Rehabilitating Wild Cats

In order to protect the exotic birds that live on the Ogasawara Islands, a clutch of tropical islands 620 miles south of Tokyo, from being predated by an overwhelming number of feral cats, the Japanese government has ordered the capture and rehabilitation of the cats.

According to The Telegraph:

The deported cats subsequently undergo training to become domestic pets for periods of up to three months before starting their new lives. More than 100 former wild cats have already been domesticated are now living happily in new homes in Japan, according to a spokesman for the Tokyo Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA), which is running the programme.

“It is unusual to turn wild cats into domestic pets,” the TVMA spokesman told the Telegraph. “Normally these kinds of cats are just killed.

Describing the process of domesticating the wild animals, she said: “The process involves firstly putting the cat in a cage and then placing the cage in a place where people often pass by.

“The cat is touched every day and after about a month, can normally be held. The whole process can take up to three months.”

The Tokyo-based organisation first explored the possibility of capturing the islands’ growing population of wild cats five years ago.

However, the project has recently gathered pace as part of current efforts for Ogasawara to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, with locals now helping to capture the cats.

Although Japan’s birth rate is on the decline, their pet industry is booming. With pet cafes to dog acupuncture and washing machines, Japan sure loves its dometic animals.