Even in ancient times, cats won the love of humans. The world is going crazy with these little furry creatures, but the Japanese love cats especially much. A psychologist from Japan gave an interesting explanation for this love for cats.
It's no secret that all of Japan loves cats (you can read more about Japanese cats). This is, after all, a country that has portable chargers shaped like cat faces, beds shaped like pancakes, and even Pokemon cosplay hats for your feline pet.
Pancake-shaped bed
But why do the Japanese have a soft spot for cats, or nyankos as they call them? This is the question Joshi Spa asked psychology expert Hiragi, who analyzed reviews from numerous cat owners to find out what makes cats so attractive to the Japanese.
Obviously, cuteness is an important factor, but it is among the most attractive traits. Hiragi are also noted for their fluffy fur, disarming meows (and sometimes other funny sounds they make), and the enticing scent of cat paws. However, Hiragi's investigation led to another interesting conclusion: the Japanese love cats because they are tsundere.
For those who are not familiar with this term, it is a mixture of two onomatopoeic words: tsuntsun, prickly coldness, and deredere, boundless tenderness and affection. As a personality trait, a tsundere describes someone who, depending on their mood and specific circumstances, switches from being emotionally attached to you to wanting nothing to do with you.
Tsunderes have been one of the most popular anime character archetypes for some time now. However, this character description also applies to many cats who, without the slightest remorse, respond with only a cold stare to your attempts to play until you give up and leave them alone. But as soon as you start minding your own business, such cats begin to walk next to you and demand to immediately pet them and hug them, purring with such pleasure that you wonder why they didn’t immediately accept your offer?
However, Hiiragi doesn't think that the Japanese love their tsundere cats because they project their character preferences onto them. On the contrary, he believes that liking tsundere animals is due to an admirable core value of Japanese society. “Statistically, in Japan there are many people who often think about what they can do to benefit others,” Hiragi begins. – The Japanese have a strong tendency to behave based not on themselves, but on other people. So even in relationships with their pets, even if their pet isn’t particularly obedient, many people are happy to put their cat’s needs before their own and behave accordingly.”
In conclusion, Hiragi argues that for many Japanese pet owners, serving their pet is more emotionally satisfying than having a pet that will play with them on command.
Of course, humanity does not live by cats alone: no less often than ardent cat lovers, you can meet equally radical dog lovers. There are people who feel love for one type of animal, and intense hostility for another.
But more often they get cats - and not just because it’s easier. Why is this so - the Reedus correspondent looked into it.
Ethological scientists who study animal and human behavior have their own point of view on this issue. They believe that this love is genetically determined. Large cats were among the most dangerous predators for our ancestors. To survive, we needed to track and notice their habits, observe them, and admiration became a by-product of our interest, gaining a foothold in the course of natural selection,” psychologist Maria Plyusnina told Reedus.
According to the expert, people “are fascinated by the grace and harmonious graceful movements, in which the danger that is under our control is easily read.” Konrad Lorenz, an outstanding Austrian zoopsychologist, in his book “Man Finds a Friend” argued that cats, with the exception of a few decorative breeds, “are not domestic animals at all, but truly wild creatures.”
Wild? Maybe.
Many will call this method a surrogate - and, of course, it will not replace a full-fledged family.
However, communication with a finicky, capricious, sometimes gentle, and sometimes biting cat can save you from loneliness - to wait out the “darkest hour.” A person has needs for emotional intimacy, for contact with others and communication, to take care of someone - and pets satisfy these needs to some extent.
Another property of cats is the ability to awaken the parental instinct.
“Ethology, the science of behavior on the verge of biology and psychology, believes that love for cats is a consequence of the parental behavior inherent in us, or rather, even the need for its implementation. We take care of our little brothers, be they cats, puppies, snakes or praying mantises. And in a sense, meowing is mimicry of a child’s cry,” says psychologist Ksenia Shiryaeva.
It turns out that the notorious “forty cats” are a sublimation of unrealized parental instinct. However, there is another version. The fact is that cats are not only cute, fluffy, defenseless animals, but also the embodiment of grace and selfishness. This is what captivates many people.
“This is the age of narcissism. And cats meet the ideal criteria of many - flexible, slender, elegant bastards. Their behavior is in many ways similar to narcissists, provided that we are talking about the average person. That is, humanization is characteristic of man. Humans attribute human reactions and emotions to animals. So, the instinctive behavior of cats is easily humanized into a narcissistic personality. And now it is precisely such people who are in trend - the cult figures of modern cinema successfully prove this,” says psychologist Nina Sergeeva.
