A Japanese cat which served as the master of a train station for eight years has been mourned by officials at a lavish funeral. The female tortoise-shell cat named Tama attracted international attention when it was awarded the position in 2007.
According to ABC News,
for eight years Tama lived at Kishi station in western Japan, quietly patrolling the station dressed in a custom-made cap and uniform.
When she first started, the line was almost bankrupt and had just lost its last human member of staff.
But as her fame spread, thousands of tourists flocked to see her. The extra passengers and merchandising helped to save the railway.
Another cat has become an apprentice stationmaster following Tama’s death from heart failure on June 22.
