Do You Live In One Of The Most Cat-Friendly Cities In The U.S.?

Written by: Kelli Brinegar
For more than five years, Kelli Brinegar has been using her ability to write and her passion for research to tell the tale of what cats are thinking and why. She has provided care to more than 30 cats in her lifetime.Read more
| Published on December 30, 2020

Cat lovers are spread far and wide across our planet, but it seems they tend to congregate a little thicker in some areas. Though cat people tend to find each other through their obsession with felines, in some areas you may have an easier time thanks to a higher populous of the kitty-minded. And more cat lovers means more kitties!

The animal lovers at Petlisted have dug through the litter of city data to find out what cities are considered the most cat-friendly in the United States.

Find out if your city made the list. If not, maybe it’s time to consider somewhere new, somewhere your cat love can be truly appreciated!


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The Top 5 Most Cat-Friendly Cities in the United States

To compile their list of cat-friendly cities, Petlisted used multiple data sources from the 100 most populated cities in the U.S, explaining, “These metrics included the amount of cat-friendly housing in a city, number of AAFP certified cat veterinary practices, the abundance of local animal shelters and welfare groups, and number of pet stores selling cat products.”

#1 – Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham loves their cats! This Southern city offers everything cat families need. From American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) clinics to feline retail, this 11th largest city in America is a cat wonderland as “81% of all available rental properties” allow for cats.

#2 – Portland, Oregon

Portland is the cat lovers’ haven in the Pacific Northwest and almost edged out Birmingham, but this largest city in Oregon had fewer pet supply stores as compared to other states.


@bluesy8810/Instagram

#3 – Madison, Wisconsin

The 82nd largest city in the U.S, Madison claims 3rd place for cat-friendliness as the city “has the second-highest number of AAFP certified vets per capita in the country.”

#4 – Richmond, Virginia

Richmond may only be the 4th largest city in VA, but in terms of cat care, the city “scores top for animal shelters & welfare groups, as well as for certified cat veterinarians.”


@ameris_poquette/Instagram

#5 – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ranked the 45th largest city in the nation, Minneapolis boasts lots of pet stores and a number of animal welfare groups. Plus, the majority of housing options permit cats as tenets.


Courtesy of Petlisted

Rounding Out the Top 25 U.S. Cat-Friendly Cities

Didn’t find your city in the Top 5? Check out cities 6 – 25 to see if your hometown is cuckoo for cats:

  1. St. Louis, MO
  2. Tampa, FL
  3. Orlando, FL
  4. Greensboro, NC
  5. Denver, CO
  6. Fort Wayne, IN
  7. Baton Rouge, LA
  8. Seattle, WA
  9. Omaha, NE
  10. Tulsa, OK
  11. St. Paul, MN
  12. Sacramento, CA
  13. St. Petersburg, FL
  14. Reno, NV
  15. Cincinnati, OH
  16. Scottsdale, AZ
  17. Pittsburgh, PA
  18. Indianapolis, IN
  19. Albuquerque, NM
  20. Wichita, KS

If your city isn’t on the list of the Top 25 Cat-Friendly Cities, don’t fret. Cat lovers can be found everywhere. Just follow the cat hair to find them!


@ladywanderlust.ig/Instagram

H/T: www.thrillist.com
Feature Image: @ladywanderlust.ig/Instagram