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 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 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

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.

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.

“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