The Best Places to Travel If You Just Want to Be Surrounded by Cats

It’s not surprising to learn that the US has the most cats of any country (the latest data shows a whopping 74 million of them). I know in our Florida neighborhood alone there are multiple colonies of stray cats, which thankfully we have a great local cat sanctuary to help TNR (Trap Neuter Return). While we have plenty of cats roaming in the US, most of them are thankfully indoors and cozy. Other countries, however, have streets full of cats that seemingly greet you around every corner.

Greece, where the cats are just everywhere

A few years ago we experienced the adorable cats of Greece. My husband and I visited Santorini and Sifnos, and both islands had cats freely roaming the streets and hills. We would take walks through Oia in Santorini at sunset, and would see a dozen or so cats climbing on the top of white walls like they owned the place! We even had one that would greet us on our patio every day. In Sifnos it was the same thing, but this time we would get to hang out with them at a local restaurant in town. Every dinner on the patio one or two would come up and ask for pets (and food!).

Istanbul, the self-declared world capital of cats

Istanbul claims to be the “world capital of cats,” and if you spent a day wandering around the city, I’m pretty sure you’d agree. Estimates vary, but some say there are as many as 125,000 feral cats in the streets of Istanbul. And while most cities might struggle to take care of such large numbers, Istanbul is different; all levels of society work together to help feed them.

You can find food and water for them on just about every sidewalk, cute little homes for them near businesses, and sometimes they even curl up in cafes right next to people’s chairs. This relationship has been going on since the time of Byzantium and the Ottomans, and there’s an entire documentary about it called Kedi (get ready to cry!). These cats are used to people, so plenty of them will happily accept pets and whatever you’re willing to share off your plate.

Rome, where the cats live in Caesar’s ruins

In Rome, cats are considered important enough for the city to recognize them as part of its legacy. The best place to visit is Largo di Torre Argentina, the sunken ruins where Julius Caesar was assassinated, which also has about 130 cats living in it. Since 2023, people have been able to walk down among the ancient columns (which date back almost 2,000 years) instead of viewing the cats from behind a railing on the sidewalk. The cats sunbathe right on the old stones, and nobody tells them no.

Aoshima, the Japanese island with more cats than people

Japan has more than one “cat island,” but Aoshima is the most well-known of them. Recent counts put it at around four full-time residents and about 80 cats, and dogs are banned entirely.

There’s no restaurant and no hotel; the main reason to go is simply to be mobbed by cats when you step off the ferry (it’s a short ride from the mainland). Most people visit for just the day. If a remote island feels like a lot, Tokyo has plenty of cat cafes where you can get your cat fix with coffee and air conditioning.

Houtong, the mining town the cats took over

Houtong was a coal-mining town that emptied out when the mines closed, then reinvented itself around its cats. It’s just a short train ride from Taipei, with cat bridges, cafes, and souvenir stalls that meow at you. Residents and volunteers care for the many cats living in the area, so they’re extremely relaxed around visitors. It may be the only place on Earth where the train station itself is a cat attraction.

Key West, the cat trip that doesn’t need a passport

You don’t have to leave the country for this one, or even our state! The Hemingway Home in Key West has around 60 six-toed cats living on the property. These are all descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s very own polydactyl cat.

They have their own little drinking fountain, and by tradition each cat is named after someone famous. You come for the literary history and stay because a cat named after a movie star fell asleep on the gift shop counter.

Have you visited one of these cat-friendly locales? Tell us about it and share your pics at hello [at] catseat.com.