“A Disaster”: Wild Cats Take Over Small French Island, Leaving Residents and Wildlife Under Siege

From Paradise to Fear

Molène, nestled in the Iroise Sea off the coast of Brittany, has long been considered a peaceful retreat. Less than a square kilometer in size, the island offers stone houses, flower-lined paths, and a way of life dictated by the tides. Cars are absent—here, people travel only by foot.

But paradise has given way to fear. The island’s 160 permanent residents now share their home with an estimated 70 to 90 feral cats. What was once affectionately called “the island of cats” has now become a menace.

Attacks on Residents and Pets

At least four incidents have already been reported. In one case, a woman walking her dog was attacked without warning by a feral cat that leapt from a hedge. The startled woman fell, broke her arm, and required hospitalization on the mainland.

Animal experts say many of the aggressive cats are females protecting their kittens along popular tourist paths. Residents describe sudden confrontations with snarling cats that target both dogs and their owners.

A Threat to Rare Seabirds

The danger is not limited to humans. Molène is part of an archipelago that shelters the largest European colony of storm petrels, small seabirds that nest in underground burrows. These fragile species are particularly vulnerable to predation.

Vincent Pichon, deputy mayor of Molène, didn’t mince words: “It’s a disaster.”
Cats are blamed for killing chicks and disturbing entire colonies—adding to the island’s growing ecological crisis.

Desperate Measures

Authorities have begun to act. In recent weeks, five cats have been found poisoned, while officials push for humane solutions. A census is underway, and owners of unchipped cats now face fines of up to €750.

Trapping and sterilization campaigns have also started, though veterinarians stress the difficulty of capturing the wild felines. Once caught, cats are shipped by boat to the neighboring island of Ouessant, where sterilization procedures take place.

Still, divisions run deep among residents—some calling for stricter measures, others defending the animals. Meanwhile, the once-poetic nickname “island of cats” now carries a far darker tone.