Cat Island Thursday 27-Friday July 28
- shelleyaug6
- Aug 3, 2023
- 3 min read
Cat Island in July, and it's hhhhhhhot! The cats are melted in the heat.
This is Tashirojima Island.
A fishing island with a self-sustaining cat population. At some point, they figured out there are tourists who would pay to see an island full of cats. There is evidence that this Island used to be full of people and cats. Now, it's a lot more empty.
The staff from our cabin came and met us at the dock and took our luggage up to the cabins. Then we started a slow walk to the cabin, in too much sun. After an hour, we found a coffee shop with shaved ice. Cooled off, we asked for directions.
There is some old signage around town, but they can lead to trails that are completely overgrown.
When we finally did get to the cabin, we needed showers and a nap.
We did see cats in the village. Mostly, they looked hot and uncomfortable and not very photogenic. Also, kinda mangy (manage is a parasite. The cats scratch bald spots). We counted eighteen the first night.
I went out in the evening on the road leading West. Abandoned tuk-tuks in the forest. A camping area that hasn't been used in quite a while. Signs for trails where the trails are unfindable.
If someone was thinking "Oh! A tropical island with a forest full of cats!" they would discover they are wrong. The cats are where the humans are. At least, no forest cats appeared for me.
I did find this one black bobtail cat near the cabin after I came back.
Next morning. Trying again! It's cooler, and I'm taking a road closer to the village. And there are actually some cats!
I reached the Cat Shrine! Not the only cat shrine I saw on the island. But the others look abandoned. Lots of empty houses here too. If someone wanted to retire to a cat island and tend it, there are lots of spots that need tending.
There is a restaurant and gift shop near the main cat shrine. It is in the old elementary school. So at some point, this island had enough kids to support a school, but not anymore.
The resturant owner feeds his cats lunch at noon. The other places on the island also feed lunch at noon. I saw about fourty cats here. He has a favorite long haired older cat that gets to come inside and eat lunch before the main lunchtime.
Another visit to the shrine. The cats have switched which one gets to guard from the steps.
There was a crow on the red fence. The cat was not amused.
This chowder of cats was outside one guy's house at a road intersection. The numbers varied each time I came through, but there were always some there.
Lillian went into the village and stayed at the coffee shop instead of wandering in the sweltering forest with me. She had curry for lunch with a cat face. And a beautiful view to from from.
One more hot cat (sourrounded by hot tourists) when we left around 2:00.
Would I go there again? Not in July.
Was it a cat dream come true to me? No, sadly. There used to be a vet who came out and took care of the cats. I don't know if he still does. I saw sick ones. There used to be a non-profit corp that was in charge of the cats. I know that's disbanded. The self-populating group means there is always more, but the gene pool is limited. Not the best situation, sadly.
12,000 steps Thursday.
14,500 steps Friday.
Comments