Mysterious Mass Disappearance of Cats on Japan's Ehime "Cat Island" Sparks Concern Among Residents

Aoshima, a small island in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, famously known as "Cat Island" due to its feline population outnumbering humans, has recently been the subject of distressing news. According to the cat island blog "Cat Island Aoshima Story", on the evening of November 10 at 6:40 PM, a report was issued stating that more than half of the cats on the island mysteriously disappeared.

Originally home to about 120 cats, approximately 60 cats suddenly went missing. Residents of the island recalled that a "can party" (a feeding event) was held that morning, but by nightfall, many of the participating cats had vanished without a trace. The cause of this collective disappearance was unknown, and no cat remains were found, causing significant worry among both the island's residents and online followers. Concerns ranged from the possibility of malicious individuals taking the cats, to fears that the cats might be fleeing from an impending disaster. Another hypothesis was that a contagious cat flu might have driven the cats to hide inside abandoned houses.

Nearly a week later, on November 14, the blog and its Facebook page shared reassuring news. Thanks to investigations by local council members and social workers, it was confirmed that a large outbreak of contagious cat flu had caused the sick cats to hide away. Fortunately, the vast majority of the cats have since recovered and reappeared on the island.

Despite the relief brought by the cats' return, a few cats sadly succumbed to the illness. While the community is grateful for the recovery of most cats, the loss of those few has left the islanders deeply saddened.