Adorable Stray Cats Keep This Diorama Restaurant Running Despite Challenges During The Pandemic By Chilling On The Miniature Models
In Osaka, a small ramen restaurant built around miniature trains found an unlikely source of attention during the pandemic, and it had nothing to do with the model railway displays. Diorama Restaurant was already a niche spot when COVID-19 hit, but owner Naoki Teraoka suddenly had to rethink everything just to keep the doors open.
Then a sick stray kitten appeared near the shop, followed by its mother and siblings, and the whole place started to change. What began as a rescue turned into a new attraction, with the cats lounging on the tiny models and drawing in visitors from across Japan.
Now the restaurant is part ramen house, part cat haven, and the story keeps getting bigger. Read on.
No, it's not a giant cat.
It's a feline hanging around miniature models.
The cats, together with the miniature models, are part of the restaurant's attractions.
They help the restaurant owner keep his business alive.
It all started when he found one stray kitten.
It turns out the sick kitten he cared for would be part of the revival of his business.
Eventually, the whole family of the kitten showed up.
The cats began lounging and chilling on his miniature models.
It echoes the same kind of comeback as Simba, the abandoned shop cat, getting a second chance.
The restaurant owner saw this as an opportunity, so he took pictures and shared them on Instagram.
Through his social media posts, people from all over Japan became interested in the cats.
All thanks to the felines, the business is alive and kicking.
He wanted to thank his furballs for bringing his business back to life.
So he opened a cat hotel, which is just above his restaurant.
Customers can spend a maximum of 2 hours in the cat hotel while they drink tea and play with the cats.
They can also request to adopt a cat if they've particularly bonded with one.
Teraoka wanted to rescue more cats from death.
So he looked for them in locations where cats are often slaughtered.
In September 2021, he went as far as 224 miles away from his business and was able to rescue a couple of kittens.
The restaurant owner has helped about 100 cats and found forever homes for over 60 cats.
The number of cats he rescues will only continue to increase.
Teraoka found a new hope in these cats.
He has come a long way from being a restaurant owner. Now, he's also an animal rescuer.
And it all started when a poor stray cat stayed near his restaurant. The cat family eventually grew and is now bringing joy to the visitors.
If you're in the area and you want to bond with cats, check out the Diorama Restaurant website, as there are strict regulations during this challenging time. You'll find more information about his cat facility there too.
Want the before-and-after of a stray choosing indoors, read about Toup finally moving in after years outside.
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