Hi everyone,
Today’s guest post comes from CATHERINE LITTLE:
ADOPTING A STRAY CAT IN JAPAN
After I got a “real adult” job, I promised myself that I would achieve my life-long dream of adopting a stray animal. Roughly 3 weeks after accepting my game design job in Tokyo, I decided to adopt this little guy. How? Through a wonderful resource called Japan Cat Network (JCN). Japan has an abundance of stray cats; some of which are seeking domestication. JCN is a Facebook group where people all over the country post up not only cat adoption ads, but also share anecdotes of their own pets for others to read and comment on. On a whim I posted an ad saying I was looking to adopt a sociable stray and eventually I was contacted by a person from Chiba who said they had the perfect cat for me. After several exchanges and making sure my landlord and housemates were okay with keeping an animal, I made the decision to take him into our sharehouse. I decided to call him “Leo” after my favorite Fire Emblem Awakening character.
Leo is the perfect cat for me. He can take care of himself yet is always open towards human affection such as kissing, petting, snuggling, and hugging. As a stray, he wandered the neighborhoods of Chiba meowing and trying to get in other peoples’ homes. He was always super affectionate and had a caretaker who would feed and look after him, but was unable to take him into her home. That is why she had her daughter contact me in regards to adopting him. At first, I was a bit afraid that Leo would have trouble adjusting to the house since he had always been an outdoor cat. I had done my research and bought all of the cat essentials, but was prepared for the worst. However, he adjusted to our home quite well!
When I first brought him indoors, he was very docile and tried to hide underneath the steps of our entrance. However, with time he came out, and when I brought him to my room (as pictured above), he instantly took to the blankets! He loved rubbing his paws in my bedspread and was able to cuddle next to my Neko Atsume plush. After I petted him for a while and he rubbed his scent on me, we became instant best friends. Now Leo will wait for me to get back from work and meow at me to welcome me home!
To those who want a pet but don’t necessarily have the money or time to fill out the paperwork, I definitely recommend adopting one! With proper time and care, you can form a wonderful bond with them just like any other pet. Leo doesn’t bite at all and acts like he’s been a house pet his entire life! The only negative behaviors he demonstrates are scratching at the walls to stretch and trying to run outside when the door is open, but this is normal cat behavior that can be corrected. Now that he has adjusted to the house, I let him out from time to time because he always knows to come back.
I am so happy that I have a pet to keep me company in a foreign country. He has helped me through homesickness and depression, and even when I have a bad day I always look forward to coming home to him. Words can’t describe how much he has made me a happier person. I have decided to take him wherever I go, even if I have to bribe a yakuza to help me sneak him out of the country. I will always love Leo for life! Though the vet doesn’t know his true age, they suspect he is around 4-7 by the wear on his teeth. I plan to give him a happy, and relaxing life for years to come!
We hope you enjoyed her story and don’t forget to check out her Blog.
Thanks,
Marc
Cute cat! I believe he’s find a good home and that you have found a new friend
🙂 glad you enjoyed the guest post
Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom.
Thank you 🙂
A wonderful, moving story and one more reason to adopt a cat. Thanks for sharing.
🙂 glad you liked it
What a beautiful kitty! I love cats and would be lost without my two!
Melissa x
http://www.memoriesandmishapsblog.wordpress.com
Glad you found us! If you ever fancy doing a guest post let us know. 🙂
Oh cool, that would be fab! Just let me know what you need for me and I’ll try and sort something 🙂
Simply an email with a story and photos. Just send it to marc@katzenworld.co.uk and I’ll set you up with a guest profile. 🙂
Thank you so much. I’ll work on something and send it over!
Take your time. 🙂
Love her black nose, just like your other pet kitty! It’s great when they adopt you. They know instantly. Keep well. ?
Glad you enjoyed the guest story 🙂
sweet kitty. adorable and so glad he’s snug and warm in his forever home.
Indeed. <3
Good for you and god bless you for taking in this precious cat who needed a home.
Thank you on behalf of our guest author
That’s an awesome story. I hope Leo has a long, happy life.
Glad you liked the story 🙂
Great story… I am so happy I adopted a stray too! Callie has changed my life for the good!
🙂 if you’d like to do your own guest story you’d be most welcome.
Sounds like you and Leo are a perfect match. I so agree with you: ADOPT!!! Enjoy your little guy. <3
🙂
Lovely kitty! Somehow he looks Japanese! LOL! ?
Haha 🙂 glad you liked t.
*the story
Thank you for sharing this moving story. I enjoyed reading about international adoption of cats.
Thanks! And yes a very important topic with all that’s happening.
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😀 thank you for linking
Such a beautiful cat? I really want to adopt a stray cat here once I enter a university in my own apartment! Such a shame I can’t have pets in dorms
Those should have a mandatory dorm cat!
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