National Cat Day is celebrated in several countries around the world and on different days. The occasion is often used to promote the benefits of adopting cats.
In Japan, National Cat Day is known as "Neko no Hi" (猫の日). It is celebrated annually on February 22nd. This date was chosen in 1987 following a poll of over 9,000 cat lovers conducted by the Executive Cat Day Committee. The selection of the date was a playful nod to the Japanese onomatopoeia for a cat's meow, "nyan,". The numbers 2-2-2 (February 22) can be pronounced as "ni-ni-ni," which closely resembles "nyan-nyan-nyan."
How is National Cat Day in Japan Celebrated?
Cats have long held a special place in Japanese culture. They can symbolize good fortune and feature prominently in both folklore and art. National Cat Day remains a minor celebration in Japan, however, interest is growing. On National Cat Day, affection for cats is expressed in a variety of ways:
Culinary delights
Bakeries and cafes offer cat-shaped pastries including manjuu (steamed buns) and themed dishes, allowing enthusiasts to indulge in feline-inspired treats. Convenience stores offer special cat-themed snacks for the celebration.
Cat-themed goods
Shops offer diverse cat-themed items such as stationery, feline accessories and even mini furniture for cats. Pop up shops selling cat themed novelty items are established in major railway stations.
Social media
Cat owners share photos and stories of their pets online, creating a virtual festival of feline appreciation. Some owners dress up for selfies or dress their pets in cute costumes.
Pet pampering
Many pet owners take the opportunity to spoil their cats with new toys, special meals, or extra affection. National Cat Day is a celebration of the special relationship between owners and their feline friends.
The promotion of responsible ownership
Beyond the personal celebrations, National Cat Day also serves as a valuable reminder of responsible pet ownership and cat welfare. Organizations use the occasion to promote awareness of issues such as abandonment and the importance of spaying and neutering.
How popular are cats in Japan?
Cats are the most popular pets in Japan. Households with cats now outnumber those with dogs. There are several possible reasons for the rise in popularity of cats which tend to be favoured by young adults and the elderly.
Young adults often prefer cats to dogs as they are less time consuming to care for. Cats don’t require walks and so are also excellent choices for older people who struggle with mobility. Japan certainly boasts an aging population. Birth rates in Japan are falling. It is becoming increasingly common for couples to have pets instead of children and cats are more practical choices for working people.
Feline friends are easier to source than dogs as there are so many stray cats that can be adopted.
Cats are also being adopted as mascots for various facilities around Japan including railway stations and hotels. The cats are often permitted to lounge around the premises and may be photographed for promotional purposes while wearing costumes or accessories. Feline mascots can develop celebrity status.
What about cat cafés?
In urban areas of Japan, many residents live in apartments or condominiums where pets are not permitted. This situation has ensured that cat cafés are extremely popular. They provide the perfect place for animal lovers to enjoy companionship with friendly felines. The cafés are much like any other coffee shops apart from the fact that they feature cats wandering around, relaxing and interacting with customers.
The world’s first cat café was established in Taiwan in 1998. The concept spread to Japan where the first cat café was opened in Osaka in 2004. Cat cafés were an immediate hit and by 2010, there were reportedly as many as 79 cat cafés in Japan.
What are the cat islands of Japan?
Japan is famous for its cat islands, small landmasses that are so named because of their large stray cat populations. There are 11 such islands here residents care for the strays. The islands attract numerous tourists. It isn’t known exactly why these islands developed such large feline populations. But it is thought that the colonies were established after cats were left on the islands by fishing boats. Those fishing boasts used cats to control rodents.
One of the most famous cat islands, Aoshima, has hit the headlines recently as its feline population is in decline. The cats will all be gone within a few years. The decision was taken to neuter the cats as the human residents could no longer cope with caring for so many fury friends.
Aoshima use to boast a human population of over 600 but over the years, residents have left to live on the mainland and now only five remain. They are elderly and cannot be responsible for the welfare of 130 cats. No kittens have been born since the neutering programme began and all cats on the island are now at least seven years old.
What are the most popular names for cats in Japan?
According to a 2023 Fukui Shimbun article, the most popular cat names in Japan are:
ムギ (Mugi)
ソラ (Sora)
レオ (Reo)
ルナ (Runa)
ココ (Koko)
モモ (Momo)
キナコ (Kinako)
マル (Maru)
モカ (Moka)
ベル (Beru)
Do cats feature in Japanese folklore?
Japanese history is rich in folklore and the stories feature numerous yōkai (supernatural beings). Supernatural cats are known as kaibyo (怪猫) and the first to appear in a traditional tale was the nekomata, an extremely large, two-tailed cat that ate men. In truth, this legendary 12th century cat was probably a tiger.
During the Edo period (1603 to 1868), art and culture flourished in Japan. People revelled in tales of magical creatures including kaibyo.
The bakeneko featured in a number of legends and possessed the ability to shapeshift into humans. Some bakeneko killed their human owners, others were simply wild socialites that drank and played games after dark.
One particularly scary character in Japanese folklore was the cat Kasha, a monster that ate corpses before becoming a demon that could raise the dead and turn them into puppets. To this day, cats are kept out of rooms during wakes thanks to this infamous tale.
Not all kaibyo were evil. But given the number of cat characters that were, the modern day popularity of cats in Japan is somewhat surprising!
The Future of National Cat Day
Cats are the most popular pets in Japan and festivals are important aspects of Japanese life. For these reasons it is likely that National Cat Day will remain firmly on the calendar and could become an increasingly important celebration.
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