an army of feral cats rules a remote island in southern japan, curling up in abandoned houses or strutting about in a fishing village that is overrun with felines outnumbering humans six to one originally introduced to the mile long island of aoshima to deal with mice that plagued fishermen's boats, the cats stayed on   and multiplied more than 120 cats swarm the island with only a handful of humans for company   mostly pensioners who didn't join the waves of migrants seeking work in the cities on mainland japan after the second world war scroll down for video  watching: originally introduced to the island of aoshima to deal with mice that plagued fishermen's boats, the cats stayed on   and multiplied  a daring leap: more than 120 mostly ginger cats now patrol the remote japanese island with only a handful of humans for company  company: the majority of the humans on aoshima island are pensioners who didn't  seek work on mainland japan after the second world war  never lonely: the majority of aoshima island's human residents left to work on mainland japan in the late 1940s and early 1950s  resting: the only sign of human activity now is the boatload of day trippers from the mainland, visiting what is locally known as cat island  aoshima, a 30 minute ferry ride off the coast of ehime prefecture, had been home to 900 people in 1945 the only sign of human activity now is the boatload of day trippers from the mainland, visiting what is locally known as cat island with no restaurants, cars, shops or kiosks selling snacks, aoshima is no tourist haven but cat lovers are not complaining '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 'so i'd want to come again' fangs: with no restaurants, cars, shops or kiosks selling snacks, aoshima is no tourist haven but cat lovers are not complaining  furry friend: aoshima, a 30 minute ferry ride off the coast of ehime prefecture, had been home to 900 people in 1945  everywhere you look: cats surround people as they get off a boat at the harbour on aoshima island in ehime prefecture in southern japan  a purr fect feast: a cat carries a fish on aoshima island the allure of cats is not surprising in a country that gave the world hello kitty  on the prowl: the cats of aoshima are not too picky, surviving on the rice balls, energy bars or potatoes they cadge off tourists  picturesque: an overview shows the main part of the fishing village on aoshima island in ehime prefecture in southern japan  the allure of cats is not surprising in a country that gave the world hello kitty, a cartoon character considered the epitome of cuteness cat cafes 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 the cats of aoshima are not too picky, surviving on the rice balls, energy bars or potatoes they cadge off tourists in the absence of natural predators, they roam the island without fear not all the residents are admirers, though ready to eat: a cat leaps up at the photographer to snatch his lunch on aoshima island in the ehime prefecture in southern japan  a cat sits on a wall of a derelict school on aoshima island many of the buildings on the island were abandoned after the second world war  creepy: a cat is photographed jumping off a piano in the music room of a derelict school on aoshima island  local residents haven't taken too kindly to the cat tourists they say they don't mind them coming, but want to be left in peace  abandoned playground: a tree grows around a rusty sledge outside a derelict school on aoshima island  one elderly woman shooed the animals away with a stick when they dug up her back garden locals are trying to keep the feline population in check   at least 10 cats have been neutered residents haven't taken too kindly to the tourists either they don't mind them coming, but want to be left in peace '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 ekes out a living as a fisherman 'i just hope that it's done in a way that doesn't become a burden on the people who live here'
aoshima island japanese japan the second world war
more than 120 feral cats live on aoshima island, where they have just a handful of humans for company . the cats were originally brought to the remote japanese island to kill mice living on fishermen's boats . most of the local residents left aoshima island to work on mainland japan after the second world war . but the cat population stayed and have since multiplied   meaning they now massively outnumber humans 