Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment faced intense public opinion when considering whether to classify stray cats as an invasive species on August 4. Historically, cats were brought to Japan from trade ships during the Heian period, but only the nobility kept them. With the modern-day popularity of domestic cats in Japan, it's easy to forget that they are not native to the country.

The Ministry was in the final stages of including stray cats on its list of invasive alien species causing damage to local ecosystems, which previously only included feral cats in the wild. However, the proposed revision was met with strong public criticism, as it could unintentionally lead to the extermination of house cats if they escaped.

As a result, the Ministry reverted to its previous classification of feral cats only. The final decision was made at a special assembly of experts on August 7, which is unusual for this stage in the process. The proposed revision aimed to caution people about letting their house cats roam unsupervised or abandon them. Stray cats are often seen as cute rather than dangerous pests, and online reactions to the elimination of the proposed revision were largely negative.

Some users felt that the Ministry was making a mistake and that it was necessary to take measures to protect the environment. Japan's most famous "cat island," Aoshima, already faces a large stray cat population that needs to be managed, despite the island's popularity.