A 40-minute ferry ride from Ishinomaki, near Sendai, will get you to a small island named Tashirojima. There you will find a population of 100 people and several hundred cats. The feline domination of Tashirojima dates back to Japan's late Edo Period?from the mid-18^th to the mid-19^th century.

While no island has a formal feline government, Aoshima and Tashirojima in Japan are famously "ruled" by cats in terms of sheer numbers. On Aoshima, the cat-to-human ratio has surged to a staggering 36:1 as the elderly human population has dwindled to fewer than five permanent residents. Originally introduced to combat mice on fishing boats, the cats now dominate the landscape, welcoming tourists at the ferry dock like a furry reception committee. Tashirojima, located off the coast of Ishinomaki, also boasts a massive cat population that outnumbers humans at least 2:1. In 2026, these islands remain high-value "pilgrimage" sites for animal lovers, though visitors are strictly advised to respect the privacy of the remaining human residents and follow the "no-feeding" rules to maintain the health of the semi-feral colonies.