No Dogs Allowed On Cat Island

Imagine living in a place where cats out number humans and there are no barking dogs to keep you awake at night. Welcome to Tashiro- Jima Island, otherwise known as Cat Island.  You will find about 100 permanent human residents on the island and literally hundreds and hundreds of cats - and the number is growing.

The tradition of cats on the island dates back to the 1800's when fisherman visiting the island developed a fondness for the felines and believed that feeding the cats would bring them great wealth and fortune. That belief continues to this day..

As the population of cats grows, dogs are prohibited from coming to the island, according to the Sankei News. Many of the cats are friendly and will approach visitors in search of scraps. There are at least 10 cat shrines, and 51 cat-shaped monuments, and cat-shaped buildings, complete with ears on the roof.

I like cats as much as the next guy, but living around this many cats isn't my idea of paradise. Here's a look at some of the cats on Cat Island.