Britannica
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When were cats introduced to Japan?
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cats as pets
A boy hugging a pet cat.
Cats were introduced to Japan at approximately 600 ce.1
While cats are now cherished as pets and hold cultural significance in Japanāsuch as the maneki-neko ("beckoning cat") figurine, which serves as a symbol of prosperity and good fortuneātheir arrival in the region occurred much later than in other parts of the world, such as ancient Egypt or Greece.12