Houichi

Houichi is stern, territorial and demanding toward newcomers. He believes stray animals survive by learning to fend for themselves and tests unfamiliar cats rather than immediately welcoming them.

His rough behavior conceals a strong sense of responsibility for Kabukicho's strays. He teaches them where to find food, how to approach humans and how to avoid dangers such as animal catchers.

Houichi is especially unwilling to abandon weaker cats when humans threaten them. His authority therefore rests on more than physical dominance; he acts as the protector of the community he rules.

Houichi is an exceptionally strong and agile cat. He easily escapes Kagura and Shimura Shinpachi when they initially attempt to capture him.

He is an experienced street fighter accustomed to defending territory and testing other cats in direct combat.

His greatest practical skill is survival. Houichi understands Kabukicho's feeding locations, human behavior and animal-control threats well enough to teach newly arrived strays how to live in the district.

Houichi was originally human, and traces of his unusual history help explain his intelligence and understanding of both human and feline behavior.

The Yorozuya are hired to capture Houichi after the boss cat becomes a problem around Kabukicho. Shinpachi and Kagura fail to catch him, while Sakata Gintoki is transformed into a cat after disrespecting a feline grave.

Houichi encounters the transformed Gintoki and forces him to prove himself before showing him how Kabukicho's strays survive. Gintoki is soon joined by Kotarou Katsura, who has also become a cat, and Isao Kondou, who has inexplicably become a gorilla.

When animal catchers begin removing the district's strays, Houichi becomes central to the effort to protect them.

Houichi is revealed to have once been a human yakuza. A cat sacrificed itself for him, leading to his transformation and eventual life as the protector of Kabukicho's strays.

Sakata Gintoki meets Houichi after being transformed into a cat. Houichi initially tests him and later treats him as another capable stray.

Kotarou Katsura joins Houichi's group after also becoming a cat.

Isao Kondou accompanies the transformed men in gorilla form.

Otose provides food to Kabukicho's strays and is therefore an important human presence in Houichi's territory.

Kagura and Shimura Shinpachi initially attempt to capture Houichi as part of a Yorozuya job.