Facts About Cat Island Bahamas

Cat Island is one of the districts of Bahamas and it is located in the Central Bahamas. The highest point of the Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, is on the Cat island, which is famous for a monastery called The Hermitage. Cat Island is thought to have been named after the then famous Pirate Arthur Catt or due to large population of feral cats. Historically, cotton farming was the main economy of the Cat Island but the present population lives by slash and burn farming (cutting and burning of forests to develop agricultural land and pasture for livestock).





Bark of Cascarilla, a type of plant native to the Caribbeans, is the main crop of Cat Island, which is exported to Italy where it is used as ingredient in many medicines, scents and Campari, an alcoholic drink. The population of Cat island is about 1650 inhabitants and the main settlement areas are Port Howe, Orange Creek and Arthur's Town. Cat Island, one of the most popular tourist destinations of the Bahamas, is the birthplace of famous Bahamian Musician Tony McKay, best known as Exuma.