Hida City transforms vacant houses into rescue cat share houses

Hida City in Gifu Prefecture is addressing depopulation and vacant housing by supporting a social business that combines animal welfare with regional development. The city government partnered with Neco Republic, a Tokyo-based organisation, to launch the NECOREPA APARTMENT HOTEL this year. This facility is a renovated traditional house that functions as a share house where residents live alongside rescue cats.

The project is part of the Hida City Social Business Creation Support Division, a scheme established in 2021. The initiative uses hometown tax donations to fund private-sector projects that solve local issues. Hida City faces a population decline at double the national average, leading to an increase in abandoned properties and stray cat populations.

The SAVE THE CAT HIDA project has demonstrated significant economic impact. Since its inception, it has raised 500 million yen in donations over two and a half years. The existing SAVE THE CAT HIDA shelter also serves as a hub for local primary and secondary school students. These children participate in daily activities such as cleaning, feeding, and introducing cats to potential adopters. The shelter has also established a clinic for neutering procedures and created local employment opportunities, attracting approximately 3,000 visitors annually.

The upcoming NECOREPA APARTMENT HOTEL will become a gateway for individuals who wish to live with cats but face barriers such as work commitments or lack of experience. All profits from the facility will support medical care, food, and adoption activities for rescue cats.

This model demonstrates how local governments can find value in combining private-sector expertise, repurposing vacant houses and creating local products, and, in this case, create a liveable environment for both humans and animals.