Cat Island, Aoshima, Japan

People first migrated to the 11 acre island of Aoshima 380 years ago and established a fishing village, bringing cats to deal with mice that plagued fishermen’s boats.

The main part of the fishing village on Aoshima Island, photographed on February 25, 2015.    Thomas Peter/Reuters

The main part of the fishing village on Aoshima Island, photographed on February 25, 2015. Thomas Peter/Reuters

The island, a 30-minute ferry ride off the coast of Ehime prefecture, was home to 900 people in 1945. Now, more than 120 cats swarm the island with fewer than 20 humans, all pensioners aged between 50 and 80. As the human population decreased, the cat breeding went unchecked. According to Japan Daily Press, islanders said cat numbers began to shoot up about a decade ago.

Cats hanging out in Aoshima

Cats hanging out at the harbour on Aoshima Island in the Ehime prefecture in southern Japan. Reuters: Thomas Peter

Residents of the tiny island say they do not mind the intrusion of gawking tourists, as long as they are left in peace.

Aoshima Island has become a tourist hotspot, with hundreds of catlovers making trips daily.    Reuters: Thomas Peter

Aoshima Island has become a tourist hotspot, with hundreds of catlovers making trips daily. Reuters: Thomas Peter

The allure of cats is not surprising in a country that gave the world Hello Kitty, and cat cafes that have long been popular in Tokyo, catering to fans who can’t keep the animals at home because of strict housing regulations that often forbid pets.

Cats greet tourists as they get off a boat at the harbour on Aoshima Island, known to locals as 'Cat Island'.    Reuters: Thomas Peter

I Cats greet tourists as they get off a boat at the harbour on Aoshima Island, known to locals as ‘Cat Island’. Reuters: Thomas Peter

Now, boatloads of tourists from the mainland descend daily on Aoshima, visiting what is locally known as Cat Island. The cats of Aoshima are not too picky, surviving on the rice balls, energy bars or potatoes they get from tourists. “There is a ton of cats here, then there was this sort of cat witch who came out to feed the cats which was quite fun,” said 27-year-old Makiko Yamasaki. “I’d want to come again.”

Village nurse and Ozu city official Atsuko Ogata carries a bag of cat food to the designated feeding place on Aoshima Island.

Village nurse and Ozu city official Atsuko Ogata carries a bag of cat food to the designated feeding place on Aoshima Island.

“If people coming to the island find the cats healing, then I think it’s a good thing,” said 65-year-old Hidenori Kamimoto, who makes a living as a fisherman.

ABC Australia, March 2015

current World’s Oldest Cat

The main indicator of whether a cat will live long or not, is if the cat lives indoors or outdoors.

“Indoor cats generally live from 12 – 18 years of age. Many may live to be in their early 20s. The oldest reported cat was 28 years old at the time of death.

“Outdoor cats generally live to be around four to five years of age. Their deaths are typically due to traumas such as being hit by a car or dog attacks. Outdoor cats are also more susceptible to several deadly viruses that are spread by fighting or prolonged intimate contact with an infected cat.”

Tiffany Two is celebrating her birthday today, according to Guinness World Records. Turning 27 years young today, Friday the 13th, Tiffany’s birthday comes just a month after Guinness announced that Tiffany claimed the official title of Oldest Cat Living February 6. Another cat-human duo dispute the title, according to the Telegraph.
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Tiffany Two and her human companion, Sharron Voorhees, are thrilled to celebrate the special day together in their San Diego, CA, home.

According to Guinness, Tiffany Two was born on this date in 1988, which makes her 27 in cat years and 125 in “human years.” Tiffany was born with the black and orange fur combination known as tortoiseshell, and her colorization is reminiscent of Halloween.

Six weeks after her birth, Voorhees bought Tiffany for $10 from a San Diego pet shop and gave her the name “as something of a tribute” to a cat she owned previously with similar markings.

Described as a “feisty” cat that’s “had many boyfriends over the years” by her human companion, Tiffany Two and Voorhees have spent every moment together ever since, according to ABC News.

“Tiffy’s just so devoted to me, she doesn’t want to leave me.” Voorhees, 73, said to ABC News. “But I think it could also have to do with her size. She’s only six pounds, and I know smaller dogs live longer than older dogs.”

