Cats in Japan: A Classist Society
Wakey wakey! Cat clutch in Ikebukuro at about 5 AM.
One of the curiosities that I discovered in Japan was that their classist society bleeds even into their feline culture. There is the bobtail cat, dwelling predominantly on the streets (see above).
A JaLaLa cat in Takadanobaba
And the pampered puss found pimped out in neko cafes.
Oh, don’t worry, I’m not about to launch into any sort of a Peter Tosh “equal rights for cats” diatribe. This is merely may way of writing — very tongue in cheek. But now I digress…
Neko of the Damned?
Where was I? Oh yes… classist cat societies in Japan. The street bobtail neko and the elitist neko cafe resident. The street cats certainly have their freedom whereas the neko cafe cats must work for their privileged lifestyle.
Street cats are found lazing about, sleeping-in or actively hunting their next meal. Neko cafe cats are sometimes seen sequestered behind glass or enclosed beds, giving them a well deserved time-out from the human population that ceaselessly descends upon them.
Neko cafe cats are fed at regular intervals throughout the day, engaged in near constant activity and adored by all. I did notice that the neko cafe cats were all but comatose by the day’s end, completely unthrilled by their environment and those around them — they do have their limits (as such, if you visit a neko cafe, I suggest first thing in the morning while they are “fresh”).
Nekobukuro cats taking a time-out
Living conditions on the street vary from region to region, but the affection felt between these cats is considerable regardless of tail length. Oh yes, the street cats all have varied tail lengths from the stubbiest bobs through half length and right to full length tails. They do not discriminate, but the bobtail seems the most predominant among the street cat population.
Curiously enough, in all my visits to neko cafes, I did not witness one bobtail or half-tail cat among its denizens. That is not to say that they perhaps do not exist, but they did not cross my path during my sojourns. I was left with the impression that such street cat imagery was unwelcome in the courts of neko cafes.
Short tail, mid sized tail
While recorded history is imperfect, it would appear that cats were first kept in Japan by Buddhist monks from China around 600 AD in order to keep mice away from their sacred scrolls and books. About 1000 AD saw an influx of European and Egyptian cats, which became the focus of some Japanese artworks.
There is some conflict as to whether the bobtail cat was introduced in 600 or 1000 AD. Regardless, the bobtail was originally a highly revered animal, often found in courts, and the Emperor Ichijo even owned (as much as one can own a cat) five bobtail cats. Elevating the bobtail’s status in society, he decreed that bobtails were not permitted to work. Eventually it was clear there were insufficient felines available to contend with the growing rodent problem. The catastrauphic impact on the silk trade (the silkworm cocoons were a considerable source of food for rodents) forced the Emperor to issue a decree in 1602 wherein all bobtail cats were released from the comfort of their homes to deal directly with the harmful rodent population.
Full tail (not too sure about those ears though)
I guess you could say that bobtail cats were single-pawededly responsible for saving the silk industry in Japan. But how the mighty had fallen. From courtesan cats to street urchins; overnight. Breeding as cats do, the bobtails on the street became numerous, raising the societal position of the rarer fully tailed cats.
Pure neko love
Regardless, one thing we can all agree on is that cats are sacred, no matter where they dwell or what they do. They spread joy to all (except those allergic, I suppose) and are a delight to observe.
