Historically, the island gained wealth from cotton plantations, but slash and burn farming is now the main way of life for Cat Islanders. An economic crop is Croton eluteria (called also cascarilla) bark, which is gathered and shipped to Italy where it becomes a main ingredient in medicines, scents and Campari.
What is the story of Cat Island?
Historically the island was a center for silkworm production, and cats were kept to protect the cocoons from rats. Islanders would care for the semi-wild cats and fishermen would give them scraps from their daily catch. Since the beginning, there has always been one crucial island rule: no dogs allowed.
Are there still cats on Cat Island?
There are over 100 felines who call Cat Island home, numbering the human population. The cats roam the island freely. So, while they're used to human interaction thanks to frequent tourism, they're not domesticated. There are over 100 cats on this island.Cached
What is Cat Island best known for?
What is a fun fact about Cat Island?
Cat Island's unique T-shape is the result of colliding Gulf of Mexico currents. Cat Island is unusual among the barrier islands in that it is covered by dense forests of oak and pine trees. The island's name is a reference to the raccoons that inhabit it; early French explorers mistook the local raccoons as feral cats.
What are some fun facts about Cat Island?
Cat Island's unique T-shape is the result of colliding Gulf of Mexico currents. Cat Island is unusual among the barrier islands in that it is covered by dense forests of oak and pine trees. The island's name is a reference to the raccoons that inhabit it; early French explorers mistook the local raccoons as feral cats.
Why is Cat Island full of cats?
Cats were originally introduced on ships because the fisherman had to deal with a rodent problem. But the cats then remained on the island and reproduced, thus the population increasing almost exponentially.