It is believed that Cat Island was named after pirate Arthur Catt, who used to frequent the island. For more than four centuries, Cat Island was called San Salvador and thought by some to be the first landfall of Columbus in the New World.
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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.
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.
The Height of Escapism. Cat Island is quiet and unassuming, but it has treasures to offer. Anchored by Mt. Alvernia, The Bahamas' highest point, its untouched landscape is perfect for diving, kiteboarding, and meandering along miles of rolling hills, nature trails, and an eight-mile pink sand beach.
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.
Cheap flights to Cat Island from $110 One Way, $160 Round Trip. $160 return flights and $110 one-way flights to Cat Island were the cheapest prices found within the past 7 days, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change.
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.
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.