If we never
had a cat and we wonder what it would be like to have a cat, but we fear the
commitment to adopt one, a hostel in Japan allows us to try this experience
without making the commitment.
By Regina Sienra
Located in
Yugawara — a city known for its hot springs — in the Kanagawa prefecture in
Japan, My Cat Yugawara is a hostel, an inn with a tender proposal for its
visitors: a “test night” with a cute kitten.
Traditional
Japanese inns are known as “ryokans” are known for their distinctive minimalist
designs and furnishings, as well as communal bathrooms and personalized
services. This particular ryokan has the added advantage that the guest may end
up adopting a pet.
The owner of My Cat Yugawara, Akihiro Ochi, saw an opportunity to help those who want to have a cat, but don't know what it would be like to live with one. The owner wanted to offer sure proof of what it's like to have a pet. The "trial packages" are added to the price of a normal room reservation. The inn's rates are modest, but prices vary by room size. Some rooms can host up to five people, so an entire family can experience a day with a pet.
Those
wishing to reserve a room with a cat should first spend time in this
establishment's cat cafe, where the staff can assess how comfortable they are
with their feline residents. “We, the staff, know the personality of each and
every one of our cat “children” because of how close we are. Cats are smart,
friendly, obedient, and calm, ”says Ochi.
The owner also explains that these sleepovers are a project made out of love for kittens. "We don't operate for profit," admits Ochi. "A large part of our income goes to maintaining the facilities, including feeding the cats and their health."
Guests must
accept the inn's rules to be caretakers and roommates for a pussycat. After
this, a cat will arrive in the guest's room at 5:30 pm and will stay until 9:00
am the next morning. During that time, guests cannot leave the cat
unsupervised. This is to encourage them to bond with the cat through feeding,
litter box cleaning, and play.
If the guests enjoy the experience, they can proceed to the next phase: they must complete an adoption application followed by an interview. This last stage is for the staff to determine if the host and the cat are a good fit for each other. Once adopted, the cats "graduate" and their departure is celebrated. This novel idea for pet adoption and relationships between cats and potential owners is sure to create memorable stories and happier families.
