What is their purpose in doing so?

You’ve probably noticed something a little unusual if you’ve ever taken a walk down the quiet residential streets of Japan: clear plastic water bottles sitting in neat rows along walls, fences, or the edges of gardens. It’s easy to think they might just be forgotten trash or someone’s picnic leftovers. However, these bottles are actually placed there on purpose, and they have a special name: nekoyoke, which means “cat deterrents.”