Inside the world’s most famous cat islands, you won’t believe exist

When we think of islands, pictures of tropical beaches, fishing towns, and beautiful nature come to mind first. But there are quite a few islands that gained their fame because of cats that freely live on them. These islands house huge numbers of cats, even outnumbering the number of local human inhabitants. Such islands attract visitors from all over the world interested in meeting their favorite pets. Each of the following cat islands has its own unique history and relationship with the cats that inhabit it.

Aoshima is the most famous cat island in the world. Being a tiny fishing village, it hosts many more cats than humans. At first, the introduction of cats on the island was done for the purpose of controlling mice, which could destroy the fishermen's gear and food. Nowadays, tourists visiting this place see dozens of cats roaming freely on the streets and on the docks. Despite increasing tourism, the development of the island remained at its minimum; hence, you can explore the untouched beauty of this small island by ferry.

This cat island, located in Japan, is famous for its cultural traditions related to cats bringing prosperity. Initially, farmers raised cats to protect the silkworm farms from rats. Gradually, people developed respect towards cats and built a special little shrine to them. Now, people who live here and cats co-exist peacefully, and visitors who come to this island find themselves surrounded by cats.

Although this place is not officially called a cat island, it is included in lists of places where there are many cats. This Turkish town is known for its amazing relationship between people and stray cats. There, you can find plenty of such cats sleeping and lounging in the open air. Moreover, the residents give food and shelter to homeless cats, thus creating the atmosphere of the sanctuary for these beautiful animals.

This is one of the most beautiful cat islands located in Hawaii. Contrary to other places mentioned, Lanai is known for its big cat sanctuary, which houses hundreds of cats. People founded this sanctuary to ensure the safety of the cats and native species of local wildlife. Hence, Lanai allows its visitors to meet the cats and learn about the conservation efforts for animals.

Famous for its cats, but less popular among tourists than Aoshima and Tashirojima, Ainoshima is still a perfect place for cat fans to visit. It is located close to the big city of Fukuoka. This little island has beautiful coastal views, which attract visitors. However, this place became known due to friendly cats that can be found everywhere around the village: they sit next to fishing boats or wait for guests near the streets.