They're cute but are they kind? Japan's animal cafes face greater scrutiny | TheStarTV.com

News

They're cute but are they kind? Japan's animal cafes face greater scrutiny

Published on 30 Sep 2026 3:58:32 PM

Japan has started its first nationwide survey of animal cafes amid concerns over animal welfare, hygiene and public health, a government official said, bringing greater scrutiny to the popular but lightly regulated sector.

WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Keywords
news, thestartv, the star, japan, animal, cafe, health, hygiene, welfare, rescue, pets

Japan has started its first nationwide survey of animal cafes amid concerns over animal welfare, hygiene and public health, a government official said, bringing greater scrutiny to the popular but lightly regulated sector.

WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Keywords:
news, thestartv, the star, japan, animal, cafe, health, hygiene, welfare, rescue, pets

Up next

Autoplay

Car wash worker charged with attempted murder of traffic cop in Ipoh

Man crashes car into Tawau shoplot after leaving clinic

Ex-Felda DG Faizoull Ahmad charged with deceiving board over Jalan Semarak land transfer

Tun Dr Mahathir admitted to IJN for observation

Selangor's rent-to-own fix for housing affordability

Amirudin Shari - No plans of slowing down

Ramanan, Saifuddin nasution among 767 recipients of Kelantan state honours

Professionals cannot stay silent on wrongdoing, says Anwar

Sept 29 earmarked as Malaysia Professionals Day

Nepal floods: Families of missing Malaysians seek financial moratorium

Unfair to condemn Malaysia for trying to resolve Myanmar refugee issue, says Anwar

Nights Of Fright 12 returns with APE-OCALYPSE at Sunway Lagoon

Another 16-year-old remanded over Form Two student’s death at Kuala Pilah hostel

Asiad organisers apologise for Pakistan and South Korean volleyball teams' travel mix-ups

Why fixate on Loke's resignation, questions Anwar

Can a humanoid robot clean your house? A San Francisco company says yes

Nepal flood survivor recalls nine-day ordeal trapped in hydropower tunnel

'Total chaos': Thai Airways battles baggage delays as Bangkok floods ease

Customs snags Indonesia-bound boat smuggling smartphones worth over RM700,000

Saravanan's defence seeks early trial, prosecution needs a month for documents

Ismail Sabri seeks to challenge charge relating to failure to declare assets

New approval system for ship bunkering aims to cut down processing period, says MOT

New RM194.5mil Johor Baru Court Complex to open Jan 1

Malaysia begins repatriating first batch of Myanmar nationals

MB slips out palace back door after audience with Negri ruler

GILCs, GLCs to catalyse domestic economy with additional RM120bil investments

Better quality job, cost of living stress among issues addressed in Budget 2027

Malaysia eyes six in ten EPF members to hit basic savings benchmark of RM390,000 by 2030

Resignation letter handed to PM, to take effect when Najib returns home, says Loke

Ex-Felda Investment Corp CEO claims trial to two cheating charges

Negri crisis: MB arrives at Istana Hinggap to seek audience with Yang di-Pertuan Besar

Malaysia seeks to turn digital investments into economic value

Trump says he would not have released suspects in apparent UK airbase plot

Mother told us she was prepared to leave, Mukhriz recounts last moments

Mokhzani on father: It's an extraordinary day for him but he's okay

A tribute to Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah laid to rest

UK counter-terror police question five men held at airbase used by US to attack Iran

Huge crowds join funeral prayer for Dr Siti Hasmah

High expectations for budget 2027 despite limited resources, says Anwar

Negri royal row: Revoked exco members told to return official cars

Flooded Bangkok street turns into floating market

Pearly-Thinaah go down fighting to China pair in semis

Freedom of Information Bill may not require constitutional amendment, says Azalina

Tun Dr Mahathir accompanies the remains of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, to Masjid As-Syarif

Woman remanded for allegedly stabbing mother to death in Ipoh

High court upholds Ismanira's five-year sentence in Zayn Rayyan case

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah to be accorded state funeral, says PM

Elderly man dies in Raub house fire

PM Anwar pays tribute to Tun Dr Siti Hasmah

Tun Siti Hasmah's remains taken to The Mines residence before burial

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah passes away at 100

Groups call for RCI into 'corporate mafia' claims

Nepal floods: 33 days on, families of 55 missing M'sians plead for answers

Melaka polls: BN to finalise political cooperation, logo this week

Sivasangari’s title defence seals Olympic spot as Malaysia reach six-gold target

Eain Yow books Malaysia’s first squash Olympic ticket with Asian Games gold

Floodwaters disrupt daily life across Bangkok

RM9.25mil raised so far for Najib, says Zahid

Makkal Sakti wants Barisan to leave unity govt

Negri royal row: 10 excos involved have not been called up by cops, says Ahmad Zahid

Negri royal row: 25 govt assemblymen to meet tonight for a solution, says Zahid

Barisan to part ways with unity govt once Parliament is dissolved, says Ahmad Zahid

Melaka polls: BN supreme council to decide on any alliances, says Zahid

Pearly-Thinaah book Asian Games semis spot, secure bronze

Pandas Ping Ping, Fu Shuang leave China for 10-year US stay

Four killed after car crashes into parked trailer in KK

Late MIC president Manickavasagam’s legacy honoured on centenary

Star Karnival Cuti-Cuti Malaysia in Penang unlocks local getaways

Melaka polls: Barisan to hold alliance talks with two separate political groups next week

