them to their original habitat) is employed to prevent the breeding of stray cats. Some municipalities subsidize the cost of spaying and neutering surgeries.

Cats that have undergone such surgery are marked with a V-shaped cut in one of their ears. Because their ears resemble cherry blossom petals, the treated cats are also called sakura (cherry blossom) cats. Generally, females receive a cut on their left ear, while males have it on