He said cat-related assignments began increasing sharply about a decade ago, around the same period when the number of cat cafes in Japan expanded from only a handful to roughly 300. Cat cafes are believed to have expanded rapidly during the same period. The roots of Japan's cat cafe industry, however, go back further. As Japan's cat boom gathered momentum, similar cafes began appearing around the country. Cat cafes have also increasingly developed another role by connecting rescued cats with prospective owners.