Nine-year-old Milan, who was first featured here in November, has found a home in Kawasaki with Frenchman Matthieu and his girlfriend. The two have rechristened Milan with the name Chatby.

Matthieu said that as a boy he had always lived with pets, but buying from a pet shop was out of the question. “I simply couldn’t let my money fuel such a cruel industry.”

After discovering ARK through The Japan Times, Matthieu realized, “I was missing out on the fun, which is why I decided to adopt.”

In under a week, Chatby “turned the house into his personal kingdom, with servitors and all.” At first, Chatby was “apprehensive and on guard,” but “he is extremely relaxed now and will roll on his back to let us know he is ready to accept our amateurish entertainment. What a benevolent cat!”

Chatby does return the favors of his human servants. “He tells us the time at exactly 5:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.,” explains Matthieu. The morning hour is related “by furiously licking my hair while I’m in bed.” At the evening hour, he “acts his cutest.” Chatby has “incredible accuracy. He truly has become my emergency alarm clock.”

Many other cats and dogs are available for adoption. Email ARK at [email protected] or call 050-1557-2763 Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Tokyo ARK is an NPO dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. Animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are requested to undergo a screening process.