The cats are safe!
March 16, 2011 3:10 PM Subscribe
Cat Island is Safe, Needs Supplies The people of Cat Island have a long history with cats:
A little history of the place and some pre-diaster pictures of adorable cat shaped houses
A little history of the place and some pre-diaster pictures of adorable cat shaped houses
No thread on an island in the Pacific is complete without asking the following:
Yes, but what about Pen Island?
posted by thanotopsis at 3:25 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yes, but what about Pen Island?
posted by thanotopsis at 3:25 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
aww, cute!
I sent some cash to the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support group mentioned in the article... hope it helps.
posted by vorfeed at 3:35 PM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
I sent some cash to the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support group mentioned in the article... hope it helps.
posted by vorfeed at 3:35 PM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Good! ت thanks for doing that. I am sure it will. The saddest things about mega- disasters is what happens toblittle children and what happens to animals.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 3:40 PM on March 16, 2011
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 3:40 PM on March 16, 2011
The small island in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, is home to at least 100, mostly elderly, people and many more cats, which are valued for their beauty, companionship, and ability to keep the rodent population down in this fishing area.
...
The people and cats are safe but short of food.
I'll admit, I'm a little scared for the people there.
posted by jabberjaw at 4:04 PM on March 16, 2011 [10 favorites]
...
The people and cats are safe but short of food.
I'll admit, I'm a little scared for the people there.
posted by jabberjaw at 4:04 PM on March 16, 2011 [10 favorites]
The saddest things about mega- disasters is what happens toblittle children and what happens to animals.
I'm with you on the children thing! And anything that encourages people to donate to charity is wonderful. But, let's not seriously elevate the plight of some cats (who would probably thrive in a post-apocalyptic wilderness) above the despair and mortal peril of actual human beings.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:19 PM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm with you on the children thing! And anything that encourages people to donate to charity is wonderful. But, let's not seriously elevate the plight of some cats (who would probably thrive in a post-apocalyptic wilderness) above the despair and mortal peril of actual human beings.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:19 PM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
What about the bunny island?
Ookunoshima is in Hiroshima Prefecture, in the Inland Sea -- it's several hundred miles from the Sendai area. From what I've heard, that area wasn't directly affected by the earthquake or tsunami, so the bunnies should be OK.
posted by vorfeed at 4:25 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ookunoshima is in Hiroshima Prefecture, in the Inland Sea -- it's several hundred miles from the Sendai area. From what I've heard, that area wasn't directly affected by the earthquake or tsunami, so the bunnies should be OK.
posted by vorfeed at 4:25 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Images of destroyed, abandoned toys in the wake of disasters always get to me. I remember in the ways after Katrina, being aware of the devastation, but it wasn't until I saw a picture of a filthy, destroyed little dark skinned doll half submerged in water that I actually starting crying. Just the idea of a childhood that's now over, or radically changed, and a doll that's never going to be enjoyed in the same way. . . God, it's too much.
Just a few days ago, thinking about all the stuffed Totoros that are out there had me fighting back tears.
posted by Ideal Impulse at 4:35 PM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
Just a few days ago, thinking about all the stuffed Totoros that are out there had me fighting back tears.
posted by Ideal Impulse at 4:35 PM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
What about the bunny island?
It's a mansion and they are used to getting shaken out of bed.
posted by I love you more when I eat paint chips at 5:04 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's a mansion and they are used to getting shaken out of bed.
posted by I love you more when I eat paint chips at 5:04 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
I never knew about Rabbit Island. Cool.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:37 PM on March 16, 2011
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:37 PM on March 16, 2011
@ East Manitoba, no intention of detracting from the human tragedy.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:39 PM on March 16, 2011
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 5:39 PM on March 16, 2011
"I'm with you on the children thing! And anything that encourages people to donate to charity is wonderful. But, let's not seriously elevate the plight of some cats (who would probably thrive in a post-apocalyptic wilderness) above the despair and mortal peril of actual human beings."
Really? You decided to use this moment to lecture us and shit upon the idea that beings other than humans are worthy of dignity and respect, safety and care?
No one "elevated the plight of some cats above" anything, unless you consider bringing their plight to the attention of anyone as "elevating" it.
I like humans as much as the next human. But I hate straw-men.
posted by sutt at 5:59 PM on March 16, 2011 [20 favorites]
Really? You decided to use this moment to lecture us and shit upon the idea that beings other than humans are worthy of dignity and respect, safety and care?
No one "elevated the plight of some cats above" anything, unless you consider bringing their plight to the attention of anyone as "elevating" it.
I like humans as much as the next human. But I hate straw-men.
posted by sutt at 5:59 PM on March 16, 2011 [20 favorites]
Do the Japanese people have more individual animal islands? Monkey Island? Platypus Island? Giraffe Island?
