Tashirojima, also called The Cat Island, is a small island in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan on the northern coast of Japan.

The human population there is near 100, but the cats number is more than 800. The cat population is so large due to the local belief that feeding cats will bring wealth and good fortune. It is so from the past, when the local islanders raised silkworms for silk, and cats were kept in order to keep the mouse population (mice are natural predators of silkworms) down. By the way, if you want to visit the Cat Island, just remember to leave your dogs at home as no dogs are allowed on the island.

• Garfi – the angry cat
• 15 magnificent cats endangered from nature
• This cat motivates better than anyone
• OldPicz: Japan, 1950-1960s