6 Great Cat-Friendly Cities in the World

Did you know that purring serves no vital purpose for your cat other than they know we like it? It’s true. So, with a biological weapon like that over us, it should come as no surprise that many of us out there are completely obsessed with our feline friends.

And if you count yourself as among the number of the cat-obsessed, or maybe you’re simply cat curious, have no fear there are cities across the globe that love and dote on their kittens like they deserve just as you do.

But what if you don’t know where to go to get your kitty time fix? Luckily, there are a variety of cat cafes and shelters across the world that not only help create a space for cats and cat lovers to come together and bond as a community, but they help do the important work of educating the public on how to best feed and shelter their cats.

Please read on for our list of the top six cat destinations in the world:

Photo by Susan Yin on Unsplash

1) Albuquerque, NM

Also known as Kitty City, New Mexico, Albuquerque is a fantastic place to visit if you are hoping to catch a cat taking a sunbath. You have a pretty good chance of seeing some adorable cats out and about because the city has a large feral cat population. Stray neighborhood cats are often found roaming outdoors and some residents feed and care for them, though doing this is discouraged.

The city closely monitors and maintains the cat population through a TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program. So, this is obviously one city that cares a great deal about the welfare of all of its animals, it even has a website setup that is dedicated singularly to that cause. This level of care can also be seen in the city’s many pet friendly boutiques, daycares and spas that make Albuquerque a unique place to visit or live for both pet and owner.

2) Louisville, KY

While you may be most familiar with the fictional cat cafe that is featured in the FOX TV sitcom Call Me Kat, Louisville is actually a very cat friendly city in real life as well and has many feline forward features.

One cat cafe that you can visit while in Louisville, though again no guarantee you’ll run into Mayim Bialik, is Purrfect Day Cafe, which is a cat cafe that allows patrons to enjoy their favorite caffeinated beverages or cocktails in the company of some adorable local cats. The best part is that all the cats are adoptable and in need of a good home, which is good to know if you happen to fall in love with any of the cats you see.

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

3) Rome, Italy

Not just one of the most popular tourist cities in the world for humans, cats find Rome irresistible too, there are a reported 300,000 street cats in the Eternal City. They are officially designated as a public nuisance by the city government, which has tried with little success to curb their population for the last thirty years and yet continues to do so today. In the meantime, however, there are plenty of cats to be ogled in the ancient city and few better places to do it than the Torre Argentina.

This Roman cat sanctuary is nestled among ancient ruins and has been home to some of the city’s stray cats for decades. Getting to see a true Roman cat amongst true Roman ruins is a very special sight indeed and one that no cat lover should pass up an opportunity to do.

4) Detroit, MI

Detroit is known for its often-cuddly weather, and is there anything we love more than a cup of something warm and a cat to cuddle? If you’re still reading at this point, you probably agree there is not. The good people of Detroit love cats too, until recently they had a prominent work of art dedicated to one, called “Monumental Kitty” by a major freeway.

But what makes Detroit great for cat lovers is places like Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center in nearby Ann Arbor, which offers offbeat programming like yoga with the kittens. Tiny Lions Lounge leans into its philanthropic mission by making all of its cats available for adoption, needless to say they have a very high adoption rate! If something like Cat Bingo night sounds more your speed, consider heading to the Catfe Lounge for fun events like that, or just to enjoy a book and coffee at their cafe.

5) Tokyo, Japan

The prevalence and love of cats is so strong in Japan it borders on fanaticism. So, it should come as no surprise that cat cafes originated on this island nation and remain popular with locals and tourists alike.

While there are certainly famous cat cafes that are worth checking out, like Calico Cat Cafe, the pervasiveness of the cat cafe in Tokyo means that you can almost certainly find a great local cafe nearby no matter where you are staying. And it isn’t just cat cafes that make Tokyo a must visit for cat lovers, as the Japanese know how to truly spoil their kitten companions with a bevy of spa options to help pamper your pet.

Photo by Louise Tollisen on Unsplash

6) Key West, FL

For those who require a little bit of literary intrigue and history intertwined with their cat fun, the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida may be the only option. Not only is the home a working museum dedicated to the late author and his works, but it is also home to the famous Hemingway House Cats.

These cats are actually even more unique than they sound due to the fact that they are known to have an extra toe thanks to their genetics. Visitors to the museum will be lucky to catch a glimpse of the cats sunbathing on one of the home’s beautiful large porches, though they are very independent so don’t expect to be able to pet them or count their toes.

Conclusion

This concludes our list of the best cat cities in the world. We hope that you enjoyed reading and that you learned something new. I hope you and your feline friend travel to these cities to explore the wonderful parts of the world that love cats as much as we do!