Video: Out-Of-Control Cats Take Over Island

What began as an innocent plan to tackle mice has turned into a bizarre tourist attraction on the Japanese island of Aoshima.

A Japanese island which is home to just 22 people is being overrun by cats.
The felines were originally brought to the island of Aoshima, off Ehime prefecture, to deal with mice that were damaging fishing boats.
But with no predators, their breeding got out of control - and so far the authorities have done little about it.
There are now around 120 cats on the island, and only 10 of them have been neutered.
Village nurse and Ozu city official Atsuko Ogata holds a cat on Aoshima Island in Ehime prefecture in southern Japan
The cats have survived by foraging on local crops and food left in rubbish.
The island village, which has no shops or hotels, has come to be known as Cat Island and it is drawing crowds from the mainland on twice-daily ferries.
At its peak, the island had a population of 900, but this gradually dropped over the past 70 years as young people moved away.
Now, with the sudden surge in its popularity, some of the island's inhabitants are worried that their quiet lives are going to be disrupted.
One said: "I just hope that (tourism) doesn't become a burden on the people who live here and if so then I don't think it's a problem."

Secret Paws 2014

SECRET PAWS is organized by Truffle and Brulee's mom, Paula. Check out other participants for pawsome gift exchange stories (WARNING: Might cause fuzzy feelings and awww moments!)

Truffle and Brulee

We would also like to thank our Secret Paws this year, Hannah and Lucy! Big Meows to you!
  1. Truffle and Brulee - Sweet Purrfections - http://sweetpurrfections.blogspot.com
  2. Katie and Waffles - Glogirly:  Tails of Two Funny Cats and Their Girl -http://www.glogirly.com
  3. Summer, Boodie, and Summer - Sparkle the Designer Cat -http://www.sparklecat.com
  4. Ms. Stella O'Houligan - On a More Personal Note - http://corvus93.blogspot.com
  5. Carmine and Milita - Fur Everywhere - http://fureverywhere.blogspot.com
  6. Newton, Pierre, and Ashton - Sometimes Cats Herd You http://CatsHerdYou.com
  7. Kashim, Othello, and Salome - Three Tabbycats - http://catboys.palchens.org 
  8. Angel, Kirby, and Max - A Wizard and an Angel -http://awizardandanangel.blogspot.com
  9. Tinker, Anastasia, Chopin, Bridget - Our Church Cat Family -http://www.churchcattom.blogspot.com
  10. Astrid, Calista Josette, Fiona, Guilietta, Mauricio, Misty May - The Cat on My Head -http://TheCatOnMyHead.com
  11. Derby and Ducky - Derby and Ducky - http://derbysassycat.blogspot.
  12. Stinky, Pumpkin, Sherpa, and Harry - The Maaaaa of Pricilla -http://pricillaspeaks.com
  13. Savannah and Sage - Savannah's Paw Tracks - http://www.savannahspawtracks.com
  14. Ellie, Allie, and Raz - Friends FurEver - http://friendsfurevercatblog.blogspot.com
  15. Alice, Russell, and Scooter - Ask Fisher http://ask-fisher.com
  16. Zorro and Pixie - The Swiss Cats - http://www.swisscatblog.ch
  17. Truffles - Mochas, Mysteries and Meows - http://www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com
  18. William - Finn, Feather and Furr Gang - http://williesnapp.blogspot.com
  19. Cody - Cat Chat With Caren and Cody - http://catchatwithcarenandcody.com
  20. Domino, Odin, and Merlin - Cat Wisdom 101 - http://catwisdom101.com
  21. Rumbles and Hamlet - Rumblebum - http://rumble-bum.blogspot.com
  22. Spitty - Spitty Speaks - http://spittyspeaks.blogspot.com
  23. Toffee - DaisyMae Maus & the Feline Americans - http://DaisyMaeMaus.blogspot.com
  24. Oliver and Nubia - Katzenworld - http://katzenworld.co.uk
  25. Lucy, Sammy, Joanie, Phoebe, Prancie, Stinky, Spooky, Snowball, KaTwo, Jinxy, Millie, Penny, Tallulah, Noel, and Polar Bear - 15andmeowing -http://15andmeowing.com
  26. Annabelle and Boo - ManxMnews - http://manxmnews.blogspot.com
  27. Dorf, G.T., Smokey, Reno, Sally, Orinch, Midnight, Misty, Marmalade, and Madeline -Forty Paws - http://fortypaws.blogspot.com
  28. Sammy Meezer, Miles Meezer, Billy SweetFeets, and Nicky Meezer - Meezer Tails -http://meezertails.blogspot.com
  29. Cathy Keisha - Stunning Keisha - http://www.stunningkeisha.com
  30. Charlemagne, Tamar, and Mal - no blog, but always participates and posts on the Secret Paws page (see http://secretpaws2013.blogspot.com/2014/01/we-love-our-secret-paws-presents.html)
  31. Harvey, Dot, Sienna, Jack, Miranda, Silver, Natasha, Phoebe - Dash Kitten -http://www.DashKitten.com
  32. Agent L and Agent S - Pets in Black - http://www.petsinblack.blogspot.com
  33. Harry, Dexter, Tipp, and Willow - Cherry City Kitties -http://www.cherrycitykitties.com
  34. Sammy - One Spoiled Cat - http://onespoiledcat.wordpress.com
  35. Timmy, Toby, Buddy, Rumpy, Buttons, Fitz, Einstein - Tomcat Commentary by Tim -http://timmytomcat.blogspot.com
  36. Laila and Minchie - Cat-a-holic, Laila and Minchie - http://www.cat-a-holic.blogspot.com
  37. Delilah, Sampson, Sophie, Sassy, and Caster - Kitty Cat Chronicles -http://www.kittycatchronicles.com
  38. Tim, Tom, Mozart, Ivy, Spud, and Junior - Random Felines - http://www.random-felines.com
  39. Nibbler, Tommy, Whitefoot, and Ozzy - Momma Yvonne and Nibbler -http://mommayvonneandnibbler.blogspot.com
  40. Annabelle, Rocky, and Mickey - Purr Therapy - http://purrtherapyblog.blogspot.com
  41. Samantha Black - Life From A Cat's Perspective - http://jcfloresinc.blogspot.com
  42. Kon - No Chips for Kon - http://No-chips-for-Kon.blogspot.com
  43. Niles, Mrs. Peabody, Crepes, Sprinkle, and Louie - Cat in the Fridge -http://catinthefridge.com
  44. Charlie, Max, Ava, and Amber - Pawesome Cats - http://www.pawesomecats.com
  45. Henry and Rosie - A House with Two Cats -http://www.ahousewithtwocats.blogspot.com
  46. Jack, Muffin, Eli, Twee, Kit, Fleurp, and Skippy - Tails from the Foster Kittens -http://kittyblog.net
  47. Benny, Sadie, and Ringo - It's All About the Cats! - http://aboutthecats.blogspot.com
  48. Hannah and Lucy - Hannah and Lucy - http://myblogoffurrycreatures.blogspot.com
  49. Simba,  Ruby, Maxie - Whiskers in the Window -http://whiskersinthewindow.blogspot.com
  50. Wally, Ernie, Zoey - The Island Cats - http://island-cats.com
  51. Jasper, Josie, Huggy Bear, Maggie - Jasper McKittenCat -http://jaspermckittencat.blogspot.com
  52. Cinco, Manna - Playful Kitty - http://www.PlayfulKitty.net
  53. Munchkin, Ashlyn, Cosette - Frostin's Chronicles - http://frostinschronicles.blogspot.com/
  54. Pansy, Maxie, Mr. B. - Heaven Sent - http://hevensentmecat.blogspot.com/
  55. Spike William - Spike William's Blog - http://chinacatsblog.blogspot.com
  56. Tanner, Oliver - Four Crazy Cats - http://www.fourcrazycats.blogspot.com
  57. Raja, Maggie, Peeper - Raja Tebo - http://www.facebook.com/rajatebo
  58. Curzon, Jadzia - Us Three Coons - http://lynx217.blogspot.com
  59. Maxwell, Faraday, Allie - A Tonk's Tail - http://atonkstail.com
  60. Grizzy, Sophie - The Rosie Bee - http://therosiebee.wordpress.com
  61. Annie, Ollie, Heash, Smudge, Velcro, Major, Joplin, Momcat, LGK, Gus, Momcat2, Jughead, Gordon - Ozark Mountain Cats - http://ozark-mountin-cats.blogspot.com
  62. Orion, Sammy, Emily - Angel Junior, Orion, Sammy. and Emily -http://juniorbabee.blogspot.com

