Are you an animal lover? Did you know that there’s this Japanese cat island where more cats than humans live? It’s a great place to visit if you love felines!
Aoshima Island in Japan is also known popularly as the Cat Island – not because it’s shaped like a cat but due to the numerous cats that live on the island.
It is estimated that the cat population is 36x that of humans or a ratio of 36:1, but this number could have easily risen because cats can reproduce two to three times a year – and each pregnancy can produce as many as three to five kittens on average!
Do you think there are a thousand cats now? Continue reading to find out.
Visiting the Japanese Cat Island
If you’re a keen animal lover who wants to tick off a Japanese cat island from your bucket list, then Aoshima Island can be right for you.
Take note, however, that this isn’t a regular tourist spot and you won’t find much to do on the island except the huge number of cats.
HIS USA explains that only two rounds of ferries go to the island per day. So, it’s best to check the schedule so you won’t miss it.
Also, the island is inhabited mostly by old people and there aren’t any hotels, restaurants, shops, or even vending machines on the island. So, be sure to come prepared with some food and basic needs in case you miss the boat back to the mainland.
Cuddling with the Cats
The cats on the island are used to having people around, so you can actually cuddle with some and have your photo taken with them.
Still, it’s a good idea to ask permission from the residents if you plan on feeding the cats. (There are at least two hundred of them – and feeding time might be a huge challenge).
No Population Control?
Some people express concern over the cat population becoming unhealthy.
Especially on such a small island inhabited mostly by old people.
Don’t worry because the residents also felt the same concern.
They decided to put a stop to the feline population explosion by spaying and neutering all these cats as far back as 2018.
At the time, there were only nine elderly residents left on the island with over 200 cats. It’s a good thing the cat population is no longer growing. Else, there would already be at least a thousand of them now.
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