{"id":2658,"date":"2025-11-09T23:02:36","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T14:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/?p=2658"},"modified":"2025-11-10T14:56:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T05:56:14","slug":"i-got-to-cuddle-a-meerkat-at-the-pet-shop-in-maebashi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/11\/09\/i-got-to-cuddle-a-meerkat-at-the-pet-shop-in-maebashi\/","title":{"rendered":"I got to cuddle a meerkat at the pet shop in Maebashi!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69da0acddf31b&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"942\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/meerkat-1024x942.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/meerkat-1024x942.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/meerkat-300x276.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/meerkat-768x706.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/meerkat-1320x1214.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/meerkat.jpg 1392w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s a pet shop in Maebashi called Wing 21 where Mayu buys crickets to feed to her beloved pet, <a href=\"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2024\/05\/23\/mayus-beloved-pet-toad-kuromaru\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2024\/05\/23\/mayus-beloved-pet-toad-kuromaru\/\">Kuromaru<\/a>. There are two meerkats in cages there and every time we go there, I call out to the two meerkats, &#8220;Little guys!&#8221; They get SO EXCITED to see me every time. So this time the pet clerk lady asked me if I&#8217;d like to hold one. My facial reaction alone was enough for her to know that I really wanted to. So, I got to snuggle and smooch this little meerkat. SO CUTE! I want one! But, no pets are allowed in our apartment. Plus these little guys have gotta be super expensive. They&#8217;ve been there for a couple of years now and they do not have a home yet. Kinda sad. There was a third one, but that one must&#8217;ve been sold about 3 years ago. She didn&#8217;t recommend that I hold the other one, because it is too &#8220;high tension.&#8221; So I guess it gets too excited and acts up if you hold it. It was pretty jealous that I held the other one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s a pet shop in Maebashi called Wing 21 where Mayu buys crickets to feed to her beloved pet, Kuromaru. There are two meerkats in cages there and every time we go there, I call out to the two meerkats, &#8220;Little guys!&#8221; They get SO EXCITED to see me every time. So this time the &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/11\/09\/i-got-to-cuddle-a-meerkat-at-the-pet-shop-in-maebashi\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;I got to cuddle a meerkat at the pet shop in Maebashi!&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[328,326,327],"class_list":["post-2658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life","tag-cute","tag-meerkats","tag-pet-shop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1616,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2024\/07\/19\/ryokuchi-park-in-maebashi\/","url_meta":{"origin":2658,"position":0},"title":"Ryokuchi Park in Maebashi","date":"2024-07-19","format":false,"excerpt":"The Hirose River runs through central Maebashi, and the Ryokuchi Park here is a tranquil oasis in the urban landscape. Last year, Mayu and I discovered this park in summertime. On Monday morning, we had time to kill after dropping our daughter off for her sports club activity. It had\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Japan&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/KIMG2163-rotated.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1504,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2024\/05\/23\/mayus-beloved-pet-toad-kuromaru\/","url_meta":{"origin":2658,"position":1},"title":"Mayu&#8217;s beloved pet toad, Kuromaru","date":"2024-05-23","format":false,"excerpt":"It's hard to believe that it's been nearly two years already! In summer '22, my wife Mayu brought home a baby toad from her work. A coworker had a batch of baby toads and gave one to Mayu. He was so tiny at first! Some toad species are hatched as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;life&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kuromaru1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2273,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/06\/16\/kuroda-toy-store-in-maebashi\/","url_meta":{"origin":2658,"position":2},"title":"Kuroda Toy Store in Maebashi","date":"2025-06-16","format":false,"excerpt":"Mayu discovered a store called Kuroda Toy Doll \uff08\u9ed2\u7530\u4eba\u5f62\u5e97\uff09in Maebashi's Central Shopping Arcade on the internet and on Saturday we went there to check it out. Shoutengai \uff08\u5546\u5e97\u8857\uff09are covered shopping arcades and a tradition of Japan. Unfortunately, sometimes these shopping arcades have grown unsuccessful over the years with empty real\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;anime\/manga&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/KIMG2655-rotated.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2254,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/06\/04\/taito-game-station-in-lirica-mall-maebashi\/","url_meta":{"origin":2658,"position":3},"title":"Taito Game Station in Lirica Mall, Maebashi","date":"2025-06-04","format":false,"excerpt":"These are pictures I took a few months ago in the Taito Game Station arcade in Lirica Mall. From left to right: the sign in front, a vending machine, and Space Invaders Frenzy.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;video games&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Taito1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1657,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2024\/08\/30\/dragon-quest-campaign-at-loft-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":2658,"position":4},"title":"Dragon Quest campaign at Loft 2024","date":"2024-08-30","format":false,"excerpt":"Tonight we went to Keyaki Walk Mall in Maebashi and at Loft there was a big selection of Dragon Quest goods. Neat stuff. Plenty of Slime plush dolls and other items. Sofubi figures. \"Paper theater.\" I wonder what these are? This slime cushion looks comfortable. CUTE. So much neat crap,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;life&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/KIMG2301-rotated.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2342,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/07\/11\/a-look-at-modeling-magazines-and-books-at-bookmans-academy-in-maebashi\/","url_meta":{"origin":2658,"position":5},"title":"A look at modeling magazines and books at Bookman&#8217;s Academy in Maebashi","date":"2025-07-11","format":false,"excerpt":"On the last Friday of June, after dinner in Maebashi we went to Bookman's Academy, a nice two-story bookstore on the road straight south from the sushi restaurant we ate at. This bookstore not only has a great selection of modeling magazines, but upstairs in the \"subculture\" category, there are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;books&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/KIMG0725-rotated.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2658"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2668,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2658\/revisions\/2668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}