We got gifts from our Secret Paws!

Mum rarely buys toys for us (read "never") as she thinks boxes and paper balls are enough to keep us happy along with her endless hugs. What a surprise when she brought us a box all the way from Hannah and Lucy in the UK! How lucky we are! We even got a card! Thanks, Hannah and Lucy! We love you!







As Agents, we made sure to sniff around for fishy business 


Agent S: Can't..stop...rubbing...my face...on this mouse toy thing 


Agent L: Balls? For me?? Really?


The stash all unwrapped. Mum said that we have toys fit for 2 years! She's keeping them for safe keeping. We have to wear them out one by one before a new one is brought out. We protested so she agreed that we could play with the blue ball, and mouse toy thing and have them rubbed with the cat nip stickers so that our love for these toys never run out (no idea what she means....hey, .is that a paper ball over there?)

CLICK HERE to visit Hannah and Lucy's blog!

Agent L: I sleeps on the mat every night now. I love gnawing the corners! And the material is sooooo soft and comfortable

Secret Paws 2014 Pressie is Ready! #secretpaws2014

Agent L and Agent S are so excited! They managed to sniff around for a really cute gift.



If our furbuddy can't read, we're sure her mom can, hence the bookmark!

All packed and shipped out! We hope (secret recipient) likes it!

Our first #SecretPaws Secret Santa Gift Exchange


We received our #SecretPaws2014 mission two weeks ago and our secret recipient resides in the U.S! Mom says that it can't be too heavy and too big as the postage cost can escalate. Cat treats might get confiscated at customs so there goes the Scratch Post, Cat Tree and Cat Treats (sorry, secret recipient!)..what shall we buy? Decisions! Decisions!

Any ideas, dear readers? The reader with the best idea by 26 November 2014 (Wed) will receive a secret gift from us! Leave your comment below AND drop us an email with your contact details at petsinblackblog@gmail.com  :)

#SundaySelfie #CatOnMyHead



Agent L is usually quite self conscious but she agreed to take one shot of herself looking away from the camera as long as she could get a tummy rub right after.


Organic Products, How much does it Matter? #OrganicPet

WIN A YEAR OF PET FOOD!

A year’s supply of Castor & Pollux's ORGANIX  line of Cat or Dog Food will be given away to one grand prize winner starting next week, and you are eligible to win! C&P will work with the winner to figure out the right formula and amount for the winning pet!

One first place winner will receive a $100 Prize Pack full of ORGANIX goodies for their pet. Actual contents of prize pack will be determined by the brand according to whether the winner has a cat or dog. Contest runs 11/24 - 12/5 on participating pet blogs, so stay tuned! Follow the hashtag #OrganicPet for more details starting Monday, 11/24.

Meantime, check out the latest from Castor & Pollux, as consumer interest in organic food is spilling over into pets’ bowls, too!