If you’ve ever walked down a quiet street in Japan, you might notice clear plastic water bottles set along fences, garden paths, or near walls. At first, it may seem like leftover trash, but these bottles are used on purpose as a way to keep stray cats away. Known locally as “nekoyoke,” which means “cat deterrent,” this practice is common in many residential areas.
Japan loves cats, with cat cafes and towns dedicated to feline fans. Still, stray cats can cause problems, such as damaging gardens, scattering garbage, or even scratching people. Because of these concerns, many homeowners use these water bottles to discourage cats from coming near their property.
The idea might sound strange, but the bottles don’t harm the cats at all. People believe the sunlight or streetlights reflecting off the water create flashes or strange images that scare cats away. Some think cats see weird reflections of themselves, making them uncomfortable.
@japan Anyone walking around streets in Japan will very quickly notice many plastic bottles filled with water have been placed up against houses and walls, between flower pots, lining fences and walls, tucked into corners and so on. This behaviour was imported from the West and is believed to repel street animals. Known as “nekoyoke” (meaning “cat repellant”) they are one of the distinctive features of the Japanese urban landscape. The trend exploded overseas as far back as the 1980s in Europe and America where it was primarily directed at dogs and bottles are often scattered on lawns, but as street dogs don’t really exist in Japan, here it’s focussed on keeping cats at bay. The idea is that light from the sun (or from streetlamps at night) shines through the water in the bottle and “flashes” the cat, thereby frightening it and causing it to run away. Of course, even if this were true it would be useless on cloudy days or in any shaded position. However as with most superstitions, people conveniently overlook such small details and carry on regardless. “The reason why the water bottles work is because the cats don’t like looking at their distorted reflection” 🎥 by izzanammi (dm us please for credits or removal) #japan #japantips #japaneseculture #japantrip ♬ original sound – Taste of Japan 🇯🇵
Despite its popularity, there is no scientific proof that this works, especially on cloudy days when the reflective effect is weak or absent. Still, the tradition continues because it’s simple, harmless, and part of Japanese culture’s unique approach to solving everyday problems peacefully.
If you ever see these bottles on a Japanese street, now you know—they’re not trash, but a thoughtful and gentle way to keep neighborhoods cat-friendly.
