Business ‘Catnomics’: Japan’s cat obsession grows into billion-dollar industry

This one's for @Grandpa Frank!

Cats are everywhere in Japan. Their faces appear on the covers of countless novels, they have their own officially recognised day, and they have outnumbered dogs as household pets for the past decade. Even members of the imperial family keep them. Their influence stretches well beyond pet ownership. A recent report estimated that cats will generate about ¥3 trillion ($18.8 billion) for the Japanese economy this year, in a trend known as "catnomics".


The scale of the country's feline fascination is especially visible in Yanaka, one older neighbourhood of Tokyo that promotes itself as a "cat town".

In a nation of pet lovers – where domesticated dogs and cats outnumber children aged under 15, Japanese households kept 8.8 million cats in 2025, compared with 6.8 million dogs, according to a survey by the Japan Pet Food Association. The average cat-owning household, the survey said, spends almost ¥1.8m ($11,300) over the course of their moggy's life.

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Almost 40 years ago I read a manga series called What's Michael for Japanese practice. I'd like to read it again. I think my abilities are more advanced compared to that time.

I love the look of bewilderment on the faces of Japanes cat images. Have you heard of Monta?

Here's my boy…

Ukigumo said:

Have you heard of Monta?

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I have not.

mdchachi said:

I have not.

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He seems to have congenital abnormalities ?achondroplasia?, I'm not sure. I think his human is a vet because he handles him really comfortably during his post-surgeries, but he's so incredibly cute! I want to gently bite him on the back of his neck