Just looked at a tiny link on Taro`s post re pets.
(Advice to starter of the thread - leave your cats where you are and stay there too - let your girlfriend come back to the Japanese lifestyle. Read about the new laws on foreigner id and you`ll see one of the reasons for staying put in Thailand and leaving for a better country, ie not Japan.)
I followed the link and it`s great. Taro - you`re The Man! Great legal stuff especially on the new Orwellian moves to control us here. Have a look at news.3.yen com. Again - thanks Taro!