Sakura Cat Day (Sakura Neko no Hi)

What Is Sakura Cat Day?

Every March 22nd is "Sakura Cat Day" (Sakura Neko no Hi) in Japan. It was established by the Animal Fund (Dobutsu Kikin), a public interest foundation based in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, and was certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2019. The date comes from a wordplay combining March, the cherry blossom (sakura) season, with the sound of a cat's meow: "sakura (3) neko = nyan (2) nyan (2)." A "sakura cat" is a cat whose ear tip has been clipped into a shape like a cherry blossom petal as a sign that it has been spayed or neutered. The day aims to spread awareness of sakura cats and the activities behind them.

TNR and Sakura Cats

Sakura cats come from efforts to help ownerless cats and people live side by side.

• What TNR means: TNR stands for Trap, Neuter and Return. By limiting breeding, it aims to reduce the number of kittens that die soon after birth and the number of cats euthanized by local governments.
• The role of the sakura ear: The clipped ear is a mark that shows from the outside that the cat has already had surgery, so the same cat is not captured again and put through anesthesia or surgery a second time. Ear-tipping as a mark is also used overseas.

Watching Over a Single Generation

Because sakura cats do not have kittens after surgery, their line ends with them.

• Community cats: Cats that have gone through TNR and are looked after under rules agreed on by local residents, such as feeding and litter management, are called "community cats" (chiiki neko).
• Free spay/neuter surgery: Aiming for zero euthanasia, the Animal Fund continues to provide free spay and neuter surgery for ownerless cats.

Fun Facts About Sakura Cats

• Prolific breeders: Cats have several kittens per litter and may give birth more than once a year, so without surgery their numbers can grow greatly in a short time.
• Clipped under anesthesia: The ear tip is clipped while the cat is under anesthesia for the surgery.
• Left or right: It is said that the right ear is often clipped for males and the left for females, but practice may differ by region or clinic.
• Most euthanized cats are kittens: Many of the cats taken in and euthanized by local governments are said to be newborn kittens.

Tips for Marking Sakura Cat Day

• Look at the ears of cats you see around town and check for sakura ears
• Look up your local government's rules and support programs for ownerless cats
• Check for adoption events for rescued cats and consider giving one a home
• Learn about groups working to protect cats and support them in whatever way you can

The Meaning Behind a Small Mark on the Ear

A sakura ear is a sign that someone acted with the cat's life and the community's well-being in mind. March 22nd is a day to notice the ears of the cats you meet and learn about efforts to help people and cats live together.