to show during the exportation. The exception is Australia – they won’t allow pets imported directly from Thailand at all.
Can you provide more information about just what you needed to do/ended up doing? I’m planning to move a Thai cat from Thailand to Europe. My initial research tells me that just the paperwork for a cat/dog after microchipping, cost 450 USD, and takes 2 months. Plus, I’m not in Bangkok, so the chip will have to be sent here, implanted by another vet, and blood samples will need to be shipped from here to Bangkok and then to Europe. No wonder so many Farang leave their pets behind…
I’m back from visiting Chiang Mai with an eye toward retiring there soon. I have a big, smart, Balinese indoor/outdoor cat whom I’m like to bring with me. In CM I stayed in the southern Haiya tambon. The soi dogs were very friendly; none of them threw aggressive body language at me. Most were willing to let me approach and scratch behind the ear. Maybe some are “owned” and are allowed to wander, and some are truly strays. I met a Persian cat that was born three-legged and a couple of sweet old hair-dressers were caring for him outside in… Read more »
We want people to be well informed about the different environment and pet culture in Thailand before they bring their pet all the way here, but it sounds like you’ve witnessed very positive interaction with street dogs (Yes, some are very sweet!) and the hairdressers caring for the three-legged cat. Of course, we wish you all the best when you bring your cat over, just let him roam outside with caution.
Hello there – I am moving to Chiang Mai to work at an international school for 1-2 years this summer. I have one adult cat. Is it really true that no apartment in the city let you have pets – even small cats?
Generally speaking, apartments and condos in Chiang Mai do not allow pets. However, some are more lenient than others (and look the other way when pets are brought it) or actually allow pets if you ask (approved on a case by case basis). You are welcomed to sneak your cat in like we did, but you risk getting kicked out. The most hassle-free method is to look for a house or a condo. They are independently owned so you can speak directly with the landlord about your cat. Good luck – it’s the Golden Question for anyone moving to Chiang… Read more »
Nakornping condo on Soi Ratchaphruek rents to cats. I lucked out to find it. But I think all the units are full. I have lived here a year. I looked for 6 months to find a place for a cat. Nearly impossible, unless you get a house. And most listings on rental sites do not even talk about pets nor a pet / no pet policy filter. Just a different culture. A lot of people have cute little dogs. Pomeranians and chihuahuas. I cannot imagine trying to walk a dog in the old city with the soi dogs. Our cat… Read more »
Sounds like it’s in demand! Yeah, our cat is an indoor cat, although we do let him out in our tiny fenced in yard under supervision. All it takes is one mean soi dog out of a hundred and our kitty is toast.
We relocated to Thailand from the UK around 16 months ago. We almost gave our cat up for adoption, but backed out at the last minute…. she is part of the family after all and we just couldnt do it! So there I Was in a mountain of paper work and googling how to get Lola the Persian cat over to Thailand. There are lots of google posts that say to pay someone to do it, and to be honest I dont think you need to do that. I did it all myself. and whilst my paper work got bounced… Read more »
Great to hear read your good-news story, Nicole. Not a bad price either! We agree that you can save money if you do it all yourself and not fly cargo (like we did – a double whammy because the tickets were so expensive and because we were forced to use a pet shipper to ‘professionally’ book the flight). You’ll be happy to have your baby with you :)
What was your experience flying them over? We are moving from the U.S, and don’t know much about how safe it is, and what others have experienced. If anything were to hold us back from moving, it would be our dogs as they are our children and I couldn’t leave them behind!
We had a really good experience shipping our cat. He flew on a different plane than us entirely (went over an entirely different ocean than us, too!) We used a pet shipper to find and book flights for us, shipped our cat cargo (we worried about that but he was fine), and received a happy clean cat in Bangkok. The only not-great part was at the end picking him up at the cargo facility because it was after hours and there was no one there to meet us and speak English to us. It was confusing but worked out just… Read more »
Hi there! My fiance and I plan to move there next July. We have two pooches, a puggle and a cockapoo. Both small dogs, are we are both anxious about flying them especially. Were not so worried about them living there, as we know we will stay with my family in a gated home. However, has anyone had experiencing flying them over there? We having a hard time finding information on which airlines fly dogs, and how safe it is for them to fly under the plane. Thank you!
