Move over fidget toys, there is a better way to relieve stress. Although you could always go to a shrink, we suggest visiting Aoshima – The Japanese Island of Cats. Cat Island is one of the strangest places on earth, and is one of the more peculiar consequences of the silk trade. Prior to being overtaken by cats, the island was known for the prized silkworms that inhabited the area. Unfortunately, the worms shared Aoshima with mice, who were their natural predators. In order to preserve Cat Island’s silk worm populations, cats were brought in to prey on the mice, therefore increasing Japan’s silk output. Today, there are thousands of cats on the island outnumbering the 100 permanent (human) residents 10 to 1.
Cat Island
