Aoshima Cat Island: 80 Felines Outnumber Humans 36 to 1 in Japan
Aoshima, a small island in Japan, has become home to roughly 80 cats but only a handful of human residents. The cats outnumber people by nearly 36 to 1 on what locals call "Cat Island."
A tiny island off Japan's coast has turned into an unlikely home for dozens of cats. Aoshima Island in Ehime Prefecture now houses about 80 cats and just a few human caretakers.
The island wasn't always this way. Aoshima used to be a busy sardine fishing community with many more people. But over time, residents moved away to find work in bigger cities.
The cats stayed behind and kept having babies. Now they roam through empty houses and wander the quiet streets. The remaining residents take care of them with help from cat food donations that arrive from across Japan.
Aoshima isn't the only place like this. Japan has about a dozen "cat islands" where cats far outnumber people. These small communities often struggle as young people leave for city jobs.
The cats have made Aoshima famous. Visitors now come to see the unusual island where felines rule the roost.
Aoshima shows what happens when rural communities shrink as people move to cities. It's also become a unique tourist spot that draws cat lovers from around the world to see this unusual place.
The island depends on continued donations to feed the cats and support from visitors interested in this unique community.
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