There are other versions.
For example, from a biological point of view, human love for cats may be due to fear of an ancient creature, which was hunted by owls and seals (as we know, humanity is also not indifferent to owls).
Over time, humans became smarter and grew larger, while cats, on the contrary, decreased in size (although not all of them). However, the perception of the cat as a part of reality that initially attracts attention, that is, an external stimulus that generates nervous excitement, remains. But the emotion has already become different.
By the way, how do cats themselves perceive us?
Biologist John Bradshaw from Great Britain believes that a cat perceives a person as a big cat - only rather stupid and dependent. Well, like a kitten. That is why purring is used as communication. Kittens begin to purr when they ask their mother not to move away while they suckle.
Adult cats don’t use this method of communication much among themselves, but when they’re around people they purr—maybe that way something will reach the big, stupid bald kitten.
So the parental instinct evoked by cats works both ways.
The winter evening breathes.Cat eyes
They blink.
Matsuo Basho, (1644-1694).
Cats are everywhere in Japan, from souvenirs to tights, from cat cafes to a deity in a temple.
The first encounter with the image of cats was in the main shopping district of Tokyo - Ginza. These are cute little boxes for storing your baby's first lost tooth.
The next day, walking through the park around the royal palace, we saw this picture. The old man took his cat out to bask in the sun. A small radio playing music, tea, comics and a faithful friend, what else is needed for happiness?
Cats were brought to Japan from China in the sixth-seventh century AD, you can read more .
The most common lucky cat in Japan remains the "manekiki neko", or "welcoming cat". This attractive calico cat is depicted sitting with one paw raised to its ear, as if in greeting. With the greeting of a cat comes prosperity, says an old proverb.
The origin of the figurine is associated with many legends, one of which is about the famous woman from Yoshiwara, whose beloved cat was killed at the moment when she tried to warn her owner about the proximity of a dangerous snake. Another says that in one of the churches the abbot sheltered a stray cat. The temple was in a deplorable state, but there was no money for repairs and proper maintenance. One day the abbot complained: “Kitty, I don’t blame you for not helping, after all, you’re just a cat. Now, if you were a person, then you could do something for us.” Soon after this, a rich prince passed by the temple, returning in glory from a military campaign. His attention was attracted by a cat sitting at the temple gate, beckoning him with its paw. He stopped and entered the temple, where he was met by the abbot. The wise monk impressed the prince, and he gave funds to restore the temple, which then became the ancestral temple of his family. The temple has survived to this day and holds a ceremony in early spring dedicated to its “feline benefactor.”
There are many different versions of Manekineko, made of clay and porcelain, papier-mâché and wood, even old stone examples have been preserved. There are four particularly significant elements: raised paw, breastplate, color and coin.
With the paws there is still no precise definition - which one means what. The most common version interprets the left paw as attracting money, and the right paw as luck. There is an option - the left one lures clients, the right one attracts money. The bib, often ornately ornamented, is associated with the Shinto deity Jizo, the patron saint of children and travelers. Stone sculptures of Jizo wear breastplates, usually red, when making requests.
Or this clothing option.
Previously, the colors of manekineko were not as varied as they are now, but they had a certain meaning. Thus, the merchants of Kyoto loved black cats, but in Edo (Tokyo) they were considered not very favorable. At the same time, in some places, black cats acted as mascots against diseases, and red cats only against measles. There are stories about a golden or red Manekineko, as well as about a virtuous cat who stole two gold coins from his rich owner for a sick neighbor merchant who constantly treated him to fresh fish. This is how a coin appeared on the neck of these souvenir mascots.
I read in one source that in ancient times, Japanese warriors were able to tell time by dilating or contracting cat pupils - so we can say that cats served them as clocks. Apparently, this is why Japanese stores widely advertise miracle eyelid glue, which allows you to make your eye shape more rounded, and therefore more beautiful for Japanese women. By the way, the most common plastic surgery in Japan is changing the shape of the eyes.
It seems that Japanese women are jealous of cats and want to be like them?
It is no coincidence that the holiday is held on February 22: three deuces in a row sound in Japanese approximately like “ne-nor-nor,” which translated into Russian means a triple “meow.” In 1987, the Cat Day executive committee was created. Since then, activists have encouraged everyone to learn more about cats, their habits and favorite treats.