I already know about Monster Island.
posted by JHarris at 6:40 PM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
I already know about Monster Island.
posted by JHarris at 6:40 PM on March 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
No one "elevated the plight of some cats above" anything
I'm sorry! I thought somebody did that, and I directly quoted them. My mistake!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:41 PM on March 16, 2011
I'm sorry! I thought somebody did that, and I directly quoted them. My mistake!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:41 PM on March 16, 2011
I want to live on Cat Island! (You can tell because some of this footage looks like my apartment during foster season.)
posted by troublewithwolves at 8:50 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by troublewithwolves at 8:50 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
@ East Manitoba...
You're quote was of a comment. Katjusa was responding with his/her personal feelings regarding a disaster. I think you're reading into things to say that cats are being elevated above people there. It's sad when kids are affected by natural disasters and it's sad when animals are affected, too. They aren't in a competition for saddest event.
Personally, I think anything that helps people to connect on a personal level with such a huge sweeping event like and earthquake & tsunami, and encourages them to reach out and help, is a good thing.
posted by anotherkate at 9:02 PM on March 16, 2011
You're quote was of a comment. Katjusa was responding with his/her personal feelings regarding a disaster. I think you're reading into things to say that cats are being elevated above people there. It's sad when kids are affected by natural disasters and it's sad when animals are affected, too. They aren't in a competition for saddest event.
Personally, I think anything that helps people to connect on a personal level with such a huge sweeping event like and earthquake & tsunami, and encourages them to reach out and help, is a good thing.
posted by anotherkate at 9:02 PM on March 16, 2011
I want to live on Cat Island! (You can tell because some of this footage looks like my apartment during foster season.)
If that post was eponysterical, than I think that would be a good move for you.
More seriously, you're violating cultural norms by implying Kitty! without providing pictures of Kitty!
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:34 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
If that post was eponysterical, than I think that would be a good move for you.
More seriously, you're violating cultural norms by implying Kitty! without providing pictures of Kitty!
posted by sebastienbailard at 9:34 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Going to the video tape...there is a bob-tailed cat somewhere on that island that got around, y'all.
posted by maryr at 9:34 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 9:34 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, the bobtail thing is a common trait in cats throughout Japan, not just on Cat Island. Tri-color (calico) cats are much more common in Japan than elsewhere, also.
posted by vorfeed at 10:01 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by vorfeed at 10:01 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
There was a picture of a black cat at twilight, sitting on some debris, floating amid the tsunami wreckage. I am not a praying man, but I pray for that little guy.
posted by Xoebe at 10:15 PM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Xoebe at 10:15 PM on March 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
"I'm sorry! I thought somebody did that, and I directly quoted them. My mistake!"
Uh, yeah... no. No, you didn't. You directly quoted someone unequivocally not doing that.
posted by sutt at 3:53 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Uh, yeah... no. No, you didn't. You directly quoted someone unequivocally not doing that.
posted by sutt at 3:53 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I like humans as much as the next human. But I hate straw-men
I was rather partial to Worzel Gummidge once upon a time. You leave straw-men out of this.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:05 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was rather partial to Worzel Gummidge once upon a time. You leave straw-men out of this.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:05 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
"You leave straw-men out of this."
What can I say? Hatahs gotta hate.
posted by sutt at 6:12 AM on March 17, 2011
What can I say? Hatahs gotta hate.
posted by sutt at 6:12 AM on March 17, 2011
I'm so glad that the day I learned about Cat Island is the same day I learned that it survived the earthquake and tsunami!
This reminds me that Maru is okay.
Today I also learned that one wants to be careful to be geographically precise when referring to Cat Island.
Turns out there's a Cat Island in Mississippi. During WWII the US Military used it as a base for their efforts to train military dogs to detect and attack Japanese people. Yikes!
posted by ErikaB at 10:15 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
This reminds me that Maru is okay.
Today I also learned that one wants to be careful to be geographically precise when referring to Cat Island.
Turns out there's a Cat Island in Mississippi. During WWII the US Military used it as a base for their efforts to train military dogs to detect and attack Japanese people. Yikes!
posted by ErikaB at 10:15 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
As for the derail: empathy is not a zero-sum game.
posted by ErikaB at 10:24 AM on March 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by ErikaB at 10:24 AM on March 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
There a Cat Island in the Bahamas as well. I just liked the concept of all those cats and the cat shaped houses on the Japanese Cat Island. As for the situation in Japan generally, perfectly aweful! I have been very upset about the while mess. Atomic disaster has no borders. Earthquakes can happen anyplace. Every time I think I have seen the worst thing Everest, something tops it.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:42 PM on March 17, 2011
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:42 PM on March 17, 2011
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posted by toodleydoodley at 3:16 PM on March 16, 2011