Iran sends seven-day plan to restore Hormuz, says it's up to US to accept it

Anwar orders review of UiTM Holdings’ governance, management

Billions in profits, but workers still earning low wages, says PM

UiTM Jalan Othman campus to be renamed after UiTM pioneer Arshad Ayub, says Anwar

Russia continues pounding Kyiv for six days in a row

PM Anwar says he’s still waiting for Loke’s official resignation letter

Govt forks out RM2bil annually on solid waste disposal and clean-ups, says Nga

Elon Musk speaks: AI security regulation requires China-US cooperation

Kuala Pilah student death is a murder case, says state police chief

Six missing after explosion fells building in heart of Athens

Hari Cuci Malaysia targets 200,000 participants, 28,000kg recyclables

US and China have made tremendous strides and will continue talks, say both leaders

MACC wraps up Baja 3 probe, proposes charging two suspects

Johari: Integrity unit must be strategic partner in anti-corruption management

Anwar, Zahid congratulate sepak takraw team for ending 36-year Asian Games gold wait

Negri royal row: Exco members removed from state govt portal, only MB remains

Fire dragon dance lights up HK streets for century-old Mid-Autumn tradition

MACC to serve asset declaration notice on Saravanan and family

Immigration Dept detains 84 undocumented migrants at Putrajaya ‘Flat Hijau’

MACC pauses taking Isa Samad's statement while he recovers from eye op

Super show as sepak takraw team end 36-year wait for gold

Najib has ‘good chance’ of leaving prison on same day RM50mil fine is paid, says lawyer

Syed Saddiq, Bella Astillah to hold wedding receptions in Muar & Kota Kinabalu

Students are in 'state of anxiety,' teacher says as protests spark clashes

Syed Saddiq says romance with Bella Astillah incomparable to Tun Dr Mahathir & Tun Dr Siti Hasmah

Teens hailed as heroes for rescuing women from flooded Tamparuli bridge

Devotees in India offer prayers for recovery of Indian Flydubai pilot Machchhar

I'll keep checking with Nepal PM, Anwar promises families of missing M'sians

Schoolgirls killed in Ipoh crash were sisters, say cops

PJ MP ‘quit’ more than a year ago, says Anwar

Delhi police detain Indian politicians, protesters demanding elections chief resign

F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP: Bahrain's Crown Prince arrives in Malaysia

F1 Bahrain GP to be aired live on RTM, says Anwar

PAS rejects PH cooperation for Melaka polls, says Hadi

Nepal floods: One of 55 missing Malaysians confirmed alive, reunited with family

Give Dr M space to grieve, says Mukhriz

Court orders woman accused of killing bedridden mother to undergo psych evaluation

Johor JPJ acts against 1,346 foreigners for traffic offences

Lee Chean Chung quits as Petaling Jaya MP

Attack at Mexico secondary school kills vice principal, injures three

Penampang floods: 118 people evacuated to four relief centres

F1 fans flock to Sepang for pit lane walk

Police to set up five screening points for vehicles headed to F1 race in SIC

Anwar joins SIC pit lane walk ahead of F1 race

Afghan tourist dies during scuba dive off Tioman

Gaza holds mass funeral for 100 Palestinians nearly three years after Israeli strike

Flydubai pilot who averted disaster hailed as hero

Pakistani airstrikes kill nine in Afghanistan

MACC must stay ahead of evolving corruption practices, says chief Abd Halim

Issue of overspending at KKDW: MACC prepared to investigate if official complaint received

Shuhaily ready for any outcome following leaked KLIA confrontation video

29 foreign nationals arrested in Penang over online scratch-and-win scam

Pasir Gudang police chase: Lorry driver tests positive for meth

Heroin, MDMA, ketamine among RM4.4mil drugs seized in Penang

MACC denies issuing notice to Saravanan’s 12-year-old to declare assets

MACC identifies governance issues in UiTM Holdings management

F1: FIA positive on Sepang preparations, BMF lauds Malaysian personnel

F1 fever returns to Malaysia as fans welcome Antonelli, Russell

Tun Dr Mahathir visits late wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah’s grave at Pusara Negara

Melaka housewife busted for posing as senior Immigration officer to process work permits

Former UiTM Holdings CEO charged with CBT involving RM37mil

Police use pepper spray on Peru protesters over president's power bid

Israel-bound flight diverts after reported pilot brawl

Malaysia needs young leaders to shape its future, says Anwar

Unpredictable weather to test Russell, Antonelli at Sepang

From PlayStation to Sepang, Russell ready for the real deal

Kimi, Russell cool off before Sepang heats up

PETRONAS exploring ways to produce cheaper advanced sustainable fuel

Dad cuts ties with son after a decade of gambling bailouts

Fahmi: Nepal to help expedite status verification process for 55 missing M'sians

KLIA gears up for F1 passenger surge

Pasir Gudang Highway lorry chase goes viral

Gulf Air’s return to KLIA indicative of rising air travel demand

'Comando' Chihuahua: meet the tiniest member of Mexico's National Guard

Two Bukit Aman traffic corporals charged with soliciting, accepting RM2,000 bribe

'Bukangi' the stranded shark in South Korea draws 600,000 visitors

Five Chinese nationals among 15 fined for online job scam targeting US victims

49 rescued, 3 dead as boat capsizes after machete fight near Puerto Rico

Man shot in shoulder at Bidor petrol station, police reviewing CCTV