Well, where would we be without Hello Kitty? She is literally everywhere, even boys walk around with backpacks and socks with this cat. But she is already or only 39 years old, her anniversary is next year!!!
All kinds of cats are needed and all kinds are important. Black ones bring good luck and cure illnesses, tri-colored ones bring good luck in business, and red or golden ones (the emperor's gold color) are highly revered and are a symbol of happiness and wealth.
In Japan, we also came across no-one's cats. Although someone is probably feeding them. This gorgeous cat works at the Osaka Castle.
The cat made a very surprised face here, because an old Japanese man on a bicycle passing by, apparently sympathizing with the lonely cat, decided to make him happy with his bun. You should have seen the Japanese man’s face when the cat didn’t even sniff his “delicious present” and solemnly walked past. The Japanese really know little about domestic animals, but feeding a cat bread like a pigeon is too much. 
A handsome man of the correct golden (imperial) color.
This old lady, as I understand it, was collecting food for kittens near one of the shopping centers in Osaka. This is not a typical picture for Japan.
They squealed so pitifully, but the roar of the street drowned out everything. 
Can someone translate the inscription? 
I also wanted to show you two pictures from the book I bought in Tokyo. “Tokyo on Foot” was written, or rather drawn, by an American student who came to the Japanese capital. There is practically no text in the book, but there are small sketches of ordinary life that he observed on the streets of Tokyo.
The most beautiful cat souvenir I have ever seen.
And these are cute stands for wooden chopsticks.
In Japan there is a cult of cats, there is a cat bridge, a temple, a museum and of course a cat cafe. In Japan it is expensive to keep pets and plus the apartments are small, so there is no place. That's why cat cafes and pet rental services have appeared in Japan. 
We went to one such cafe, but due to the law of meanness, the memory card ran out there, so I’ll tell you our impressions, but without photos. The cat cafe opened at 12 noon, but seeing our impatience to get there, we were kindly allowed to enter ten minutes before opening. Before we had time to pet the first cat, which ran out of the “service” room towards us, we were strongly recommended to wash our hands. So a small room with a dozen cats, portraits of guests on the walls. The cafe has a menu, but the menu is with cats. On each page there is another beauty with a description of her date of birth, character, habits. If you like someone, you can treat her or him with an additional treat for an additional fee. Doesn't remind you of anything?? After you have gotten used to it a little and paid for the first hour, they will bring you tea. The cats are very calm, even a little lethargic, but maybe because they haven’t woken up yet. Despite the fact that they are different sexes, we did not see any clashes between them and, interestingly, we did not hear a single “meow” sound either.
Cat in a park in Osaka. 
After some time, new customers entered the cafe. An experienced elderly Japanese man who came with his toy. And a young couple, and the girl apparently already had experience with pets and knew how to please them, where to scratch and how to stroke them. And the young man was frightened by the prospect of petting a cat, he looked around very confused and did not know where to start, his girlfriend began to teach him and introduce him to the world of cats.
Another ownerless cat. 
Since office workers come to the cafe, if you wish, you can take a special blanket and cover your suit with it. The cats were, as always, graceful and freedom-loving, they walked beautifully around the room, gracefully jumped onto their rope houses and allowed themselves to be petted. It was clear that even though they work here as cats, it is not a burden for them. Interestingly, the toilet and food bowls are located in another room, where they can go at any time, but immediately return back. And with such a crowd of cats there is no smell. Having bought an additional treat for the cat we liked, we did not extend our visit for another hour. And they left with a feeling of slight sadness for our cat, who was waiting for us at home.
The image of a sleeping cat, a Japanese symbol of peace and tranquility, adorns many temples. The most famous of them is located in Nikko, the ancient capital of Japan, at the Toshogu Temple.
Well, and a photo of sleeping seals, which can be seen at the Osaka Aquarium.
Navy SEAL once.
Navy SEAL two and three. 
They smile in their sleep, apparently they dream about guinea pigs.
Fact 1
- Together with Buddhist teachings in the 6th century AD. The cat came to Japan; by the way, in the Japanese astrological calendar there is a year of the cat, which corresponds to the Chinese year of the rabbit. The Emperor of Japan received two kittens as a gift from China, and, according to legend, on the 19th day of the ninth month of the year 999, offspring were obtained from this feline pair. Considering this a good omen, the emperor called two ministers and ordered them to look after the welfare of the cats. Even a wet nurse was placed at their disposal. Subsequently, the magnificent kittens were presented to aristocrats as a sign of the highest imperial favor.
