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Last Updated on 13 May 2026 by Vanessa
Welcome to this latest edition of Cats Around the World where we feature YOUR travel pictures of cats. From the cat-filled streets of Reykjavik to the Great Wall of China, the cozy cafés of Tripoli, and the Indonesian jungle, our curated travelogue captures the essence of diverse cultures and landscapes—all with the delightful addition of cats.
Cats from around the world
Conversano, Italy
I found this friendly cat taking a nap at the entrance of Conversano’s Old Town, right next to the Castello Conti Acquaviva d’Aragona.
Conversano is a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in the region of Apulia (Puglia) in southern Italy. It is situated about five kilometers (three miles) from Cozze and 35 kilometers (22 miles) of Alberobello. It may not be as well-known among tourists, but it is a popular hangout with locals who often visit the town for its excellent culinary offerings.
Submitted by Yoann Bawin.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
I fall in love with cities all the time – Milan, Istanbul, Essaouira, Reykjavik. I also fall in love with cats. It doesn’t matter what color they are or how unloved they look. I’ll feed them, run after them, and do everything I can to convince my partner to let me take one home in my carry-on.
Last weekend, we celebrated our wedding anniversary in Dubrovnik. The weather was perfect, the company was awesome, and there were plenty of cats.
Submitted by Geri from the travel blog Two Up Travels
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an iconic symbol of ancient Chinese architecture and defensive prowess. Spanning over 13,000 miles, it was constructed over centuries to protect against invasions from nomadic tribes. The wall features watchtowers, battlements, and various military structures, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes.
What most people don’t know, however, is that The Great Wall of China is also a cat lover’s dream come true. The wall and its surroundings are a hub for a significant population of cats. The population here is very cat-friendly, too, and they take good care of their feline friends.
Submitted by Bart Vodderie.
Pairi Daiza, Belgium
Pairi Daiza is one of Europe’s most magical animal parks. You’re not just looking at animals through glass — you’re walking through temples, tropical gardens, and ancient ruins designed to reflect where these animals come from.
It’s home to over 7,000 animals: lions, tigers, snow leopards, lynx, and… house cats?! ❄️🦁 The cat kingdom is alive and roaring at Pairi Daiza.
Photos by Gilles Vranckx.
Philadelphia, USA
Once upon a time, Batgirl was found alone in the street and was taken to a high-kill shelter in Philadelphia. She was malnourished and couldn’t see due to an eye infection. Her chances of survival were slim. She would probably be killed later that same day.
I worked at the shelter where Batgirl was residing, fell in love with her, and decided to foster her for the time being.
Batgirl required a good deal of veterinary care to get somewhat healthy again. Her eye infection cleared up, but her left eyelids are permanently fused to her cornea, giving her an adorable, squinty stare. Her skull is malformed and her left nasal cavity is mostly bone while her right is filled with fluid.
Despite her many health issues and special needs, it was obvious that Batgirl wasn’t going to be a mere foster cat. After a couple of months, a friend asked me when she would be available for adoption because she had someone who was interested. I felt like I was going to throw up. That moment solidified what I already knew: Batgirl was going to be a permanent part of my family.
She has since become a “spokescat” for special needs animals.
Through her Facebook page, Batgirl also warns cat owners for potential hazards, such as dangling strings and shoelaces. Batgirl was particularly fond of a braided shoelace, and Walker took it away from her after she noticed pieces of the string were missing. Unfortunately, this preventive action didn’t happen soon enough. Batgirl ended up requiring emergency surgery after pieces of the shoelace became lodged in her intestine. It was only one of the five times in which she defied death.
She truly is a superhero.
Submitted by Linda Walker.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Ofelia was sitting on some wool blankets at the entrance to a souvenir shop near Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik, Iceland. She was affectionately receiving a lot of attention from tourists.
There is also The Reykjavik Cat Walking Tour that you can take around the city for HK$420 pp (£2.50), learning about how cats have added to Iceland’s history and petting known resident felines.
I think they like their cats.
Submitted by Katie from the travel blog Trekking the Dream.
Rome, Italy
With the warm light of oil lamps and the flickering shadows from the candle flames, the courtyard of the restaurant Da Meo Patacca is one of the best places to dine in Rome, Italy. Located in Trastevere (Rome’s coziest area), Da Meo Pattaca welcomes many movie stars, including Sophia Loren, Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, Claudia Cardinale, and Brigitte Bardot.
Submitted by Encore! Life.
Tazacorte, Tenerife
On the seawall in El Puerto de Tazacorte in Tenerife, there are often many cats. They live off leftover food that tourists toss to them on the terraces of various restaurants. Thanks to this direct human assistance, they scavenge their daily meals. This can lead to the rapid growth of the population of feral stray cats who need to be spayed/neutered as soon as possible.
Submitted by Wim del Arte.
Tioman Island, Malaysia
Tioman Island is a dreamy, tiny spec off the east coast of Malaysia in the South China Sea, and the location depicted as Bali Hai in the film South Pacific. I was there for a weekend getaway with friends and stayed in Mukut, a tiny fishing village with a seaside “cafe” and a few huts where you could stay the night.
At night we were treated to distant lightning storms, a full moon rising, beers on the jetty, and a seafood barbecue which attracted many cats.
Submitted by Kelly from the travel blog Compass and Camera.
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli, the largest city in northern Lebanon, has a history dating back millennia. It boasts impressive historical sites such as the Crusader Castle, the Grand Serail, and the bustling souks that reflect its past as a key trading hub.
Despite its historical charm, Tripoli faces social and economic challenges, and many street cats experience hardships due to limited resources and care. While there are local efforts to address the welfare of these animals, the conditions for street cats are often not very good.
Submitted by Arabela IV.
Ubud, Indonesia
This is Patches!
She adopted us for awhile in Ubud, Indonesia.
Ubud is in the jungle, with warm temperatures, crazy rain storms, and lots of green rice fields. We were living in an indoor/outdoor house, where even when all the doors were closed, there were still open spaces between the walls and the ceilings.
We slept under mosquito nets and lived with all sorts of lizards, bugs, and other creatures. Even when we “closed” the house, Patches could come and go as she pleased. We put her out the front door a few times when the kids were going to bed, and she quickly found her way back in, jumping from the roof into the second floor bedrooms to listen to the kids bedtime story.
She arrived unexpectedly one day, sat down next to me on the pillow I was sitting on while working on my laptop, and slept most of the day. We didn’t feed her, as we knew we were only staying two months, and didn’t want to her to be distressed when we left, but she was a healthy weight – so either others in the complex were feeding her, or she found plenty of small critters in the nearby rice fields.
Our kids loved having her around, she would spend a couple of days with us, then disappear for a while, before reappearing and hanging out, often on top of this decorate wall outside our bedroom.
Submitted by Cynthia Matthews von Berg from the travel blog Sharing the Wander.
Zakynthos, Greece
While exploring Greece, you’ll come across a variety of free-roaming cats and dogs. Although the dogs may appear somewhat intimidating, they are generally harmless. The cats, on the other hand, are often sweet and friendly, delighting in the attention as they purr contentedly while you scratch behind their ears.
I had the pleasure of greeting numerous cats during my visit to Zakynthos, a picturesque Greek island in the Ionian Sea. Also referred to as Zante, it is a popular tourist destination thanks to its idyllic beaches, including the iconic Navagio Beach with its shipwreck and Blue Caves. Zakynthos also features charming villages, historic churches, olive groves, and vineyards.
Submitted by Lizet Wesselman.
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