Once a thriving fishing village in southwest Japan, Aoshima is now home to only six humans but hundreds of cats, earning it the moniker of “Cat Island.”
A ferry from Ozu, Japan, will take you to Aoshima Island in less than 20 minutes. The sparsely populated island has become a booming tourist attraction, but there are no stores or restaurants here.
What Aoshima does have are cats — lots and lots of cats.
FlickrThe cats outnumber the human population on this so-called cat island nearly 36 to one.
“I seldom carried tourists before,” ferry captain Nobuyuki Ninomiya remarked. “Now I carry tourists every week, even though the only thing we have to offer is cats.”
Known as “cat island” and “cat heaven,” Aoshima has eight cats for every one human as of 2018.
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1 of 36In 1945, Aoshima was a vibrant fishing community of 900. Now, cats outnumber human residents 10 to one.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 2 of 36Cats were initially brought to the island by fisherman in order to combat rodents. But with no natural predators, the cat population flourished.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
3 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
4 of 36According to a 2018 report, there are as many as 130 cats on the island.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 5 of 36Kanon_7/Flickr
6 of 36As it turns out, cats live in complex hierarchies where males compete with each other for territory and females compete with each other for food.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 7 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 8 of 36Aoshima is only one of Japan’s so-called cat islands. There are apparently 10 others.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 9 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 10 of 36As of 2019, the human population is reportedly six.Flickr 11 of 36Walking the walk on the streets of Aoshima. Fubirai 12 of 36Fubirai 13 of 36There have been programs to spay and neuter the existing cats.Fubirai 14 of 36Fubirai 15 of 36The locals ask that if you do feed the cats, to do it around the community center.Fubirai 16 of 36Fubirai 17 of 36Hungry cats look to someone for their next easy meal. Fubirai 18 of 36Fubirai 19 of 36Cat island is about 121 acres in total — nearly one cat per acre.Fubirai 20 of 36Fubirai 21 of 36A man acquires some fishing companions. Fubirai 22 of 36Fubirai 23 of 36Fubirai 24 of 36Aoshima is accessbile by a 30 minute ferry ride from mainland Japan.Fubirai 25 of 36Fubirai 26 of 36There are no hotels, restaurants, shops or even vending machines on the island.Fubirai 27 of 36Fubirai 28 of 36Even if there were no humans here, the cats would always have each other. Fubirai 29 of 36Fubirai 30 of 36There is no shortage of places to explore on the mile-long island. Fubirai 31 of 36Fubirai 32 of 36As long as a few people remain on the island, the cats should be able to look towards a long future here. Fubirai 33 of 36Fubirai 34 of 36Fubirai 35 of 36A few humans may live here, but the cats rule the roost. Fubirai 36 of 36Like this gallery?Share it:
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Explore Aoshima, Japan’s ‘Cat Island’ That’s Been Taken Over By Felines View Gallery
The cats are used to humans and therefore are considered semi-feral. They will happily play with visitors and there is even a designated feeding area near the community center.
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1 of 36In 1945, Aoshima was a vibrant fishing community of 900. Now, cats outnumber human residents 10 to one.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 2 of 36Cats were initially brought to the island by fisherman in order to combat rodents. But with no natural predators, the cat population flourished.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
3 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
4 of 36According to a 2018 report, there are as many as 130 cats on the island.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 5 of 36Kanon_7/Flickr
6 of 36As it turns out, cats live in complex hierarchies where males compete with each other for territory and females compete with each other for food.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 7 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 8 of 36Aoshima is only one of Japan’s so-called cat islands. There are apparently 10 others.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 9 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 10 of 36As of 2019, the human population is reportedly six.Flickr 11 of 36Walking the walk on the streets of Aoshima. Fubirai 12 of 36Fubirai 13 of 36There have been programs to spay and neuter the existing cats.Fubirai 14 of 36Fubirai 15 of 36The locals ask that if you do feed the cats, to do it around the community center.Fubirai 16 of 36Fubirai 17 of 36Hungry cats look to someone for their next easy meal. Fubirai 18 of 36Fubirai 19 of 36Cat island is about 121 acres in total — nearly one cat per acre.Fubirai 20 of 36Fubirai 21 of 36A man acquires some fishing companions. Fubirai 22 of 36Fubirai 23 of 36Fubirai 24 of 36Aoshima is accessbile by a 30 minute ferry ride from mainland Japan.Fubirai 25 of 36Fubirai 26 of 36There are no hotels, restaurants, shops or even vending machines on the island.Fubirai 27 of 36Fubirai 28 of 36Even if there were no humans here, the cats would always have each other. Fubirai 29 of 36Fubirai 30 of 36There is no shortage of places to explore on the mile-long island. Fubirai 31 of 36Fubirai 32 of 36As long as a few people remain on the island, the cats should be able to look towards a long future here. Fubirai 33 of 36Fubirai 34 of 36Fubirai 35 of 36A few humans may live here, but the cats rule the roost. Fubirai 36 of 36Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Inside Pig Beach, The Uninhabited Island In The Bahamas Ruled By Swimming Swine
