CAT ATTACK
These felines are taking over Japan!
Giant cats have started to invade Japan!
Or you would think so, checking out the residents of a small café in Osaka.
Naoki Teraoka originally created the model railway-themed diorama restaurant for children with disabilities.
However, when the pandemic started, his business started to struggle and he almost had to close completely.
Only, an unlikely saviour appeared in the form of a stray cat and her kittens.
When the kittens started to sit among the miniature railway sets, they unwittingly created hilarious photo-opportunities.
As soon as diners found out, they started to flood in to check out what looked like the set of a quirky monster cat movie.
Naoki found himself opening a cat shelter on the second floor of the restaurant and gave the feline visitors free reign over the models.
After word got out, business started to boom, and Naoki now looks after more than 40 cats.
He has now become active in trying to reduce the slaughter of dogs and cats, and is involved in conservation activities abroad as much as possible.
‘We are a small downtown dining room and I put a diorama in the café to entertain children with disabilities,’ Naoki says.
‘The cafeteria where our diorama is located has been in operation for over 18 years, but since six years ago, we have been running a facility for children with disabilities and still continue to this day,’ Naoki adds.
‘During the pandemic, a cat visited the café every day in search of it’s babies.
‘About three weeks later, the mum cat returned to the store with three kittens.
‘About two years on, there are now more than 40 cats on the first and second floors.
‘Visitors can book a place in the dining room and stay for two hours. Those who make a reservation will have the right to pick up the protected cats, too,’ Naoki says.