Meet Bam: The Cat Who Got Rejected by Pet Shops —Now He Runs a Clinic

If you walk into a chiropractic clinic in Tokyo, Japan, and feel like someone’s watching you closely—it’s probably Bam.

Not the receptionist. Not the chiropractor. But a fluffy, sweet-faced American Curl cat who takes his job very seriously. Bam isn’t just the clinic mascot. He’s the manager. The emotional support. The snuggler-in-chief. And he does it all with an ear scar and a lot of love.

Love at First (Kinda Ugly) Sight

Let’s rewind a bit. Bam was born on March 20th, 2023, and adopted just a few months later, on June 2nd, from a shelter called PLAN-C in Higashikurume. The shelter mainly rescues cats deemed “unsellable” by pet stores—a cruel but all-too-real category. Bam was one of those. His crime? A scar on his ear.

But scars don’t scare everyone away. When his human mom saw Bam’s picture on the shelter’s Instagram, it was game over. Or maybe, game on. “He was a little ugly in the photo,” she laughs, “but I found that so adorable!”

Spoiler: He turned out to be way cuter in real life. Also, way clingier.

Meet the Manager

From the very first cuddle at the shelter, Bam made it clear: he wasn’t just a cat. He was a people-person, with extra emphasis on person. Affectionate to the core, this baby-faced snugglebug now spends his days patrolling the clinic, often lying on top of patients during treatments, keeping them company, or straight-up napping on them. Therapeutic and adorable.

“Before every client visit, he runs around to hype himself up,” says his mom. “Then he helps me during the treatment and works hard to create a healing atmosphere.”

By night, he’s rewarded with playtime, cuddles, and sweet dreams beside his favorite human.

From Scar to Star

But even stars have shadows. Bam, despite being so friendly, was diagnosed with separation anxiety. It got so intense that his mom couldn’t leave him alone to go to work. It was hard—really hard—but she never saw him as a pet. From day one, he was family. That made all the difference.

To anyone thinking of adopting a shelter cat, she has one message: be ready. “You’re not just getting a cat—you’re becoming someone’s whole world.”

Bam’s Favorite Things

Snacks? Yes, please. Especially if they’re freeze-dried fish or anything mushy and sweet, like pumpkin, corn, or sweet potato. (He’s also a tofu boy—respect.)

Games? Oh, he’s got taste. Laser pointers, teaser wands, and ball chases. Classic hits. But more than anything, Bam loves being with people. That’s the job he picked for himself. And frankly, he’s crushing it.

Want to see Bam in action? 

Just visit the clinic—but don’t be surprised if your therapist has fur and purrs.

You can follow Bam’s daily adventures on Instagram at @baumkuchen_cat.bam where he shares his work and his cute moments.

If you’re also looking for chiropractic care or want to check out the clinic where Bam works, follow @andrepos.seitai for more updates and info. The clinic is a 3 minutes walk from Nakagawara Station on the Keio Line, and a 20 minutes walk from Keio Line Seiji Sakuragaoka Station in Tokyo, Japan.