Are the cats on Cat Island feral?
Are the cats on Cat Island feral? Aoshima, Japan, AKA Cat Island, has a human population of nine human retirees and over 200 feral cats.
Can you pet the cats on Cat Island?
Since the cats on Aoshima Island have been cared for and pampered down many generations, they are docile and friendly. You can feed, pet, or just straight up chill out with them, and who knows, you might even discover a thing or two about yourself, in the process.
Why is Cat Island abandoned?
At its height, upwards of 800 people lived on the island; however, that number has vastly decreased over the past 70 years as younger people moved away, sardine fisheries depleted and closed, and jobs moved to the cities.
How did Cat Island get so many cats?
Cats were originally introduced on ships because the fisherman had to deal with a rodent problem. But the cats then remained on the island and reproduced, thus the population increasing almost exponentially.
How deep is the water around Cat Island?
Approximately 50 miles long but as little as 1 mile wide in some locations, Cat lies slightly north and east of the Exumas across Exuma Sound. The western waters are shallow banks typically 10-20 feet deep, while the east coast faces the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered by beautiful but dangerous reefs.
Why do they call it Cat Island?
The island's name is a reference to the raccoons that inhabit it; early French explorers mistook the local raccoons as feral cats. During the 1800s, Cat Island became a hideout for pirates, bootleggers, and smugglers.
How do cats on Cat Island eat?
Felines were introduced to combat rodents on fishing boats, but remained on the island and reproduced in large numbers. The feline inhabitants of Aoshima are fed by food donations from all over Japan. The cats also eat the small creatures of the island and some food from visitors.
How many humans are on Cat Island?
Its nickname “Cat Island” is no exaggeration because there are only 15-20 residents on the island but more than 120 cats, about 6 times the human population! Aoshima is a 1.6 km long island located in the Ehime Prefecture of southern Japan.
Can you swim at Cat Island?
Most resorts on Cat Island are located on the western coast of the island, which is washed by the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks. If you explore the western coast of the island, however, you can swim in the Atlantic Ocean and experience the pink sand wonder of Cat Island.