What is their purpose in doing so?

Why Are These Bottles There?

Even though cats are incredibly popular in Japan and cherished by many, stray cats can sometimes cause problems. For example, they can spread diseases or cause damage to people’s property, like gardens or outdoor areas. Because of this, some local residents put these water bottles outside their homes. Their main goal is to try and stop stray cats from using these areas as a bathroom (littering grounds) or from coming into their private spaces.

How Do People Think It Works?

For people outside Japan, this practice might seem a bit strange, but it’s actually quite common in many Japanese cities. The idea behind it is that when sunlight or even streetlights shine on the water in the bottles, they create flashes of light. People believe that these flashes can startle cats and make them stay away.

Some folks also believe that the distorted reflections that appear in the water or the way the bottles might affect a cat’s depth perception (how they judge distances) could also confuse the felines, making them less likely to hang around.