But 200 years later, cats were declared demons. An old Japanese legend tells that a cat's tail came to be considered akin to a snake. And in connection with this, all the cats had their tails cut off. Cats whose tails were not cut off and cats over 10 years old were considered the most dangerous devils. In the delightful Japanese drawings of the time, almost all cats are depicted with shortened tails. Only in 1602 were cats completely rehabilitated by imperial decree.
Fact 2 - The first cats brought from China and Korea were white, some were black and very few were tri-colored. Further importation of South Asian cats and subsequent crossbreeding gave rise to the Japanese “tricolored” Mi-ke cat, which is respected even today. Calico cats are especially revered by fishermen, who believe that they have the ability to sense the approaching storm. Cats are taken fishing to ensure safety and a good catch. It is also believed that black cats bring happiness and cure various diseases. White cats, which are more common, are loved for their beauty.
Fact 3 – In Japan, the cat occupies a special, revered position. A special Buddhist temple in Tokyo is dedicated to the veneration of cats, and here, after the death of their animals, believers bring an image of their pet as a gift. Statues or portraits are placed on the altar, and cats are buried on the temple grounds. This custom helps the cat on its journey to nirvana; it liberates the human soul, which was imprisoned in the body of an animal on earth, and enables it to achieve eternal bliss. As for the benefit of the cat owner, the honors given to his cat provide him with luck and happiness in life.
Fact 4 - There is a bridge in Tokyo dedicated to a cat who tried to make her owner's poor life easier by stealing small gold items from a moneylender living next door. This bridge, Nekomotabashi, is often visited by reverent believers.
Fact 5 - In Japan, in the city of Kagoshima, there is a Cat Temple. But it was not built in honor of a sacred cat, but in memory of seven very specific cats that a certain military leader took with him to war in 1600. Cats served soldiers for hours: the Japanese knew how to tell time by the dilation or contraction of the cat's pupils.
Fact 6 – There is a cat museum in Izu-Kogen, Shizuoka Prefecture
Fact 7
- The most common lucky cat in Japan remains the manekiki neko, or “welcoming cat.” This attractive calico cat is depicted sitting with one paw raised to its ear, as if in greeting. “With the greeting of a cat comes prosperity,” says an old proverb.
The origin of the figurine is associated with many legends, one of which is about the famous woman from Yoshiwara, whose beloved cat was killed at the moment when she tried to warn her owner about the proximity of a dangerous snake. Another tells us that in the history of the Goto-kuji temple it is said that in 1615 the abbot of the temple sheltered a stray cat. The temple was in a deplorable state, but there was no money for repairs and proper maintenance. One day the abbot complained: “Kitty, I don’t blame you for not helping, after all, you’re just a cat. Now, if you were a person, then you could do something for us.” Soon after this, the daimyo (prince) Ii Naotaka (1590-1659) passed by the temple, returning in glory from a military campaign. The daimyo's attention was attracted by a cat sitting at the temple gate, beckoning him with its paw. He stopped and entered the temple, where he was met by the abbot. The wise monk impressed the prince, and he gave funds to restore the monastery, which then became the ancestral temple of the Ii family. The temple has survived to this day and holds a ceremony in early spring dedicated to its “cat benefactor”, in connection with which Manekineko are sold in one of the temple buildings.
There are many different versions of Manekineko, made of clay and porcelain, papier-mâché and wood, even old stone examples have been preserved. There are four particularly significant elements: raised paw, breastplate, color and coin.
With the paws there is still no precise definition - which one means what. The most common version interprets the left paw as attracting money, and the right paw as luck. There is an option - the left one lures clients, the right one attracts money. The bib, often ornately ornamented, is associated with the Shinto deity Jizo, the patron saint of children and travelers. Stone sculptures of Jizo wear breastplates, usually red, when making requests. Previously, the colors of manekineko were not as varied as they are now, but they had a certain meaning. Thus, the merchants of Kyoto loved black cats, but in Edo (Tokyo) they were considered not very favorable. At the same time, in some places the black variants acted as talismans against disease, and the red ones specifically against measles. There are stories about the golden Manekineko, as well as about the virtuous cat who stole two gold coins from his rich owner for his sick neighbor, a merchant, who constantly treated him to fresh fish. This is how the coin appeared on the manekineko’s neck.
