🎶Man-maru-chan🎶
April 15, 2022 5:52 AM Subscribe
Japan has a number of islands and locations called "Nekojima" or "Cat Island" because they are overrun by cats, which provide more of a tourist attraction than an inconvenience (one previously). On one such island, the cats are followed by the diligent, silent Youtubers Impressed cat video and 野郎が撮った猫動画. Examples: seaside cats of mixed emotions; pond tea tiger welcomes humans; a failed attempt at lewdness.
They are cared for by volunteers like the cheerful BIGMAMA, who feeds, grooms, and medicates the cats. She seems to have uncanny cat-obedience powers, possibly because she sings their names whenever she visits them. Commenters from around the world respond to the Google Translate descriptions in the same dreamlike English.
Notes: I do not speak Japanese, so possibly I am missing important context, but for the purposes of Youtube enjoyment, I don't think so.
Many cats have bobbed tails, not because they were injured but because of descent from the Japanese bobtail breed. They may also have snipped ears, showing that they have been neutered (right ear) or spayed (left ear).
Notes: I do not speak Japanese, so possibly I am missing important context, but for the purposes of Youtube enjoyment, I don't think so.
Many cats have bobbed tails, not because they were injured but because of descent from the Japanese bobtail breed. They may also have snipped ears, showing that they have been neutered (right ear) or spayed (left ear).
I liked this video of a sneaky feline bird watcher.
I'm out wrangling kids at an Easter event at the zoo today, but look forward to digging through these links some more later. Thanks for posting!
posted by the primroses were over at 6:16 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm out wrangling kids at an Easter event at the zoo today, but look forward to digging through these links some more later. Thanks for posting!
posted by the primroses were over at 6:16 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Smiling as I drink my coffee.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 7:57 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 7:57 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Same thing here, rrrrrrrrt, but with porch tea.
I visited Nara when I was in Japan, where deer are sacred and will mob you for deer cookies. But I missed out on these cat islands!
posted by cnidaria at 8:56 AM on April 15, 2022
I visited Nara when I was in Japan, where deer are sacred and will mob you for deer cookies. But I missed out on these cat islands!
posted by cnidaria at 8:56 AM on April 15, 2022
Ha exactly three years ago I was on Ainoshima visiting some of these cats... it was amazing. The cats are really friendly will sidle right up to you for a good rub. We wandered a bit and saw a nicely creepy shrine in the woods and some odd piles of stones. Definitely worth the trip.
posted by cirhosis at 9:09 AM on April 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by cirhosis at 9:09 AM on April 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Special shoutout to Rabbit Island (Ōkunoshima) a former WW2 chemical weapons facility which is now part of a national park and overrun by bunnies. We made a special trip there during our visit to Japan and it was well worth it. Perhaps next time (if there is a next time), we'll check out one of the cat islands.
posted by May Kasahara at 9:46 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by May Kasahara at 9:46 AM on April 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
oh, tea tiger is a great term. mine now!
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:29 AM on April 15, 2022
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:29 AM on April 15, 2022
There's a secondary explanation as to why I got obsessed with cats who live in a place I will probably never visit. My grandmother was also a tiny lady who went out to take care of feral cats. She adored every animal -- she was even a vegetarian -- but she especially loved cats. She brought the hardest cases home, and when I was a kid, I thought that all cats were terrified and mean because hers were. But she loved them, and brushed them, and let them heal from all their troubles and live their lives the way they wanted to.
And what did I call my grandmother? Big Mama. So you see. She could have lived a while longer if she hadn't gotten sick, and it is like seeing a little of how she would have spent her days if she did.
posted by Countess Elena at 11:18 AM on April 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
And what did I call my grandmother? Big Mama. So you see. She could have lived a while longer if she hadn't gotten sick, and it is like seeing a little of how she would have spent her days if she did.
posted by Countess Elena at 11:18 AM on April 15, 2022 [7 favorites]
If I ever get a chance to visit Japan, I absolutely will make it a priority to visit one of these islands.
posted by tdismukes at 12:19 PM on April 15, 2022
posted by tdismukes at 12:19 PM on April 15, 2022
+1 for Okunoshima, it's not every day you can be mobbed by bunnies.
Japan is really a wonderland for interactions with somewhat tame wild animals. There's also Nara's famous city park, which is full of deer. "They can be aggressive if they think you will feed them" is perhaps an understatement, but in a mostly adorable way, as long as you're not an easily frightened small child. I still think about the little girl I saw who bawled while her parents tried desperately not to die of laughter while pulling her away from the deer. She's probably okay.
There is apparently a fox village. This is all I know about the fox village.
posted by chrominance at 5:43 PM on April 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
Japan is really a wonderland for interactions with somewhat tame wild animals. There's also Nara's famous city park, which is full of deer. "They can be aggressive if they think you will feed them" is perhaps an understatement, but in a mostly adorable way, as long as you're not an easily frightened small child. I still think about the little girl I saw who bawled while her parents tried desperately not to die of laughter while pulling her away from the deer. She's probably okay.
There is apparently a fox village. This is all I know about the fox village.
posted by chrominance at 5:43 PM on April 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
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I've never known a cat who didn't like being sung to. Most of my cats have had their own theme song.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:00 AM on April 15, 2022 [5 favorites]