Cultural Tidbit of the Day!

Neko (cat): Cats were rare in Japan until around the 12th century. The common Japanese cat, even in old descriptions, seems to have been short haired with white fur and black and brown spots. During the Edo period, short tailed cats were so popular that long tailed cats became scarce and even feared. Sailors and fishermen prize tortoiseshell tomcats as a protection from shipwreck. Black cats are believed to have the power to cure disease. Folk tradition says cats that have been killed come back for vengeance and will haunt their killer for seven lives. — From the book The Anime Companion by Gilles Poitras.