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Approximately 9,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in Japan in 2023, down from 1.22 million in 1974
Source: Ministry of the Environment (Japan) (2023)
Source
Ministry of the Environment Animal Welfare StatisticsMinistry of the Environment (Japan) (2023)
Notes
Historic low. 2013 law revision allowed shelters to refuse animals without valid reason, dramatically reducing intake.
Ministry of the Environment (Japan). (2023). Ministry of the Environment Animal Welfare Statistics. As cited in Cat Cognition. https://catcognition.com/statistics/shelters/#jp-euthanasia-2023
9,000 cats + 3,000 dogs
In 2022, approximately 9,000 cats and 3,000 dogs were euthanized in Japanese shelters, representing 0.07% of the pet population
Ministry of the Environment (Japan) (2022)
273,000
273,000 cats were euthanized in US shelters in 2024
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
66%
66% of cats euthanized in Japanese shelters are newborn kittens
Ministry of the Environment (Japan) (2018)
2.2 million
Approximately 2.2 million cats were adopted from US shelters in 2024
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
