Remember the two adorable cats who have been trying to get into the Onomichi City Museum of Art in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan since 2016? They were especially persistent and in doing so, they have become online celebrities as netizens were charmed by these two art-loving kitties.
The black kitty is known as Ken-chan while the ginger cat is known as Go-chan and together, they have been spotted trying to enter the museum for years, only to be gently but firmly stopped by the security guard, the Guardian reports. In fact, the guards at the museum know the two cats well and they have struck up a friendship, although they cannot let the felines enter the museum.
Source: Twitter
But now it looks like Go-chan’s days of trying to break into the museum are over, based on the museum’s Twitter account. On May 17, they tweeted the two kitties meeting each other and it looks exactly like they are saying goodbye to each other.
『ラストラン? Last Run 』(18/5/2019) #尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #茶トラ #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/RqZEJHLtVN
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) May 18, 2019
Then on May 18, the museum posted a short video of Go-chan having his last run around the perimeter. He had finally found his forever home and would not be spending his days roaming around anymore. However, before he left the museum, they granted him his dearest wish, by allowing him to enter the museum briefly. Go-chan looks like he can’t believe his luck and walks inside to explore the place he has been wanting to enter for years.
２年余り、飼い主の方からの連絡を期待しつつ、ツイッターでご紹介していたゴッちゃん。本日、新しいパートナーの方に連れられ、慣れ親しんだ公園を後にしました。愛しのゴッちゃん！ありがとう！君を忘れない！また遊びに来てニャ〜(^O^)／#尾道市立美術館 pic.twitter.com/2uEj6dyq8y
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) May 18, 2019
Ken-chan is the resident cat of a nearby restaurant but Go-chan does not have an owner, until he was adopted recently. The two cats were so popular that the museum produce merchandise based on them and visitors love it so much, they’re flying off the shelves.
Although Ken-chan still visits the museum regularly, the staff misses Go-chan, until another familiar cat appeared on the scene on June 4. The kitty, known as Kuu-chan is actually another regular but she isn’t a stray as she lives in a nearby house. She has been keeping Ken-chan and Go-chan company in the past and has been like a mother to them.
『えっ？ ?Really? 』(2019/06/04) ?閉館時の点検巡回の際、懐かしいお顔が。。君の名は⁈#尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #キジトラ #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/Krxjk5eAck
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) June 4, 2019
『クウちゃん！ ?Kuu-chan! 』(2019/06/04) ?Ken & Goにとって公園内の母親的存在。ここ数年はお家でゴロゴロと。。スタッフをなぐさめに来てくれたのかニャ。#尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #キジトラ #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/04uKmTnzyF
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) June 4, 2019
Meanwhile, it looks like the museum is really missing Go-chan as they posted several throwback photos of the ginger kitty. As for Ken-chan, he is still trying to get into the museum although his partner isn’t here anymore. The museum also posted a few updates about Go-chan, who looks like he is enjoying his life being a house cat at last. We don’t blame him!
『サツキ? azalea 』(2019/06/06)?今朝、ちょうど2年前のゴッちゃん写真をアップしましたが、彼の姿を探しているのかニャ⁈ #尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #黒猫 #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/qMWufL6SKc
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) June 6, 2019
ゴッちゃんは、昨日から家猫として新しい生活を始めました。ゴッちゃんへの深い愛情、心から感謝申し上げます。皆さまの声が飼い主さんに届き、引き続き当館ツイートのご了承をいただきました m(_ _)m。不定期になりますが、近況報告と思い出を綴って行きます。よろしくニャ〜(^O^)／#尾道市立美術館 pic.twitter.com/GMGDq4U2vb
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) May 19, 2019
Goodbye, Go-chan! We’ll miss you!
Also read: Cute Cat Bites & Spoils Owner’s Earphones, Brings Back Snake As Apology
