Cat Isle Introduction
Cat Islets are located about 16 kilometers southwest of Wang’an Island in Penghu and consist of two islets, named Big Cat Islet and Little Cat Islet due to their shapes resembling two cats crouching. The islets are composed of basalt and cover an area of approximately 10 hectares. Little Cat Islet is situated to the east of Big Cat Islet, connected by a trench during low tide. The highest point of Big Cat Islet reaches 70 meters, making it the highest point in the Penghu archipelago. The northern cliff has a massive sea arch that penetrates Big Cat Islet, with the arch's exit located at a sea cave on the west side of Big Cat Islet, which only becomes visible during low tide. The Cat Islets are administered by Wang’an Township in Penghu County and are uninhabited, formed by Big and Little Cat Islet and some reefs, located approximately 16 kilometers southwest of Wang’an Island. From a distance, they resemble two cats lying on the sea surface, hence their name; their elevation is around 70-79 meters, making them the highest peaks in the Penghu archipelago. There are historical records of military and fishing activities in the past. In 1991, the Penghu County Government designated Big and Little Cat Islets as a seabird sanctuary under the Wildlife Conservation Act, making it Taiwan's first wildlife sanctuary. Besides the land area of about 10 hectares, the sanctuary also includes a marine area extending 100 meters outward from the land, totaling 36.2 hectares. Cat Islets are the largest breeding ground for the Black-naped Tern in Asia, with other species like the White-browed Tern, Crested Tern, and Common Tern also breeding on the islets. While landing on the islets is strictly prohibited, visitors can take boats to enjoy the surrounding waters during the summer breeding season of the terns. The land area of Big and Little Cat Islets is about 10 hectares, featuring steep terrain with sheer cliffs all around, and Big Cat Islet is a massive rock formation that rises above the surface, situated at a height above Little Cat Islet, while Little Cat Islet lies to the east. A trench about 10 meters wide separates them during low tide, with a sea erosion platform on one side, and the surrounding reefs are scattered, making it difficult for boats to approach and navigate through. The upper layers of the area's rock formations are composed of basalt with curved columnar joints, and the lower layers are formed of volcanic breccia showing unique and spectacular volcanic rock geological features. Additionally, Cat Islets were designated as “Penghu County Cat Islet Seabird Sanctuary” in 1991, with revisions made in 1997. As part of the seabird sanctuary, numerous bird species inhabit the islets, with records showing over 45-55 species from more than 20 families, among which the Black-naped Tern and White-browed Tern are the most prevalent, comprising about ninety percent of the total. From March to September, during the bird breeding season, flocks of seabirds come here to breed and forage, with numbers reaching tens of thousands, creating a breathtaking scene. As a seabird sanctuary, general tourists cannot land on the islets but may cruise the surrounding waters for appreciation. Any activities that disturb the seabirds or harm the ecological environment are strictly prohibited; landing on the islets requires an approved application for investigation purposes.
Surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides, with a coastal erosion platform on one side.