The Dark History Behind Okunoshima, Japan’s “Rabbit Island”
Explore The Fairy Glen, The Scottish Valley So Magical That Legend Says Fairies Created It
1 of 36In 1945, Aoshima was a vibrant fishing community of 900. Now, cats outnumber human residents 10 to one.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 2 of 36Cats were initially brought to the island by fisherman in order to combat rodents. But with no natural predators, the cat population flourished.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
3 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
4 of 36According to a 2018 report, there are as many as 130 cats on the island.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 5 of 36Kanon_7/Flickr
6 of 36As it turns out, cats live in complex hierarchies where males compete with each other for territory and females compete with each other for food.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 7 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 8 of 36Aoshima is only one of Japan’s so-called cat islands. There are apparently 10 others.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 9 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 10 of 36As of 2019, the human population is reportedly six.Flickr 11 of 36Walking the walk on the streets of Aoshima. Fubirai 12 of 36Fubirai 13 of 36There have been programs to spay and neuter the existing cats.Fubirai 14 of 36Fubirai 15 of 36The locals ask that if you do feed the cats, to do it around the community center.Fubirai 16 of 36Fubirai 17 of 36Hungry cats look to someone for their next easy meal. Fubirai 18 of 36Fubirai 19 of 36Cat island is about 121 acres in total — nearly one cat per acre.Fubirai 20 of 36Fubirai 21 of 36A man acquires some fishing companions. Fubirai 22 of 36Fubirai 23 of 36Fubirai 24 of 36Aoshima is accessbile by a 30 minute ferry ride from mainland Japan.Fubirai 25 of 36Fubirai 26 of 36There are no hotels, restaurants, shops or even vending machines on the island.Fubirai 27 of 36Fubirai 28 of 36Even if there were no humans here, the cats would always have each other. Fubirai 29 of 36Fubirai 30 of 36There is no shortage of places to explore on the mile-long island. Fubirai 31 of 36Fubirai 32 of 36As long as a few people remain on the island, the cats should be able to look towards a long future here. Fubirai 33 of 36Fubirai 34 of 36Fubirai 35 of 36A few humans may live here, but the cats rule the roost. Fubirai 36 of 36Like this gallery?Share it:
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Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Inside Pig Beach, The Uninhabited Island In The Bahamas Ruled By Swimming Swine
The Dark History Behind Okunoshima, Japan’s “Rabbit Island”
Explore The Fairy Glen, The Scottish Valley So Magical That Legend Says Fairies Created It
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1 of 36In 1945, Aoshima was a vibrant fishing community of 900. Now, cats outnumber human residents 10 to one.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 2 of 36Cats were initially brought to the island by fisherman in order to combat rodents. But with no natural predators, the cat population flourished.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
3 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
4 of 36According to a 2018 report, there are as many as 130 cats on the island.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 5 of 36Kanon_7/Flickr
6 of 36As it turns out, cats live in complex hierarchies where males compete with each other for territory and females compete with each other for food.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 7 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 8 of 36Aoshima is only one of Japan’s so-called cat islands. There are apparently 10 others.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 9 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr 10 of 36As of 2019, the human population is reportedly six.Flickr 11 of 36Walking the walk on the streets of Aoshima. Fubirai 12 of 36Fubirai 13 of 36There have been programs to spay and neuter the existing cats.Fubirai 14 of 36Fubirai 15 of 36The locals ask that if you do feed the cats, to do it around the community center.Fubirai 16 of 36Fubirai 17 of 36Hungry cats look to someone for their next easy meal. Fubirai 18 of 36Fubirai 19 of 36Cat island is about 121 acres in total — nearly one cat per acre.Fubirai 20 of 36Fubirai 21 of 36A man acquires some fishing companions. Fubirai 22 of 36Fubirai 23 of 36Fubirai 24 of 36Aoshima is accessbile by a 30 minute ferry ride from mainland Japan.Fubirai 25 of 36Fubirai 26 of 36There are no hotels, restaurants, shops or even vending machines on the island.Fubirai 27 of 36Fubirai 28 of 36Even if there were no humans here, the cats would always have each other. Fubirai 29 of 36Fubirai 30 of 36There is no shortage of places to explore on the mile-long island. Fubirai 31 of 36Fubirai 32 of 36As long as a few people remain on the island, the cats should be able to look towards a long future here. Fubirai 33 of 36Fubirai 34 of 36Fubirai 35 of 36A few humans may live here, but the cats rule the roost. Fubirai 36 of 36Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
1 of 36In 1945, Aoshima was a vibrant fishing community of 900. Now, cats outnumber human residents 10 to one.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
2 of 36Cats were initially brought to the island by fisherman in order to combat rodents. But with no natural predators, the cat population flourished.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
3 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
4 of 36According to a 2018 report, there are as many as 130 cats on the island.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
5 of 36Kanon_7/Flickr
