Judging by the number of prayer plaques hung on the rack at this quiet shrine in Tachikawa, the local kami-sama are A+ at delivering lost felines back home, safe and sound.

Offer your respects at this cheery-looking neko-guarded stone basin for starters…

…then buy an ema at the shrine shop and step over to this stone pussycat…

…and pen your wish for Growler’s safe return.

After you’ve added it to the rack…

…thank the kami-sama by giving the stone kitteh a little scritch behind the ears.

As an added bonus, if you happen to have a baby at home that’s less than a hundred days old, their future teeth are in luck. Pick a stone from this sacred pile (they’re called “hakatame no ishi“) and take it home. Touch the stone with a pair of chopsticks, then touch the baby’s gums and say a prayer for good strong teeth. If you bring the rock back to the shrine, your young ‘un is guaranteed to have a long life and choppers of kryptonite.

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