In Japan, it is commonly believed that a cat's tail holds magical powers, and if an old cat is injured so that its tail forks like a snake's tongue, this is seen as an ill omen of an even more virulent variety. Therefore, the Japanese developed the custom of cutting off cats 'tails.
在日本，相傳貓尾具有妖力，而老貓受傷的長尾分叉成兩股如蛇吐信，更被視為不祥，所以就有切尾的習慣。