Peek inside Japan's surreal island of cats -

Aoshima Island, or “Cat Island,” is a small slice of land in the Ehime Prefecture of southern Japan, and it's one of the few places on Earth where there are significantly more feline residents than humans. Cats actually outnumber humans six to one!

Check out this gallery to get a glimpse of the cat lover's paradise.

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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

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Aoshima isn't the only one -

There are actually about a dozen “cat islands” in Japan.

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.

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Tashirojima - The stray cat population thrives because locals believe that feeding cats will bring wealth, healing, and good fortune.

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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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 Common myths about cats, debunked. 

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