Aoshima, Ehime


Aoshima, also known as Cat Island, is an island in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, known for its large number of feline residents. Felines have been reported by news outlets to outnumber humans by ratios between 6:1 and 10:1, but in recent years as elderly inhabitants of the island have died, it has skyrocketed to nearly 36:1. They were introduced to combat rodents on fishing boats, but remained on the island and reproduced in large numbers.
The island is roughly long. It was formerly part of Nagahama in Kita District, but as of 2005, is part of Ōzu.
The population decreased since Sardine Fisheries depleted and jobs moved to cities; causing human residence on the island to drop.

Population

In 1945, the island was a fishing village with a population of approximately 900. In 2013, the island was estimated to be home to 50 residents. In 2018, Ehime Shimbun reported that the population had decreased to 13 with an average age of "over 75". In 2019, Asahi Shimbun Globe reported that only 6 residents remained on the island. The island attracts tourists who visit the cats and give them food.
The feline population of the island has been reported as between 120 and 130 between 2015 and 2018.
In February 2018, it was reported by Ehime Shimbun that all cats on the island would be spayed or neutered in order to lower the feline population as a response to the declining human population. By October, 210 cats had been spayed and neutered, with another estimated 10 cats uncaptured that had been hidden by a resident who opposed the program.

Transport links

Aoshima is accessible via a ferry departing from in front of JR Iyo-Nagahama Station in Port Nagahama, which takes around 30 minutes.

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