Tokyo: A cat presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the governor of Japan`s Akita prefecture has been finally handed over to his new owner after the animal spent five months in quarantine.
The Siberian cat has been given the Russian name "Mir", a prefecture spokesman said.
Mir, which means peace in Russian, arrived in Japan in August 2012 but had to spend five months in quarantine at the Narita international airport.
The 11-month old male cat was Putin`s gift to governor Norihisa Satake, who sent an Akita Inu puppy named Yume (or "Dream") to the Russian leader last year in gratitude for Russia`s assistance after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
"And we need peace to make dreams come true," the prefecture spokesman quoted governor Satake as saying.
"Mir is a very beautiful cat. He is marvellous. He`s a real presidential cat," the spokesman said.
Satake is a passionate feline lover who already has seven cats.
IANS
