Last Updated on 14 August 2025 by Vanessa
Street cats don’t get nearly enough love. While millions of them are out there just trying to survive, most of us walk right by without a second thought. Not Amy Mander. She grabbed her camera, booked a ticket to Thailand and Japan, and set out on a mission to tell their story.
Her latest project, Street Cats of Thailand and Japan, is more than just a photo book. It’s a raw, real look at the lives these cats live every day. It’s powerful, emotional, and a total eye-opener.
So if you’ve ever loved a cat—or just want to see the world from a different perspective—this book belongs on your shelf.
Amy Mander’s new photo book sheds light on the lives of street cats in Asia
The struggles of street cats in Asia
Street cats are everywhere in Asia. They lounge on temple steps, weave through market stalls, or dart between scooters on busy roads. But behind their quiet presence lies a much tougher story.
“While traveling through Asia, I was surprised to come across so many street cats,” says writer and photographer Amy Mander. “At first, I was excited to see them. But that quickly changed when I witnessed the ill-treatment of cats and the harsh conditions they were living in. Many were injured, sick, or clearly starving.”
Without consistent access to food, clean water, or medical care, they rely on luck and the occasional kindness of strangers to survive.
However, I also came across many people of goodwill who would feed these cats, even though they had very little food themselves.”
How the book Street Cats of Thailand and Japan came about
As Amy Mander explored the crowded cities and quiet towns of Thailand and Japan, her camera became her way of telling the story of these cats.
“I felt compelled to document their lives—not just the hardship, but also their resilience and the unexpected beauty in how they connect with the world around them,” says Amy Mander.
“That’s why I compiled all my images into the book Street Cats of Thailand and Japan. I hope it will raise awareness about street cats in Asia.”
Amy Mander’s work indeed offers a rare glimpse into the daily lives of these overlooked animals—from cozy moments curled up in alleyways to the quiet strength they show in the face of neglect and danger.
Every photo captures more than just a cat. It captures a moment of survival, a flash of hope, or a glimpse into a world most people never notice. With this book, Amy Mander hopes to inspire others to care about these animals who ask for so little, yet deserve so much more.
Where to find Street Cats of Thailand and Japan?
You can purchase Street Cats of Thailand and Japan directly via Amy Mander’s website. The book itself is small – more like a beautifully curated booklet – but it would make an adorable gift for the cat lover in your life.
Fifty percent of all sales go straight to Kitty Rescuee, a cat center in Asia that works tirelessly to rescue, care for, and re-home abandoned and stray cats. So every purchase directly helps the cats featured in the book and many more like them.
Amy Mander is 25, fueled by lipstick, cats, and an unwavering love for Starbucks. She dives headfirst into self-help books and then loses hours scrolling through inspirational quotes on Instagram—her quirky way of navigating the highs and lows of a quarter-life crisis.
Win a copy of this new photo book
Today, Amy Mander is teaming up with Traveling Cats for something special. She’s giving away an autographed copy of Street Cats of Thailand and Japan to one lucky reader. The book giveaway is open worldwide, and you can enter by filling in the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
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One Response
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Visiting today from #PoCoLo