Created by folklore, Manekineko in the hands of folk craftsmen has turned into a very cute toy-symbol that brings joy to both children and adults. The difference is that children see her as just a funny creature, while adults, with all their realism, secretly count on her help in prosperity, profits and good luck.
Fact 8 - The image of a sleeping cat, a Japanese symbol of peace and tranquility, adorns many temples. The most famous of them is located in Nikko, the ancient capital of Japan, at the Toshogu Temple.
Fact 9
– On February 22, Japan celebrates a national holiday – Cat Day.
It is no coincidence that the holiday is held on February 22: three deuces in a row sound in Japanese approximately like “nyan-nyan-nyan”, which translated into Russian means a triple “meow”.
Fact 10
– In 2001, Japan's largest manufacturer of industrial automation systems, Omron, decided to keep up with the electronics giant Sony and introduced its own pet robot - a cat named NeCoRo. Like most domestic cats, NeCoRo cannot follow commands or perform various tricks, nor can she walk.
The developers have focused on the “personal contact” between the owner and the animal - NeCoRo purrs when she is petted, letting her know that she is pleased with the help of truly cat-like sounds and movements.
To achieve a high degree of reliability of the robot's behavior, the developers placed tactile sensors behind and under NeCoRo's "ears" and on the back - that is, in places that are especially sensitive for cats. In addition, the robot is equipped with sound and visual sensors, which allows it to respond to loud sounds, sudden movements and recognize its name. NeCoRo's "dictionary" includes 48 cat sounds, and in addition to meowing, the robot cat can squint its eyes, raise its ears, stretch and squeeze its paws, thus expressing feelings of surprise, fatigue, etc. According to the developers, the most difficult moment in the development of NeCoRo was the creation of “skin” and “fur” that adequately react to the robot’s facial expressions.
Fact 11 – Contact lenses for cats were invented in Japan. The creators of the new product from the Manikon company say that their invention was a response to numerous complaints from owners whose pets suffer from eye diseases and cannot stand being treated.
If there is a place in the world where cats are loved more than on the Internet, it is in Asia. The Japanese, and more recently the Chinese, go crazy for purring pets. They build them trains, fill trays of tofu, and make them sushi with chicken instead of rice. Lenta.ru plunged into cat madness.
Luck and werewolves
Cats occupy one of the central places in Japanese mythology. It clearly reflects the dual nature of this cute animal with sharp claws. On the one hand, cats bring good luck, but they can also turn into nightmarish bakeneko - werecats. Not every cat can become a bakeneko (and a cat cannot at all). To do this, she must meet at least one of the criteria: live more than 13 years, weigh exactly 3.75 kilograms, be tri-colored or have a very long tail. The owner should keep an eye out for such a cat: it can eat the owner and take on his appearance. Historically, the main characteristic of bakeneko was their consumption of lamp oil.
In art, bakeneko most often personified the image of a wife who died at the hands of her husband or other abuser. In the Kabuki theater there is a whole genre of plays called “cat commotion”. In them, cats act in packs, hatch plans at night gatherings in abandoned houses and eventually devour the offenders. In modern anime culture, the animal form of bakeneko is practically not remembered, but the human form - nekomusume, or cat girl - is especially popular. There is practically nothing left of the dark heritage of werewolves in him - only ears, a tail and a playful disposition. box#2201978
Every Japanese establishment must have a porcelain figure of a maneki-neko - an alluring cat with a raised paw. Locals believe that the talisman brings good luck: if the cat's left paw is raised, it should attract customers, and if the cat's right paw is raised, it should attract money. One of the legends says that one day during the rain, a daimyo (prince) returning from a military campaign passed by the Gotoku-ji Temple. The ruler took refuge under a spreading tree and noticed an inviting paw above the church gate.
As soon as the prince approached the cat, lightning struck the tree, and he decided to thank the animal for saving him. Since then, every spring a ceremony dedicated to the cat's benefactor is held in the temple. And the coin around the neck of the maneki-neko perpetuates the story of the virtuous cat. A resourceful pet stole a couple of gold coins from his rich owner so that his poor neighbor, who treated the animal to fresh fish, could buy himself medicine.
