It’s no secret that Japan loves cats. But among the many curiosities that occur with felines, there is one phenomenon that has attracted tourism and made headlines in local media for years. We are talking about its “cat islands” where the feline population exceeds the human one, making them a rare bird. The most famous of all, whose history will always be linked to the relationship between humans and animals, is about to disappear forever.
The news. Aoshima, located 30 minutes by ferry off the coast of Ozu City in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, is the most famous “cat island” along with Tashirojima. Its popularity is such that for a long time the piece of land has lived off of tourists who came to see what life was like among the residents and the small masses of wild felines.
However, it seems that the end of life on Aoshima is approaching. Six years after the island began spaying and neutering animals due to the exaggerated and disproportionate population in relation to humans, the enclave’s days are numbered. It is expected that in a few years there will be no trace of cats, or humans.
The cat islands. The presence of cats on these islands has roots in Japan’s rural and fishing life. In the past, many islands depended on fishing and silk production, both industries prone to rodent infestations. Mice not only devoured stored food, but also posed a threat to silkworms, essential to the textile industry. So it was decided to introduce cats to control the rodent population.
Although these islands have attracted curious tourists and cat lovers, the reality is that life has not always been easy for the felines. Overpopulation has led to problems such as a lack of resources and adequate medical care for the animals, so some organizations have stepped in to help control the feline population and ensure their well-being.
The case of Aoshima. Cats were also introduced here to combat mice on fishing boats docking at the island. At its peak, Aoshima had hundreds of human residents (650 in 1960), but in recent decades, its population has declined dramatically.
However, the cat population continued to grow, vastly outnumbering humans by a ratio of more than 6:1. As the feline family grew, Aoshima became a tourist attraction, with visitors keen to observe and photograph the many felines roaming its streets.
Sterilization. In 2018, the government made the decision to begin sterilizing the animals on the recommendation of the Aoshima Cat Protection Society, which felt the population of 130 felines was too large for the island’s 13 residents to care for, especially given that the average age of the human population was about 75.
“Mommy cat”. She has been the key figure in preserving animals on the island since 2013. The elderly resident takes care of much of the animals and cleans their droppings from roads across the island on a daily basis to keep the place looking pristine for tourists.
But with tourist numbers dwindling and boat trips from the mainland cancelled during inclement weather, there is a danger that the cats will go hungry, so the 73-year-old stores food for the felines all year round to ensure they never go hungry.
Of course, the advanced age of “Mother Cat” is an indication of the time left for cats.
A premonitory message. The island’s own administration has launched a message on social media this month to raise public awareness. As they explain, “when Mama Cat leaves the island due to old age, it will be the end of Cat Island.” They even estimate that this countdown will begin in two years, and not only because of the aging of the residents, but also of the cats themselves (currently all are over seven years old and none have been born since 2018, after the mass sterilization and castration carried out).
As they also point out, “There are currently five residents on the island and as tourists stop coming to the island, there will be talk of reducing or even cancelling the regular ferry service. We believe that the cats will cross the rainbow bridge in a few years.”
Aging, again. The case of Aoshima Island is also a reflection of the demographic crisis and ageing of the population in Japan, which is particularly acute in rural areas and islands far from the big cities. In Aoshima, the decades since its peak have seen residents flee to the mainland, reaching a point of no return with the lowest level in its history.
The government has therefore taken extreme measures, from thousands of euros to move out of the cities, to offering single women a financial allowance and a husband to leave Tokyo for the countryside.
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