It really depends on where you’re flying from (different airlines service different countries). Have you thought about contacting a pet shipper? They can save you loads of time (we’re talking days of researching different airlines, flight policies, level of care, prices, etc) and take the stress about coordinating everything off your shoulders. Be careful with your puggle – some airlines also have restrictions on snub nose dog and cat breeds due complications with breathing during flights (the airlines don’t want to be liable).
To those that don’t know whether to go to Thailand with their pets or not. I would highly recommend you take them. I really didn’t know what to leave them and felt the same as Connie but its a no option, especially as we love our two pooches so much. I would recommend going a few times without the dogs and see where you like. I have been going to Phuket and Chiang Mai for over 6 years and I would feel confident to take them. Its certainly a must to find a place where they will take dogs. In… Read more »
Visiting your future Thai town to scout out an area you like and make pet friendly connections is definitely ideal. We’re glad we had the time and money to take a trip to Thailand once before we moved although we understand that for some people that’s just not possible. We’re visiting Phuket right now but haven’t openly looked at pet friendly homes. Glad to hear you already have a few places you can choose from when you move here in two months. That certainly takes a big weight off the shoulders.
Hi Tony, thank you for your comment, my husband and I are planning to move to Thailand in August 2018 and I just cannot imagine leaving my cocker spaniel behind. Now that you have moved, how have you found it? It is really so impossible to have a dog there?
This is really something who shocked me when i visited Bangkok ! How many homeless dog we met everywhere ! Contrary to Europe when we used to meet cat, here it’s a tribe of dog !
If you think it’s bad in Bangkok, wait to you visit some of the smaller towns in the country. Everywhere…
We brought our two cats 18 months ago from Malaysia to Thailand, short distance so pretty hassle free, also because of the excellent information we found here. The oldest one was already accompying us when we moved from the Netherlands to Malaysia and we also brought her to Singapore when we lived there. Taking them to Thailand was by far the easiest compared to Singapore and Malaysia. No quarantine, just some paperwork to be checked and filled in at the airport. Quite the difference with Singapore that has a month long mandatory quarantine. A year ago our Dutch and Malaysian… Read more »
Oh, great to hear you had no quarantine issues. Thailand is pretty lax compared to other countries. We like knowing you have a happy little Dutch-Malaysian-Thai cat family. Very cute!
HI Guys! My husband and I have been following you probably since 2013. We loved reading about your journey and your helpful tips, especially your view on moving from one box to another when you lived in the US, and how you made sure you cleaned up your belongings to make them look good prior to getting rid of them; andwe LOVE your periscopes- they keep us motivated. We are striving to move to Chiang Mai by the end of May 2017 with our two teenage girls. One of which I will be homeschooling and the other will be taking… Read more »
Hey Katy and Elvin – thanks for following for such a long time (wow!) Yeah, we know the angering feeling of the bully breed restriction. Did you consider contacting a pet shipper to help you find an airline that would allow your Chihuahua in-cabin? We imagine that she will be treated like a princess on board (the stewardesses on international flights are noticeably more accommodating and attentive than the domestic Americans flight we’ve been on). I think with your baby you will have more housing options to work with since you’d only need a tiny yard or small patio area… Read more »
We planned on bringing our 2 lovely cats to Thailand. Two weeks before departure we had to find them a home. The price and the minimal airline options of 42 hours made me sick. The vet was not keen on them being in the plane that long. There was no way I could do that to my pets. The Universe works in wonderful ways and a very loving family took our 2 cats and love them like their own. There was no way I could have picked these people if I tried. Enzo, my big Norwegian Forest cat would have… Read more »
So glad to hear of a good news story! We know you miss your babies but it sounds like Enzo and Pearl couldn’t have found a better home. There are many animal shelters in Thailand if you are looking for a new pet. If you don’t adopt, you can always volunteer to get your kitty fix :)
Thanks for the quick and objective reply! She is comfortable walking on mostly sidewalks and paved areas. We have also been walking her more often through crowded areas, to hopefully get her used to the pedestrian traffic in Bangkok. However, we will definitely miss dog-friendly parks and fields for sure. We considered staying in the states (California) until she passes, but we are leaning heavily toward making the leap with her; before she gets too old. It will definitely be challenging. My husband will attend a Thai language school and obtain an education visa, and I will be free to… Read more »
