While viral clips of piano-playing cats or grumpy felines come and go, the work of Japanese filmmaker Makoto Oya stands apart as art. In 2021, a specific resurgence of interest in his older backlog, combined with new compilations, sparked a renewed global fascination. But what exactly are the "Makoto Oya Cat Videos 2021," and why did they capture the hearts of millions during a year that desperately needed comfort?

Oya mounts cameras at floor level. When the cat looks out a sliding glass door onto a Japanese garden, the viewer sees exactly what the cat sees: swaying bamboo, a dragonfly, the neighbor’s roof. This POV (point of view) filmmaking creates intimacy.

Oya admitted to mauling 13 stray cats, 9 of which died from shock. Digital Presence:

2021 was a strange, liminal year. Much of the world was still under lockdown or hybrid working conditions. People were suffering from "doom scrolling"—the act of consuming endless negative news.

As of 2026, the channel remains up but unupdated. Fans speculate Oya moved to a different city or simply ran out of treats. But for those who discovered the videos in 2021, Makoto Oya remains a patron saint of quiet moments and whiskered dignity.

If you spent any time doom-scrolling in 2021, you likely remember the quiet shift in online animal content. While dogs had their moment, 2021 was the year the algorithm fell back in love with cats. And at the heart of one niche corner of this revival was a Japanese content creator named .

Makoto Oya was a 52-year-old tax counselor in Saitama City who snared at least 13 stray cats in traps near a dilapidated house in Fukaya. His methods were extraordinarily cruel:

The keyword "Makoto Oya Cat Videos 2021" is often searched alongside terms like "sleep aid" and "anxiety relief." The consistent frame rate (24fps for the cat, slow motion for the environment) mimics the visual rhythm of a relaxing nature documentary, but with a furry, domestic twist.

If Oya is associated with the street cats of Buenos Aires, 2021 was a banner year for showcasing their toughness. Videos highlighted the community aspect of cat colonies. We saw how they navigated urban obstacles, how they cared for one another, and how they interacted with the humans who fed them. In a time when human society felt fragile, watching these small creatures survive and thrive against the odds was incredibly inspiring.