Overall, the situation is not good. There are far too many cats out there suffering, and many people still think of them as pests not worthy of any compassion. T-N-R has caught on, but is still not widely understood or practiced in most parts of the country. The single best step that local governments and authorities could take would be to provide government subsidies and/or refunds to get the costs of spaying and neutering down to a level where more people will practice it. As it is now, most don't and they end up keeping cats that breed uncontrollably and create all the feral populations out there. The other step would be to provide more help for groups trying to carry out T-N-R programs.
Some of the few readings in English that are out there on the web. Links and excerpts provided.
This first article here, while it gives some useful information, is also typical of the sexist, condescending and arrogant attitude towards the issue you will find in Japan.
http://www.zenoaq.jp/english/aij/0111.html
excerpt:
The first point is that this system gives the "cat ladies" a legitimate position in society if they are willing to "play by the rules" set down for them. If there are people that are going to be feeding stray cats whatever the situation, then it would be more constructive to allow these people to do so under a given set of rules. The system of caring for community cats does just that. It gives the cat people a legitimate way to express their eagerness to care for the cats that they are unable to take in, but does so in a way that does not antagonize the surrounding community by establishing a firm set of rules about feeding procedures and other matters pertaining to the daily care of the cats.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/npo-provides-unusual-solution-to-japan%E2%80%99s-feral-cat-problem
excerpt:
NPO provides unusual solution to Japan’s feral cat problem
By Jessica Ocheltree
TOKYO —
It used to be that the only two options for dealing with stray cats was putting them to sleep or finding an adoptive home. Obviously, euthanasia is not an ideal solution—even if you don’t oppose it on the grounds of cruelty, the cost of trapping and killing animals is high. Adoption offers more hope, but local shelters often don’t have the funds to support adoption programs, and many feral cats are too wild or fearful to be good candidates.
Recently, however, a third option has emerged that’s more effective both in terms of cost and results. Known as trap-neuter-return (TNR), it is being championed locally by a nonprofit group called Japan Cat Network (JCN).
The Shiga-based JCN was started 15 years ago by two English teachers, Susan Roberts and David Wybenga, who looked around their community in Hikone City and noticed many wild cats that were sick or dying. After the pair started a TNR program, the local feline population became smaller, healthier and less of a problem for the residents.
http://www.messybeast.com/eradicat.htm
excerpt:
A number of years ago it was reported that feral cats were being trapped in part of Japan. Anyone finding a trap containing a cat was forbidden to release the animal or to provide food or water for the cat's comfort prior to collection and euthanasia. It was alleged that many cats were left to die of dehydration in the traps. Traps may be sprung by wild animals attracted to the bait so they must be checked and reset frequently.