6 of 36As it turns out, cats live in complex hierarchies where males compete with each other for territory and females compete with each other for food.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
7 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
8 of 36Aoshima is only one of Japan’s so-called cat islands. There are apparently 10 others.Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
9 of 36Sayoko Shimoyama/Flickr
10 of 36As of 2019, the human population is reportedly six.Flickr
11 of 36Walking the walk on the streets of Aoshima. Fubirai
12 of 36Fubirai
13 of 36There have been programs to spay and neuter the existing cats.Fubirai
14 of 36Fubirai
15 of 36The locals ask that if you do feed the cats, to do it around the community center.Fubirai
16 of 36Fubirai
17 of 36Hungry cats look to someone for their next easy meal. Fubirai
18 of 36Fubirai
19 of 36Cat island is about 121 acres in total — nearly one cat per acre.Fubirai
20 of 36Fubirai
21 of 36A man acquires some fishing companions. Fubirai
22 of 36Fubirai
23 of 36Fubirai
24 of 36Aoshima is accessbile by a 30 minute ferry ride from mainland Japan.Fubirai
25 of 36Fubirai
26 of 36There are no hotels, restaurants, shops or even vending machines on the island.Fubirai
27 of 36Fubirai
28 of 36Even if there were no humans here, the cats would always have each other. Fubirai
29 of 36Fubirai
30 of 36There is no shortage of places to explore on the mile-long island. Fubirai
31 of 36Fubirai
32 of 36As long as a few people remain on the island, the cats should be able to look towards a long future here. Fubirai
33 of 36Fubirai
34 of 36Fubirai
35 of 36A few humans may live here, but the cats rule the roost. Fubirai
36 of 36Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Explore Aoshima, Japan’s ‘Cat Island’ That’s Been Taken Over By Felines View Gallery
Explore Aoshima, Japan’s ‘Cat Island’ That’s Been Taken Over By Felines View Gallery
Explore Aoshima, Japan’s ‘Cat Island’ That’s Been Taken Over By Felines View Gallery
Explore Aoshima, Japan’s ‘Cat Island’ That’s Been Taken Over By Felines View Gallery
Explore Aoshima, Japan’s ‘Cat Island’ That’s Been Taken Over By Felines
View Gallery
But how did this remote island become overrun with felines in the first place?
Life On The Cat Island Of Japan
Believe it or not, Aoshima isn’t unique; in fact, Japan has a total of 10 other islands filled with felines.
Fishermen originally brought strays over to these islands in order to lower rodent populations and with no known predators, the cats have reproduced unhindered.
Sayoko Shimoyama/FlickrAoshima, a.k.a. cat island, off the coast of Japan.
Of course, locals also tend to overfeed the cats, especially the islands’ elderly population, which tends to do so in an attempt to develop companionship with the creatures. Although, no cat lover can blame them for that.
Japan is also not the only place where cat islands abound. Until recently, the United States had at least 18 cat islands and Australia at one time had 15.
Then again, Japan does regard cats a little differently. It’s worth noting that the same paper that reported the amount of cat islands for the U.S. and Australia was also concerned with eradicating the cat populations on those islands.
For some, culling the cat populations on Aoshima might seem like a good idea because, as it turns out, large groups of cats can create a stressful environment.
Researchers studying Aoshima have learned that cats arrange themselves in hierarchies, where males compete for territory and their female mates compete for food. With so much competition, cat researchers argue that living conditions on this so-called haven are anything but heavenly. With so much interspecies competition, kittens often die before adulthood from starvation, disease, and a type of infanticide previously seen exclusively in lions.
However, others insist that life on the island is a virtual picnic. “It’s a cat paradise here,” said Kazuyuki Ono. “They love nothing more than to just lie about in the street sunning themselves all day.”
The only snag is that when winter comes and tourism slows down, the cats become more desperate for food.
“In spring and summer, tourists bring food to feed the cats but when it gets cold, the sea is rough and nobody comes. Sometimes boats can’t cross in the rough seas,” Ono added.
This happened in 2016, but luckily, a plea for food resulted in a plethora of donations.
What Happened To The Human Residents Of Aoshima
Sayoko Shimoyama/FlickrA resident cat finds rest in a secret hideout.
Aoshima Island was once a prosperous fishing village; home to 900 people in the mid-1940s. Today, only a handful of elderly residents who didn’t relocate after World War II remain. In fact, as of 2019, only six full-time residents were recorded.
A photographer known as Fubirai has spent several years documenting the island’s cats on his blog. In 2012, the photos went viral with the help of Buzzfeed and led to a small tourism boom. But other than that, unfortunately, Aoshima is not exactly a bustling hub for tourism. There are no hotels, restaurants, shops, or even a vending machine.
There is, according to one account in Reuters, however, a “cat witch.”
“There was this sort of cat witch who came out to feed the cats which was quite fun,” said 27-year-old Makiko Yamasaki. “I’d want to come again.”
If you’re planning a visit to Aoshima, bring all your own supplies and take all your garbage home with you. Be respectful of the elderly residents and kind to the felines who call Japan’s cat island home.
“If people coming to the island find the cats healing, then I think it’s a good thing,” said 65-year-old fisherman Hidenori Kamimoto. “I just hope that it’s done in a way that doesn’t become a burden on the people who live here.”
After this look at Aoshima, Japan’s cat island, learn about this island that was taken over by pigs and aptly named pig beach. Then, discover what Australia is doing to combat its enormous rabbit problem.
