Experts revealed that Aoshima, the famous cat island in Japan, may be completely without cats in a few years.
The announcement came six years after the island began sterilizing and neutering the animals, following a recommendation from the Aoshima Cat Protection Society, which deemed the feline population of 130 animals too large for the 13 residents of the island to care for, especially since the average age of the residents was 75 years.
Today, the island has only 5 human residents, and a 73-year-old woman who calls herself “Cat Mama” is responsible for ensuring that the felines are always well-fed. However, due to her advanced age, the days of the cat paradise are numbered.
In a social media post, she expressed her concerns: “When ‘Cat Mama’ leaves the island due to old age, that will be the end of Cat Island.”
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Aoshima estimates that there are only two years left for Cat Island, and it’s not just due to the aging residents, as the cats are also aging, with all of them now over seven years old. In 1960, the island was busier, with 655 human residents.
However, in the following decades, residents moved to the mainland, leaving a much larger population of felines than humans. On Cat Island, the streets are overcrowded with cats, but the homes are abandoned.
“It’s sad, but… there’s nothing to be done. I didn’t know there were only five people on the island. I would love to visit,” said a user on X. “So this is what happened to Cat Island. It’s hard when the cats keep increasing, but it’s sad to see them go,” lamented another.
“It’s sad not to be able to see the cats anymore, but it’s the right choice,” admitted a third internet user. “I’ve always wanted to go to Cat Island. I think even places like this are aging. I hope all the kitties are happy,” added another.
Photo and video: Instagram @visitjapanth. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
