Welcome to 'Cat Heaven Island': Inside the Japanese fishing village where felines far outnumber the human population (and dogs are banned, naturally)
By ASHLEY COLLMAN
PUBLISHED: 01:53 GMT, 24 November 2013 | UPDATED: 05:02 GMT, 24 November 2013
The Japanese island of Tashirojima is the ideal vacation spot for cat ladies. That's because the small fishing community of 100 is so dwarfed by the local feline population that the island has been nicknamed 'Cat Heaven Island'.
Photographer Fubirai recently captured some of the island's feline residents napping in alleys, bugging fishermen for a snack and just generally prowling around town. Cats were first brought to the island to keep mice at bay from the silkworm farms. But when industry left the island, so did the human population.
That's when the cat population boomed. The locals feed and care for the semi-feral cats believing it will being them good luck and prosperity. The fishermen also believe that the cats help predict weather patterns.
The island has now become a popular tourist destination for people coming to see the cats. If you ever have the chance to visit the island, note that dogs are not welcome. Apparently no canines live on the island, and bringing them is frowned upon.
Cats rule: On the Japanese island of Tashirojima, cats far outnumber the human population of 100
Protectors: Cats were first brought to the island to aid the silkworm industry. They kept mice away from the farms
Gone: Eventually industry left the island and only a small mostly-fishermen population remained
Takeover: After most of the humans left, the cat population began to grow
Do you have a license? Cats think they can do anything on this island - including driving!
Lucky charms: The cat population is nurtured by the humans who feed them for good luck and prosperity
No dogs allowed: Apparently no dogs live on the island and canines are prohibited from visiting
Vacation: In recent years, the island has become somewhat of a tourist destination for cat-lovers who come to photograph the 'locals'
Out for a stroll: Two cats prowl around on a sunny day
Looking for a snack? A pack of cats follow a local by the beach
Pictured: Japanese photographer Fubirai visited the island to document the feline population
Breaking and entering: It looks like this pack of cats is up to no good, trying to get into a local's house
Launched: A cat jumps off a boat in an attempt to get back on the dock
PUBLISHED: 01:53 GMT, 24 November 2013 | UPDATED: 05:02 GMT, 24 November 2013
The Japanese island of Tashirojima is the ideal vacation spot for cat ladies. That's because the small fishing community of 100 is so dwarfed by the local feline population that the island has been nicknamed 'Cat Heaven Island'.
Photographer Fubirai recently captured some of the island's feline residents napping in alleys, bugging fishermen for a snack and just generally prowling around town. Cats were first brought to the island to keep mice at bay from the silkworm farms. But when industry left the island, so did the human population.
That's when the cat population boomed. The locals feed and care for the semi-feral cats believing it will being them good luck and prosperity. The fishermen also believe that the cats help predict weather patterns.
The island has now become a popular tourist destination for people coming to see the cats. If you ever have the chance to visit the island, note that dogs are not welcome. Apparently no canines live on the island, and bringing them is frowned upon.
Cats rule: On the Japanese island of Tashirojima, cats far outnumber the human population of 100
Protectors: Cats were first brought to the island to aid the silkworm industry. They kept mice away from the farms
Gone: Eventually industry left the island and only a small mostly-fishermen population remained
Takeover: After most of the humans left, the cat population began to grow
Do you have a license? Cats think they can do anything on this island - including driving!
Lucky charms: The cat population is nurtured by the humans who feed them for good luck and prosperity
No dogs allowed: Apparently no dogs live on the island and canines are prohibited from visiting
Vacation: In recent years, the island has become somewhat of a tourist destination for cat-lovers who come to photograph the 'locals'
Out for a stroll: Two cats prowl around on a sunny day
Looking for a snack? A pack of cats follow a local by the beach
Pictured: Japanese photographer Fubirai visited the island to document the feline population
Breaking and entering: It looks like this pack of cats is up to no good, trying to get into a local's house
Launched: A cat jumps off a boat in an attempt to get back on the dock
