Japanese island overrun by cats

Japanese island overrun by cats

Aoshima lies off the coast of a Japanese island.

It's a dwindling fishing community of elderly people who live mainly off retirement benefits. The official population is 22 but there are more than 120 cats living and running wild over the tiny island, giving it the nickname "Cat Island".

Tourists from around the country have been flocking to the island off Ehime prefecture even though there are no shops or hotels.

There are only ferries twice a day which links Aoshima to the rest of Japan. But that hasn't detered cat lovers like Makiko Yamasaki, 27.

"I came here looking to relax. And as for how is it? Well there is a ton of cats here, then there was this sort of cat witch who came out to feed the cats which was quite fun. So I'd want to come again," she said.

The cats were originally brought over to the island to deal with mice plaguing fishing boats. But they've since multiplied as there are no natural predators.

"Even before it entered into the Heisei era (27 years ago), the population had already fallen below 100. So after that it slowly became just an island of elderly (people) and cats," said Kamimoto, who originally went to the elementary and middle school on the island.

In its heyday, nearly 900 people lived on the island but over the last 70 years, the population has declined as young people moved away. But with the influx of day-trippers, residents worry that their quiet lives could be disrupted.

CATS HEALING

"If people coming to the island find the cats healing then I think it's a good thing. I just hope that it's done in a way that doesn't become a burden on the people who live here and if so then I don't think it's a problem, that's my basic stance," Kamimoto said.

The cats are fed occasionally by tourists and some people who live on the island. But alot of them forage for food on their own, eating crops that residents plant or anything edible left lying around.

In a bid to control the cat population, 10 have been neutered so far.

But humans are still a minority on the island, even with the tourists.

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