Cats crowd the harbour on Aoshima Island (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

And so to Aoshima Island aka. Japan’s cat island, where things have got more moggilicious (yes that’s a word, try using it in a sentence today) than ever.

Aoshima island, which is just a mile long, has been a cat lovers paradise for many years now thanks to its huge population of moggies.

There are currently an estimated 120 cats on the island, which means feline residents outnumber humans by six to one.

Despite having no restaurants, shops or even a kiosk to buy a choccy bar, the island has become a tourist destination for cat lovers who flock there from the mainland.




27-year-old Aoshima Island visitor Makiko Yamasaki, explained: ‘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,’

But it seems that things may be about to change; at least 10 cats have recently been neutered and some residents are getting fed up of the constant tourist traffic.

So, if a day trip to cat island is on your bucket list, you’d better get your skates on!

A woman is surrounded by cats as she walks along the embankment on Aoshima Island (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Once upon a time there was a cat cabaret, but sadly, due to lack of funding, they had to fold.

A cat jumps off a piano in the music room of a derelict school (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

The cats survive on rice balls, energy bars or potatoes they cadge off tourists (or, in this case a sandwich nicked from a photographer!)

A cat leaps at the photographer to snatch his lunch snack (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Some of the residents have, understandably, had their fill of felines.

A local woman shoos away cats as she leaves her house (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

With no schools or jobs to go to, the cats spend their days roaming the island in gangs.

Cats walk along the embankment as a man fishes (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

And some, like this ballsy guy, even nick the fisherman’s catch.

A cat carries a fish on Aoshima Island (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

The residents of the island believe that feeding the cats will bring them good luck and wealth.

Cats crowd around village nurse and Ozu city official Atsuko Ogata as she carries a bag of cat food to the designated feeding place (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

The cats are all massive Otis Reading fans, and like nothing more than just chilling out, sitting by the dock of the bay.

Cats crowd the harbour embankment on Aoshima Island (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Most of the residents of the island are pensioners. So you know, they like the company.

Cats surround a local woman on Aoshima Island(Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Some of the cats aspire to make a name for themselves in showbiz. This one thinks he could be the next Jackie Chan.

A cat jumps for food offered by a tourist (R) as other cats beg for food (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Village nurse Atsuko Ogata is the ultimate cat woman.

Village nurse and Ozu city official Atsuko Ogata holds a cat on Aoshima Island (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Laters suckers.

Cats crowd the harbour on Aoshima Island (Picture: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

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