© Reuters

Cats are king - They prowl the island, curling up wherever the afternoon sun hits, or strutting around the quiet village.

© Reuters

The island - In 1945, the mile-long island served as a fishing village with a population of approximately 900.

© Reuters

A solution to a problem - A small colony of a few breeds of cats were originally brought over to help with pest control, particularly the abundance of mice that were plaguing fishermen’s boats.

© Reuters

The cats got off the boats - And they multiplied fast, almost at the same rate as the human population dwindled. In 2013, the island was estimated to be home to just 50 human residents.

© Reuters

But they were welcome - Residents cared for the furry creatures, and veterinarians still come to the island to check up on them.

© Reuters

Japan loves cats - Cat cafés have been popular in Tokyo for a while, catering to the feline fans who can't keep pets at home because of strict housing regulations.

© Reuters

They've left their mark - The adorable creatures have become an inseparable part of the island.

© Reuters

Every home is shared - If you've got a ledge, a doorstep, or a roof, that's free real estate for a feline.

© Reuters

Things can get a bit tight - There is only so much space on an island.

© Shutterstock

Mostly they just snooze - These island cats are, naturally, quite laid back. 

© Shutterstock

Fresh air, fish, and lots of friends - These cats have it all. 

© Shutterstock

The unique opportunity to see a community of cats - How they act when they are no longer a pet.

© Reuters

You can't go unnoticed on the island - The inquisitive eyes of cats will find you. 

© Shutterstock

A rise in tourism - The tiny island has become extremely popular online, bringing boatloads of tourists to see the phenomenon with their own eyes.

© Reuters

It's by no means a tourist haven - There are no restaurants, cars, shops, or kiosks on the island.

© Shutterstock

Thirty minute ferry ride - The island is accessible via a ferry that leaves from Port Nagahama, yet neither the trek nor the lack of tourist amenities put people off.

© Reuters

The cats aren't picky - They seem to be doing fine surviving on the rice balls, energy bars, potatoes, or fish scraps they're fed.

© Reuters

They'll love you if you feed them - But really, who wouldn't?

© Reuters

The residents are mostly retirees - Some feed the felines, and others shoo them away.

© Reuters

Aoshima isn't the only one - There are actually about a dozen “cat islands” in Japan.

© Shutterstock

Tashirojima - Another popular cat island is Tashirojima, in the Miyagi Prefecture, which has a human population of less than 100, but a much larger cat population.

© Reuters

It's a bit of a trade - The stray cat population thrives because locals believe that feeding cats will bring wealth, healing, and good fortune.

© Reuters

No dogs allowed - No dog would last on an island of feral cats.

© Shutterstock

They have no natural predators - And in the absence of threat, they roam the island without fear.

© Shutterstock

Tashirojima also wanted the mice gone - Much of the island once raised silkworms for their textiles and fishing nets, so they introduced cats to chase the pestering mice away.

© Reuters

And again, they multiplied - Over time, the cat population began to grow quickly while the human population dwindled down to less than 100 residents.

© Reuters

The humans don't mind being outnumbered - The residents and thousands of tourists who flock to the island every year genuinely enjoy the presence of cats.

© Shutterstock

The more cats there are, the more good luck - Perhaps the tourists are all in search of money and good fortune.

© Reuters

The luck of the cats has spurred many stories - Some claim that it was the cats who kept the majority of the island from being destroyed during the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

© Shutterstock

There's even a cat shrine - Known as Neko-jinja, it sits in the middle of the island, and was originally built for a cat who accidentally died when hit by a falling rock.

© Shutterstock

They're cute, but they have to stop multiplying -

The cats on the island are reportedly being spayed and neutered in order to lower the feline population, especially since the human population is seriously declining.

Interested in a feline companion of your own? Check out the best cat breeds for your home. 

© Reuters