Why do the Japanese put water bottles along fences and poles

Every country in the world has its own peculiarities and secrets. Therefore, a tourist, even just walking along a street devoid of attractions, can see a lot of interesting things. For example, in Japan, it's hard not to notice that along many fences, as well as around poles and shrubs, there are plastic water bottles. It looks strange and not too aesthetically pleasing, although it is known that the Japanese are big lovers of order.

You can speculate as much as you like about why these plastic bottles are needed. But you will hardly guess that this is protection... from cats. Yes, it is plastic water bottles that protect the property of the Japanese from tailed and furry animals. More precisely, from males who tend to mark the territory.

The Japanese claim that this is the most reliable way to discourage cats from dirtying fences, poles and flower beds. At the same time, you will not be offered a clear explanation of why cats become more cultured at the sight of bottles. The most logical version says that cats do not mark where they see clean water. Why? Who knows. Maybe they're just afraid of the sun glare on the bottles.

Some argue that cats do not see the point in leaving marks on smooth plastic. The "tags" are not absorbed into the polymer material and are easily washed off by rain. If this is the case, then cats, which are already considered very smart, also turn out to be technically literate. The custom of fencing with bottles even has a name - Nekoyoke. You can translate this word roughly as "cat repellent".

But why in Japan, where there are so many homeless and domestic cats, are they so afraid of their "tags"? It turns out that in addition to ugly streaks and a sharp smell, the liquid secreted by cats also has a mystical effect. In Asian countries such as Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand, it is believed that a place marked with an animal attracts evil spirits.

The custom of protecting themselves from cats with water bottles is also in other Asian countries. But there it is less common and against the background of the picturesque street disorder, such rows of containers do not catch the eye.

I must say that cats have a very subtle mental organization and are not always guided by logic. It is enough to recall at least their panic fear of ordinary cucumbers.