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.
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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.
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.
Aoshima: The Most Famous Cat IslandThe island itself is 1.6km long. The reason cats first made it to the island is because of fishermen who wanted to deal with the local rodent problem. However, after the rats were gone, the cats stayed and had a population boom.
Cotton plantation ruins are scattered around the island. The remains of slave huts dating back to the 1700s and Arawak Indian caves can be explored. Cat Island also prides itself on producing The Bahamas' finest Rake 'n Scrape music and holds an annual festival dedicated to it.
Visitors must book a stay in advance; however, anyone can go to view the fun architecture at the campground. Alternatively, you can stay overnight at one of the minshuku, guesthouse-style accommodations, back near the port.
With relaxing walks and ocean views, Tashirojima is a great place to visit for the day from Ishinomaki or even stop overnight in a guest house or in the Manga Island resort. However, it is worth noting that the island is largely traditional and there are few tourist facilities other than Manga Island.
Aoshima (Cat Island) Featured inIn fact, the place is almost deserted, with only around 16 individuals living there, but the habitat undoubtedly belongs to 160 cats. Veteran human residents will tell you stories of how it came to be so. Around 800 fishermen who once lived there, left the island for better fortune.