My husband and I have followed your blog for a while now. We really appreciate the info you have put out, and we are impressed with your professionalism. We plan to move to Bangkok this winter with our 25 lb terrier mix, Lucy. We’ve researched dog friendly condo/apts, and there do seem to be some options. What are your thoughts/advice on living with a medium-sized dog in the big city? We are pretty familiar with Bangkok from past visits. We believe that although challenging at times, Lucy will adapt and we should be able to find areas to walk her… Read more »
Thanks for following for such a long time :) Glad you found pet-friendly places in Bangkok. As far as taking your dog out for daily walks… public parks are off limits to dogs and there’s not much grass in Bangkok for her to do her business! Are you comfortable walking your dog on sidewalks all the time? Perhaps its not that bad – we walked our dog on mostly paved roads or concrete sidewalks in and around our apartment complex, but he also had a nearby field to play in. Don’t forget that the metro and skytrain do not allow… Read more »
We moved to Thailand in November of 2015, currently residing in Hua Hin. Prior to our departure, along with all the other planning and getting rid of our “stuff”, the big elephant in the room was whether to take one, both or neither of our cats to Thailand with us. We struggled with this for months and finally came to the decision we would float the idea of adoption to some of our good pet parent friends and family. If we got a hit and were satisfied they would be a good fit, we would go that route and go… Read more »
Aw, we’re so sad to hear about Oly. Him not eating is something you’d never know what a problem and we can only imagine how hard it was to make that decision to let him go. But Abby – she sounds just like our dog, Oakley. We’ve been lucky enough to have visited him on both trips back to the US. He’ll bark at us as we walk up to the house until he figures out who we are and then he’s all wiggles and kisses and remember he’s old tricks. There’s nothing better than seeing him light up when… Read more »
A cautionary tale for potential dog owners here. I have lived in Thailand 11 years and own a dog. He is 3 years old. Unfortunately, he is prone to snap at people when food is about, despite training and warning kids who visit not to tease him with food! (Sadly, Thai kids are not taught the restraint around animals, and some enjoy teasing the dog with titbits before you can stop them) He has also snapped at a child through jealousy, not food, though he didn’t hurt her. In my opinion, the dog is ‘untrustworthy’ and I have owned many… Read more »
We’re sorry to hear this. It’s such a different mentality than the West! Is it possible to give your dog to an animal shelter? We don’t know how often shelters accept unwanted pets as opposed to only allowing in rescued strays. (We don’t know if they will turn you away). But it’s worth it to your dog, even if it takes a whole day to drop him off and come home. That seems like the only ‘humane’ option in Thailand since euthanasia is out. The irony is that turning your dog loose in the streets – which Thais think is… Read more »
This will come handy for many people living in Thailand. There are so many questions on different forums, asking about having pets here. Good idea guys!
Thanks Joanna!
Thank you for all your posts about pets and Thailand! I have read them all and have found the information very helpful. My husband and I are moving to Thailand in October and have begun the process to bring our pet rabbit. I have read many comments/blogs/articles about people bringing dogs and cats, but not a lot about rabbits. I know that you all do not own a bunny, but do you know people that do? Or do you ever see people with pet rabbits? We intend to keep in inside 24/7 and hope finding an apartment or home won’t… Read more »
When we went to Chaiyaphum’s Siam Tulip Festival in mid July, there was a couple who was carrying around their rabbit and taking pictures with it. We’ve also had a Thai neighbor who had a rabbit (indoor/outdoor) and we’ve seen bunnies being sold in pet shops. We don’t know what Thai’s perception is (you’re right, not many people have them), but maybe you can get away with bringing the rabbit into the apartment if your landlord assumes that it’s in a cage all day and won’t cause any damage to the furniture. (PS, Thai floors are always tile, so you… Read more »
This is our biggest pain point at the moment. We love love love our 2 labs, but it’s just unrealistic to bring them to Thailand. So do we find a good home for them or stay here until they pass. Ugh! It’s the worst decision ever!
Don’t beat yourself up. We left our pup with trusted family and it was the best thing we could have done. Thailand would not have been the right place for him. Parents know best, right? Do what your gut tells you. We send you good thoughts!