{"id":35206,"date":"2014-05-29T19:15:35","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T23:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/?p=35206"},"modified":"2014-05-29T19:15:35","modified_gmt":"2014-05-29T23:15:35","slug":"%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%91who-needs-pre-furnished-apartments-when-you-can-get-one-that-comes-with-a-cat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/2014\/05\/29\/%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%91who-needs-pre-furnished-apartments-when-you-can-get-one-that-comes-with-a-cat\/","title":{"rendered":"\u3010RocketNews24\u3011Who needs pre-furnished apartments when you can get one that comes with a cat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted by\u00a0Michelle Lynn Dinh<\/a>\u00a0(Shimane<\/a>-ken,\u00a0Chibu-mura,\u00a0<\/strong>2010\u201313),<\/strong>\u00a0editor and writer for\u00a0RocketNews24<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>The following article was written by\u00a0Casey Baseel<\/a>, a writer and translator for\u00a0RocketNews24<\/a>,\u00a0a Japan-based site dedicated to bringing fun and quirky news from Asia to English speaking audiences.<\/p>\n

\"Who<\/p>\n

Some Japanese\u00a0apartments<\/strong>\u00a0are incredibly sparse. In the most extreme cases, your lease gets you four walls, a kitchen sink, bathroom, and that\u2019s it. Oh, you want lighting fixtures, a stove, and air conditioning? Sorry, you\u2019ll have to purchase all that on your own.<\/p>\n

As a result, savvy apartment hunters are always on the lookout for properties that include some of these amenities. And while it\u2019s incredibly convenient to find a place that already comes with ceiling lamps, it still can\u2019t match the thrill some animal lovers in Japan experience when they find\u00a0a new pad that comes with a cat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

While it seems that every neighborhood in Japan has a park with stray cats, not to mention the nation\u2019s\u00a0multiple cat islands<\/a>, some\u00a0220,000 strays are still slaughtered every year<\/strong>. Hoping to reduce the number of culled felines are animal protection groups such as\u00a0Tokyo Cat Guardian<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Who<\/p>\n

At any time, the organization is taking care of some\u00a0300 cats without permanent homes<\/strong>. The non-profit organization operates\u00a0a pair of caf\u00e9-style shelters in the Tokyo neighborhoods of Nishi Kokubunji and Otsuka<\/strong>, but still struggles to find suitable parties willing to adopt all the animals.<\/p>\n

Tokyo Cat Guardian member\u00a0Yoko Yamamoto<\/strong>\u00a0is looking to change that, however, with her new\u00a0Cat Mansion<\/strong>\u00a0program. In Japan, the term \u201cmansion\u201d is used for describing condominiums and upscale apartments. Yamamoto noticed that an increasing number of such properties have been allowing pets recently, a departure from past policies, which gave her an idea: If certain renters are attracted to apartments that allow pets, how much more enticing would they be if they included pets?<\/p>\n

Yamamoto thus hit upon the idea of partnering with landlords to advertise\u00a0rooms that come with an animal from Tokyo Cat Guardian<\/strong>. And in case the promise of \u201cFree cat with this apartment!\u201d makes you imagine some kind of beat-up hovel, rest assured that the apartments are spacious and well-maintained.<\/p>\n

\"Who<\/p>\n

Yamamoto started by convincing a single landlord to give the program a try, and her initiative has now expanded to\u00a020 properties in Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Saitama Prefectures<\/strong>. The dedicated Tokyo Cat Guardian staffer said she\u2019s even had real estate agencies contact her to express their desire to form a partnership.<\/p>\n

\"Who<\/p>\n

Of course, taking care of an animal is a serious responsibility. Tokyo Cat Guardianscreens interested applicants through an interview process<\/strong>. Those that are deemed to be suitable adopters then visit one of the organization\u2019s two shelters,\u00a0pick out the cat of their choosing<\/strong>, and move into their new Cat Mansion together. The NPO also organizeslectures and study sessions<\/strong>\u00a0for program participants to teach them how to properly care for their cats.<\/p>\n

The Cat Mansion project has been so successful that Tokyo\u00a0Cat Guardian next plans to adapt it for boarding houses<\/strong>\u00a0with shared common areas, which have recently seen a boost in their popularity among younger Japanese renters. In the meantime, Yamamoto is happy her idea is helping more former strays find loving homes, and the dedicated cat-lover makes herself\u00a0available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for consultation by phone<\/strong>, free of charge, just in case the new owners have any questions about their furry little roommates.<\/p>\n

\u25bc Although we\u2019re guessing she wouldn\u2019t appreciate a call at 2:30 a.m. if your only question is \u201cHow can my kitty be\u00a0sooooo<\/em>\u00a0cute?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"cm-5\"<\/p>\n

Sources:\u00a0Yahoo! Japan<\/a>,\u00a0Tokyo Cat Guardian<\/a><\/em>
\nTop image:\u00a0FC2<\/a><\/em>
\nInsert images: Tokyo Cat Guardian (1<\/a>,\u00a02<\/a>,\u00a03<\/a>),\u00a0Ameblo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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