Niya

The pet cat living in the Maki household, aware of the borrowers' existence

The Maki family's pet cat, aware of the secret existence of the borrowers. Plays the role of watching over the borrowers' movements inside the house.

Trivia

  • Niya is one of the few animals that knows the borrowers' secret.
  • In the movie, it has no dialogue and expresses emotions through movements and facial expressions.
  • Niya plays the important role of an observer in the borrowers' lives.

Alternate names

Maki family cat House cat Niya

Tags

cat borrower Studio Ghibli family pet anime film Japanese anime 2010s friendship Maki family

Profile

Species
cat

Appearance

Overall appearance
Typical appearance of a Japanese cat, roaming freely inside the mansion as a house cat.

Personality and abilities

Core personality
Observant
Detailed personality
Notices the borrowers' presence and quietly watches their movements. Has curiosity but is generally calm and lives affectionately with the family.
Keywords
  • intelligent
  • quiet
  • observant
  • loyal
Talents
  • excellent sense of smell
  • agility
  • endurance
Skills
  • ability to detect the borrowers' actions
Motivation
Protect the family's safety and guard the borrowers' secret.
Favorite foods
cat food, milk
Favorite places
inside the mansion, garden
Disliked insects
unknown
Disliked situations
noisy places

History

Backstory
Has lived for many years as the Maki family's pet cat. Knows the borrowers' secret and serves as an important presence between them and humans.
Debut date
July 17, 2010
Work title
The Secret World of Arrietty
Media type
Movie

Learns the borrowers' secret

Significant event
Learns the borrowers' secret
Description
Noticed the existence of the borrowers living under the floorboards in the mansion and fulfilled the role of quietly watching over them.

Alerts to the Arrietty family's move

Significant event
Alerts to the Arrietty family's move
Description
Took on the role of informing Shou (the boy) about Arrietty and her family by the river.

Relationships

Sadako Maki

Guardian

Owner and mistress of the mansion. Niya is trusted as a family member.

Arrietty

Best friend

Shares the borrowers' secret and tries to protect their existence.

Shou

Prays for the borrowers' safety, senses Shou's movements, and alerts him.

Maki family

Maki family: unknown

Media appearances

The Secret World of Arrietty

Movie / Supporting

Released July 17, 2010

Voice cast and creators

Mary Norton

Creator name
Mary Norton
Role
Original author

Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Creator name
Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Role
Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Creator name
Hayao Miyazaki
Role
scriptWriter

Keiko Niwa

Creator name
Keiko Niwa
Role
scriptWriter

Toshio Suzuki

Creator name
Toshio Suzuki
Role
Producer

Cécile Corbel

Creator name
Cécile Corbel
Role
musicComposer

Studio Ghibli

Creator name
Studio Ghibli
Role
Animation studio

Toho

Creator name
Toho
Role
Distributor

Related goods

Niya plush toy

Item name
Niya plush toy
Category
Plush or doll
Availability
Regular

Niya figure

Item name
Niya figure
Category
Figure
Availability
Limited