It’s no secret that Japan loves cats. But among the many curiosities surrounding felines, there’s one that’s been attracting tourism attention and making headlines in the local media for years. We’re talking about the “cat islands,” where the cat population has surpassed the human population, making it a rare bird. The most famous, whose history has always been linked to the relationship between humans and animals, is about to disappear forever.

News. Aoshima, located 30 minutes by ferry off the coast of Ozu City in Japan’s Ehime Prefecture, is the most well-known “cat” island along with Tashirojima. Its popularity is so great that the area has long been a tourist destination, with locals coming to see what life is like among the small population of wild cats.

But the end of life on Aoshima seems imminent. Six years after the island began neutering and castrating animals due to its disproportionate population compared to the human population, the settlement’s days are numbered. In a few years, neither cats nor humans are expected to remain.

Cat islands. The existence of cats on these islands has its roots in Japan’s rural and fishing life. In the past, many islands were based on fishing and silk production; both industries were prone to rodent infestation. Rats not only devoured stored food, but also posed a threat to the silkworms needed for the textile industry. So it was decided to introduce cats to control the rodent population.

While these islands may attract curious tourists and cat lovers, the truth is that life wasn’t always easy for the felines. Overpopulation has created problems like lack of resources and adequate medical care for the animals, so a number of organizations have stepped up to help control the cat population and ensure their well-being.

The Aoshima case. Cats were also introduced to combat rats on fishing boats that docked on the island. At its peak, Aoshima was inhabited by hundreds of people (650 in 1960), but its population has declined significantly in recent years.

However, the cat population continued to grow, far outnumbering humans by a ratio of more than 6:1. As the cat family grew, Aoshima became a tourist attraction, with visitors wanting to observe and photograph the many cats roaming the streets.

Sterilization. In 2018, the government decided to start neutering the animals on the advice of the Aoshima Cat Humane Association, which felt that the population of 130 cats was too large for the island’s 13 residents to care for, especially considering the average age of the human population, which was around 75 years old.

“Cat mom.” He has been a key figure in protecting the island’s animals since 2013. The elderly resident does most of the animal care and clears their droppings from the roads around the island every day to keep the island looking pristine for tourists.

But with fewer tourists and boat trips from the mainland cancelled due to bad weather, the cats are at risk of starving. So the 73-year-old stocks up on food for the felines throughout the year. This ensures they never go hungry.

Of course, the advanced age of “Mother Cat” also shows how much time the cats have left.

A pre-warning message. This month, the island’s government posted a message on social media to raise public awareness. As they explained, “When Mother Cat leaves the island due to old age, that will be the end of Cat Island.” They even predict that this countdown will begin in two years, not just because the residents are getting older, but because the cats are getting older as well (they are all over seven years old now, and none have been spayed or neutered since the mass mass attack in 2018).

They also stress: “There are currently five people living on the island and as tourists stop coming to the island, there will be talk of reducing or even cancelling the regular ferry services. “We think in a few years the cats will cross the rainbow bridge.”

Growing old again. The case of Aoshima Island is also a reflection of the demographic crisis and population aging that Japan is experiencing, especially in rural areas and on islands far from major cities. In Aoshima, for decades after the peak, residents fled to the mainland until it reached an irreversible situation with the lowest level in its history.

That’s why the government has taken extreme measures, from thousands of euros for leaving the cities to offering single women a financial sum and her husband to leave Tokyo in favor of the countryside.

Image | 暇・カキコ, Vidmulia, Tetsushi Kimura

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