Cat Islands
In August 2017, Nippon newspaper columnist Kita Yosuke officially acknowledged the existence of a “cat boom.” According to his research, over the past 10 years, twice as many books with the word “cat” in the title have been published in the country as with the words “Buddhism,” “baseball,” and “sake.” He explains the explosive growth in the popularity of cats by the fact that there are fewer and fewer children in Japanese families and people are concentrating their care on their pets.
In turn, cats are replacing previously more popular dogs. The reason is banal - the population is simply too lazy to go out with them. Yosuke also notes the enormous influence of social networks filled with photographs of cats, and admits that he himself got a pet thanks to the dominance of photographs. However, the cat boom also has a negative side: not all owners are ready to take care of their pets and throw them out into the street. Animal shelters in Japan are not so common, so local authorities have to destroy the animals. In 2015, 67,091 cats were killed - 80 percent of all abandoned animals in the country.
The Japanese are trying to draw attention to the problem of homeless animals using all possible methods. For example, in September 2017, the first cat train was launched between Gifu and Mie prefectures on the island of Honshu. This is an ordinary train, where more than 30 homeless kittens live, which you can take home if you wish. All conditions have been created for cats on the train, they are regularly examined by a veterinarian, and the pets do not experience stress. There are cat toys scattered throughout the train, and passengers enjoy playing with the animals.
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There are also 11 cat islands in Japan, many of which have cat populations that exceed human populations. For example, on the island of Aoshima, only 15 people permanently live, and about 100 cats. However, can these islands, where stray cats are left untouched, be called a cat's paradise? Hardly. In April 2017, a Metro reporter discovered that overcrowding was having a negative impact on the quality of life of cats. They die early, get sick often and fight fiercely for food. Not on all cat islands the authorities are concerned about vaccinating and sterilizing animals, but the situation is gradually changing for the better.
Cat sushi and hats
Keeping a cat in Japan is expensive. However, animal owners seem to be willing to do anything for their sake. Pets are overpriced, and their owners spend a large portion of their salaries on pets. Often the cat is given much more space in the apartment. While the pet sleeps peacefully on a huge staircase up to the ceiling, its owner huddles on the floor in a corner, with his face buried in the wall.
Popular Japanese video blogger Jun Yoshizuki specializes in cooking videos, but his videos in which cats appear receive many times more views. And this is not surprising: the combination of skillful cooking and furry pets watching the process simply cannot leave viewers indifferent. In addition, at the end of the video the cats are rewarded - they receive special cat sushi with chicken instead of rice.
The Japanese love dressing their cats in crazy outfits. By the way, the first cat fashion store appeared in the Land of the Rising Sun - it was opened by pensioner Takako Iwase. In an interview with Vice, the woman admitted that there is no end to clients. Her main model, the Scottish fold cat Prin, has been living with her owner for nine years and never wakes her up, even if she is very hungry. Iwase divides his products into three levels, depending on the nature of the cat for which the new clothes are sewn. According to her, cats are the worst when it comes to hats, as they often require their ears to be folded or tucked under the hat.
The cat industry is following in the footsteps of the dog industry. In 2012, ophthalmologist Toshiko Horikoshi told The Guardian about spending on her pets, Tinkerbell the chihuahua and Ryzhik the poodle. The dogs live in a separate room with their own wardrobe, filled with designer clothes: sweaters, dresses, jackets, hats and even small shoes. Horikoshi admitted that she updates her dogs' wardrobe every season. On average, a designer pullover for a poodle will cost about 27 thousand yen (14 thousand rubles). The dogs also regularly visit hot springs, yoga classes and organic restaurants.
China is catching up
In 2016, China was ranked as the second-largest country in the world for the number of cats. Researchers have counted 53 million furry pets in the Middle Kingdom, and these are only officially registered cats. In some regions of the country it is not safe to be a cat - you can end up in a restaurant kitchen, not as a pet, but as a rare and expensive dish.
However, recently the attitude towards cats has changed so dramatically that the Xinhua news agency sounded the alarm about the strange hobby of young people. Journalists have learned that young Chinese are addicted to petting pets and smelling their bellies for hours instead of starting a family and children.
“I'm an old cat sniffer, and if I don't get my fix, I feel absolutely terrible,” admits one animal lover from the Zhihu forum. Another cat owner, an employee of a Shanghai financial company, Du Fang, said that he spends 20 percent of his salary on his hobby: he orders cat food straight from Canada, and puts tofu in the tray instead of filler.
