Cats rule on Cat Island

MANILA, Philippines - I was told by my brother Peter that there is an island in Japan what is known as “Cat Island. ” This conversation came about after he had visited our house a few weeks back and was amazed at my little cattery.

I told him that I was moved each time I saw a kitten untended to in the streets.

“When I was in Japan recently I heard about Cat Island,” Peter said. “The cats are cared for by the older people who live there. Maybe you can build a cat island, too?”

“I wish,” came my quick reply.

I did some research on the Net and here is what I learned about the Cat Island in Japan from www.examiner.com.

“While it is well-known that ancient Egyptians worshipped cats, most people are unaware that feral cats are so revered on Tashiro-jima (a small island in Miyagi Prefecture), Japan that there are now more than 10 shrines devoted to the felines and as many as 51 stone monuments as well as numerous buildings in the shape of cats (complete with “ears”) located in the southern area near where silkworm farms once reigned. According to historic records, the cats were originally brought there by silkworm farmers in order to control the island’s mouse population. The rodents are natural hunters of silkworms.

“The cats were later ‘adopted’ as good luck symbols by fixed-net fisherman who arrived on Tashiro-jima after the Edo period (1603-1868) and soon came to view their actions as predictions about weather and fish patterns. They also believed that feeding the cats would bring wealth and good fortune. It certainly worked that way for the felines, which now number in the thousands.

“Today Tashiro-jima is commonly known as ‘Cat Island.’ It is also home to about 100 humans, most over the age of 65, who reside in one of two villages there, Nitoda and Oodomari. No dogs allowed.”