Off the coast of Ozu City in Japan’s Ehime Prefecture is a magical little island that is home to over a hundred cats. There are only about 15 human residents there, most of whom are senior citizens.
Aoishima Island used to have a larger human population during the 1960s, when people sought refuge during World War II. However, most of them abandoned the island for the mainland, leaving their pets behind.
The cat population has flourished since then, and it seems the furry felines have claimed the island for their own. The abundance of vacant homes are excellent dwellings for the cats, and the lack of vehicles on the roads make the compound a safe place for them to reside in.
In September this year, a few pictures of the island and its furry inhabitants gained popularity on Twitter, and people became interested in the island for the first time in years.
The only way to reach the island is via a single ocean liner, which makes looping trips between Ozu and Aoshima throughout the day. Needless to say, the ship’s captain has been busy ferrying tourists from all over the nation to this island of cats.
“In case the number of visitors increases any more, we need to think about how to support the island as a cat-themed tourist attraction. We want to ensure that social order is upheld, that there is no littering, the cats are not overfed, and so on,” commented the chief clerk of the region’s promotional sector.
[via Rocket News 24 and Yahoo! Japan News]