Voorhees believes that the reason Tiffany has lived so long is because of her small size, and because of the devotion she feels for her feline friend.
Voorhees may be right about Tiffany not wanting to leave her. According Richard Goldstein, DVM, in an interview with the Cornell Feline Health Center, older cats “need more emotional support as they age.” Dr. Goldstein is an assistant professor of small animal medicine at Corbell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“They [older cats] may become more dependent on relationships and require more attention. It may be harder for them to deal with changes,” according to Dr. Goldstein.

Voorhees mentioned that Tiffany Two lives inside, but that she goes outside when she feels like it, according to ABC News. She also says that Tiffany is, “not feeble and still able to go up and down stairs.”

While Tiffany Two is celebrating her birthday as the official “Oldest Cat Living,” another cat companion duo say they should hold the title instead, according to the Telegraph.

Asa Wickberg says she found her feline companion, Missan, in 1985, which would make her at least 29 – and older than Tiffany Two.

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The Swedish duo live together in Karlskoga and while Missan suffered from recent illness, Wickberg believes she will easily reach the ripe old age of 30, according to the Telegraph.

Wickberg and some media outlets routinely dub Missan as the “Unofficial Oldest Cat” even though Guinness World Records doesn’t recognize the feline as such. To date, neither Missan’s human companion Wickberg, nor the media have followed up on whether the duo has been able to prove Missan’s age or not.

Both Tiffany Two and Missan are certainly long-lived, but neither cat comes close to the world record for Oldest Cat that ever lived.

That honor goes to Creme Puff, according to Guinness.

Creme Puff, who lived with her companion, Jake Perry, in Austin, TX, passed away at 38-years-and-three-days-old, claimed the Oldest Cat Living title while alive, and after her passing claimed Oldest Cat that ever lived.

Guinness crowned Tiffany Two as the official Oldest Cat Living upon Creme Puff’s passing.

[Photo Credit: ABC News via YouTube]

Love My Cat: the sweetest cat ever

Steve and Bear: paws on face

Steve with Bear before she was sick

Sad sad news: on Sunday February 22, 2015, we lost our beloved Kitty Bear, the sweetest cat ever. We had to make the awful decision to let her go. She had a sudden and drastic decline, and we felt the loving thing to do was to make the incredibly painful decision to let her go. Bear had CKD (chronic kidney disease) which is a fatal, incurable disease. She survived for 14 months via sub Q fluids, and various other medications. Her sub Q fluids began as an every other day treatment, but it was increased to everyday. Eventually, she received the sub Q fluid injections twice a day, which occurred for the last several months of Bear’s life. During the 14 months of Bear’s illness, she suffered two crashes – the description of how a cat can be abruptly and sometimes fatally effected by CKD. Thanks to Dr.Turetsky and Dr.Katz, and Barbara Grimes, from The Veterinary Clinic of East Hampton, for taking such loving care of her. A special thank you to Bridget Behan, who took care of Bear for a year, coming to our house to give her the life saving injections, and showing up twice a day for months, also from The Veterinary Clinic of East Hampton.

She was such a sweet, loving Bear.

We miss you, sweetheart

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Helen Keller’s pet cat

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Helen Keller’s pet cat was named Mittens. She loved her cat, but Helen Keller’s pet was a dog-cat. Say what? Helen Keller and Mittens had a strong bond which we pet owners know all about. We also know cats are loyal, loving, affectionate, playful, devoted (like dogs) so meow Mittens,  Helen Keller’s pet dog-cat.

Helen Keller's cat

love is blind

My Kitty Care says love to love our pets: cats, dogs, dog-cats…
thanks Joan Heller

Juno – New York City blizzard cat

Juno creates cat

This past week, New York got a slap from Juno, the blizzard that struck on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. So yesterday, Mike Cohen took a walk in New York City (looks like photo was taken on 5 Ave. side of Central Park) when he saw a snow white cat ON a tree. A cat created by Juno.

20150130-134008.jpgJust goes to show that some cats like to climb trees, and be in them. Others, like this snow cat likes to be on them.

Thanks Bobby Shubowitz for submitting your friend’s photo.