The late station master Tama at Kishi Station. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
The late station master Tama at Kishi Station. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
Following the appointment of the new station master cat Nitama at Kishi train station in Wakayama, Japan, it's all aboard for a cat-lover's tour of fancy.
Japan's Kishi Station nearly closed down in 2004 due to lack of service — until a famous feline named Tama saved the day. Part of a group of strays that hung around the station, the cute calico was adopted by the station manager.
The cat-shaped building at Kishi Station, Japan. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
After the decision to shut down the station was withdrawn, Tama was officially made the station master — with her primary duty being to greet passengers. The position came with a special hat and in lieu of a salary, a steady diet of cat food was provided.
Hordes of visitors flocked to see the cute station master, who was credited with bringing in 1.1 billion yen ($14 million) in her first year on the job.
Sadly, Tama died this year at the age of 16, but her successor Nitama, also a tortoiseshell, was recently sworn in — and Tama was elevated to the status of a Shinto goddess.
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West, Florida
While Hemingway might be mostly known for his literary achievements, he was also a cat-lover and owned several polydactyl cats. These special felines are born with extra toes on their paws.
Visitors to his Key West home — a US National Historic Landmark — can meet actual descendants of Hemingway's cats. The author's large collection of polydactyl kitties started when he was gifted a six-toed cat by a ship captain.
A feline Hemingway descendant basks in the sun at Hemingway House. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
Although there once were concerns about the welfare about these literary critters, the museum was ordered to tag and provide shelter for the population.
Largo di Torre Argentina, Rome, Italy
This square in Rome hosts four Republican Roman temples, the remains of Pompey's Theatre and is also home to a large population of stray cats, who bask among the ruins.
Cats hang out in the ruins at Largo di Torre Argentina, in Rome. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
Approximately 250 cats live in or around the historic site, which attracts plenty of cat-loving tourists and locals, as well as history buffs. A nearby cat shelter keeps an eye out for the feline population, tending to sick cats and organising neutering programs.
Cat Cafes in Taiwan and Japan
While cat cafes are incredibly popular in Japan, the first one actually opened in Taiwan in 1998. Visitors to these cafes can enjoy a nice cup of tea, a piece of cake and some feline company.
A 'shop assistant' at a Japanese cat cafe. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
In Tokyo alone, there are at least 39 cat cafes — they're very popular due to the high degree of urban apartment living, which restricts pet ownership. However, the cat cafe craze is starting to spread around the world — there's a couple in the United States, and recently there have been efforts to open one in Auckland.
De Poezenboot, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cats and water don't usually mix, but apparently they do in Amsterdam where there's a cat shelter housed in a river boat.
The 'cat boat' in Amsterdam is home to about 50 cats. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
Called De Pozenboot, which literally translates to "cat boat", the curious shelter was founded in 1966 by cat lady Henriette can Weelde who thought if humans could live on houseboats, cats could too. The shelter has since gone through a few boats, with its current barge holding up to 50 cats.
Most cats are available for adoption and a few permanent residents live with them on the boat. It's unsurprisingly become an international tourist destination.
Japanese cat islands
Cat shrine on Tashirojima Island in Japan. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
Japan is home to two famous neko-shima, or "cat islands" — Aoshima in the Miyazaki prefecture and Tashirojima in the Miyagi prefecture, where there are more feline residents than humans.
Tashirojima once had a population of 1000, but after World War I a mass exodus meant the population dwindled. Currently, only 100 humans live on the island and 83 per cent are over 65 — but the cat population continues to grow.
Cats were originally brought to the island to control the population of mice, who would eat silkworms used to produce silk for fishing nets. A shrine honouring them stands in the middle of the island — but these days the cat's work is mostly tourism related.
Feline residents of Aoshima in Japan. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
In the lesser-known island of Aoshima, only 16 humans are permanent residents, sharing the island with hundreds of cats.
