A visit to Cat Island

[ttt]

meshaliuknits

Go to the link for more photos:

www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/03/a-visit-to-aoshima-a-cat-island-in-japan/386647/


Aoshima Island is one of about a dozen "cat islands" around Japan, small places where there are significantly more feline residents than people. In Aoshima more than a hundred cats prowl the island, curling up in abandoned houses or strutting about in the quiet fishing village. Cats outnumber humans six to one on the island. Recently becoming popular online, tiny Aoshima has seen a steep rise in tourist visits, overwhelming the handful of permanent residents.

[meshaliuknits]

*books travel*

[pixy0stix]

The takeover has started.

[mbcdefg]

KITTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

[ttt]

MORE CAT NEWS: 


A Symphony for Cats

[savan]

I would just sit on the ground, open my arms, and hope they all come in for love.

[ajj]

I'm not even kidding, I want to live there.

[downtoearth]

This sort of freaks me out - when we were in Rome there were so many cats hanging around and a lot looked kind of sick and rubbed against you often. This island seems like way more than were hanging out at the Coliseum. Although these ones look healthier - more well fed.

 

[Deleted]

GIMME THEM KITTIES

[meshaliuknits]

Mar 4, 2015 12:30:17 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

The takeover has started.

We are welcomed with open arms as liberators.

[doxies]

Those pictures are so bizarre. Some of them look fake and I kept looking for the onion symbol at the end.

I can't imagine all those cats - crazy.

Why do some of them have collars though? Do some people have pets and they just let them out and slap a collar on them so they can find them again?

[downtoearth]

Oh and I keep imagining cats just skydiving onto the island to take it over?

[Deleted]

I want to lay down on the ground and have kitties perch all over me.

[pixy0stix]

Mar 4, 2015 12:34:00 GMT -5 doxies said:

Why do some of them have collars though? Do some people have pets and they just let them out and slap a collar on them so they can find them again?

I'm looking. One story says that the residence may be trying to limit the population, so those cats might be altered.

[mbcdefg]

Mar 4, 2015 12:33:27 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

This sort of freaks me out - when we were in Rome there were so many cats hanging around and a lot looked kind of sick and rubbed against you often. 

 

[ringstrue]

Uh yes I hope they are doing TNR or something similar.

I dunno to me this is so sad. Some of them have bad eyes/noses which could mean they were in fights or have fleas really bad. Unaltered males get larger skulls if left intact which a few seem to have. Some of their tails are "docked" - I'm guessing those were accidents vs. owner choice.

This is why I can't go places with roaming animals.

[pixy0stix]

Mar 4, 2015 12:49:47 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Uh yes I hope they are doing TNR or something similar.

They're not really. The articles indicate that only 10 cats on the island are altered.

[downtoearth]

Mar 4, 2015 12:51:49 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Mar 4, 2015 12:49:47 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Uh yes I hope they are doing TNR or something similar.

They're not really. The articles indicate that only 10 cats on the island are altered.

There is also an obvious picture in the link that shows one cat who is proudly not fixed.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

I can feel my allergies kicking in through the computer screen.

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2015 13:06:44 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Mar 4, 2015 12:51:49 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

They're not really. The articles indicate that only 10 cats on the island are altered.

There is also an obvious picture in the link that shows one cat who is proudly not fixed.

That cat is boss*












*Please spay/neuter your pets

[downtoearth]

Mar 4, 2015 13:08:33 GMT -5 @fucksticklegit said:

That cat is boss*












*Please spay/neuter your pets

[mbcdefg]

Mar 4, 2015 13:06:44 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Mar 4, 2015 12:51:49 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

They're not really. The articles indicate that only 10 cats on the island are altered.

There is also an obvious picture in the link that shows one cat who is proudly not fixed.

There was a cute orange cat like that who would wander around my college campus. We all called him Nutty. 

[karinothing]

I love cats, but I bet that island is very smelly

[mrsukyankee]

I may not be able to go there, but I am going to Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium as soon as I can (you have to book).  I can't wait!
(click on the kitty cam)

[Michelle]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv5RICL4gIs

[AJL]

[meshaliuknits]

Mar 4, 2015 13:24:09 GMT -5 AJL said:

Safe assumption with all cats.

[cohmom]

The kitties are so cute but I wonder about if there is adequate care for injured/sick kitties. Are they vaxed and is there an active management program? I know that vasectomizing a few dominant males can sometimes keep the population in check. I have done a few spay/neuter clinics in the Caribbean for dogs and I really think that islands (where geography is self-limiting) are places where population control is really possible. 

[sparrowsong]

Japan has a rabbit island and a fox island too. Japan is weird.