So you like cats. Do you wonder if Japanese cats have a different lifestyle from Western cats? They sure do! In Western countries, cats sharpen their nails standing up at a scratching board that leans against the wall. Cats in Japan, however, sharpen their nails on a scratching mat on the floor. They also use a different kind of litter box.

Have you ever seen a cat stealing a fish from your grill? Or warming himself on the cover of a bathtub? In most Japanese households, fish are grilled on portable cookers placed on the stove. If you're not careful, a crafty cat will snatch your fish from it!

And clean bathwater is often retained and reheated, so the tubs have covers to keep the water warm. Cats love to climb onto these covers to warm themselves.

In winter, it gets really cold. (The average household does not use central heating.) Then cats snuggle with you on the bed, even taking over your hot-water bottle!

This book tells you not only about the daily lives of those cats, but also intimate glimpses of the Japanese lifestyle through the seasons. The author also visits a few other countries and makes interesting observations about the lives of Western cats.