Cat Facts for International Cat Day

Miav! Nyā! Mjá! We’re meowing in many languages for International Cat Day! It’s time for cat lovers around the globe to unite in appreciation for our beloved kitties.

Did you know these pawtastic cat facts? Read below to learn about global trends related to cat population, rescue cats, and breeds.

Countries with the most cats:

1. United States (74 million)
2. China (53 million)
3. Brazil (22 million)
4. United Kingdom (12 million)
5. India (5.5 million, not including strays and ferals)

Data from World Population Review

Cities with the most cats:

The cities in the world with the most cats:

1. Houtong Cat Village, Taiwan,
2. Ainoshima, Japan
3. Istanbul, Turkey

Data from Time Out

Countries with the best animal protection laws and practices:

1. Austria
2. Switzerland
3. Kenya
4. India
5. Tanzania

Data from Alpha Travel Insurance

Country with the most cat cafes:

Japan

According to Guinness World Records, “The country currently containing the most cat cafés is Japan, which has over 300. Tokyo alone contained more than 60 as of 2016. The first Japanese cat café opened in Osaka in 2004. The reason why they are so popular in this country is believed to be because many apartments in Japan forbid the ownership of pets. Instead, people can enjoy the presence of cats by spending time with them in dedicated cafés.”

Country with the most animal shelters and rescue organizations:

United States

The United States has approximately 4,000 animal shelters and 14,000 nonprofit animal rescue organizations (data from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary).

The five most common cat coat colors and coat patterns worldwide:

1. Solid black
2. Solid white
3. Tabby
4. Tortoiseshell
5. Calico

Data from PangoVet

How many cat breeds are there worldwide?

According to Catster, “The Cat Fanciers Association only recognizes 42 cat breeds, whereas the International Cat Association recognizes 71. There are also some more experimental breeds that are unrecognized, so it would be safe to say that there are between 42 and 100 cat breeds in the world.”

Most popular breeds worldwide:

1. Ragdoll
2. Maine Coon
3. British Shorthair

Data from Jagran Josh

Quote of the day: “Happy is the home with at least one cat." - Italian Proverb

Do you have a fun cat story to share? Tell us about it! Drop us a DM or comment on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X

Do you have a cat question you’d like answered in our blog? Email rmniels [at] gmail.com.

Sources:

“5 Countries That Are Highly Rated for Animal Welfare,” Alpha Travel Insurance

https://www.alphatravelinsurance.co.uk/backpacker-travel-advice/travelling-backpacker-travel-advice/5-countries-that-are-highly-rated-for-animal-welfare/

“The 5 places around the world where cats have basically taken charge,” Time Out

https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/five-places-around-the-world-where-cats-have-taken-charge

“The 20 Most Popular Cat Colors and Patterns,” PangoVet

https://pangovet.com/pet-lifestyle/cats/cat-colors-and-patterns/

“Cat Population by Country 2024,” World Population Review

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/cat-population-by-country

“How Many Cat Breeds Are There in the World? (2024 Update)” Catster

https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-many-cat-breeds-are-there/“Lifesaving by the Numbers: Animal Welfare Statistics,” Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/lifesaving-numbers-animal-welfare-statistics

“Most cat cafés per country,” Guinness World Records

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/463405-most-cat-cafes-per-country

“Top 10 Cat Breeds in the World” Jagran Josh

https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-top-10-cat-breeds-1673957411-1