Last Updated on 24 July 2025 by Vanessa
Discover which European country has the highest number of cats per square kilometer and the most cat friendly households. The answer might surprise you. Find out who’s top of the cat-loving charts!
The most cat friendly countries in Europe
Stroll through just about any European alleyway, and you’re likely to spot a pair of curious cat eyes peeking from a windowsill or a tail swishing beneath a café chair. With nearly 130 million cats lounging on couches, prowling gardens, or ruling from atop bookshelves across the continent, one thing’s clear: Europe loves its cats.
In fact, if cats counted as citizens, they’d make up over one-fifth of the EU’s population. According to Statista, cats are the most popular pets in Europe, with over 26% of EU households owning at least one.
But which country loves them the most? That’s exactly what Go Voyager set out to discover. They ranked all 27 EU countries by both the number of cats per square kilometer and the percentage of households with a cat.
The findings? Europe’s most cat-obsessed country will definitely surprise you!
Curious? Keep reading to discover which European country leads the pack in kitty devotion.
It’s not Greece or Turkey, but…
Think the most cat-loving country in Europe is Greece or Turkey? Think again.
The top spot goes to… Belgium!
This country boasts around 81.89 cats per square kilometer, second only to Malta’s jaw-dropping 316.46. Plus, a solid 33% of Belgian households have a feline friend at home.
It’s no surprise that Belgium has the largest number of cat cafés in Europe: 19 for just 30,688 km².
Even regular cafés and restaurants often have a resident kitty lounging around. And if you’re into helping strays, there are amazing shelters like Cat Rescue, Ever’y Cat, and De Poezenboot Ghent doing great work.
Cats aren’t just part of everyday life—they’re woven into Belgium’s culture and history, too. In Ypres, the legendary Kattenstoet (Festival of the Cats) takes place every three years, celebrating our favorite furry friends with giant cat puppets, costumes, and parades full of feline fun
And then there’s Avalon, the cat-horror movie star. He was Belgian too! You can even read all about his spooky adventures on set (and off) in his memoir, Avalon.
Most cat loving countries
When it comes to cat love, Western Europe leads the pack, thanks to a strong pet culture and cozy living spaces that make cats the perfect companions.
However, Central and Northern European countries like Germany and Sweden are also setting the standard—especially when it comes to caring for strays. Think state-funded shelters, neutering programs, and emergency vet networks that ensure even street cats are looked after.
In places like Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, there’s no shortage of space—or cats. But because the land is so vast and rural, you’ll only find about three to four cats per km². Many households here have multiple cats, but you’re less likely to run into one around every corner.
Still, these countries are full of feline fans. Here are more nations that ranked high for their love of cats. Click on a country to learn more about the local kitty scene—and the best destinations for cat-loving travelers!
- Hungary
- Poland
- Malta
- Romania
- France
- Slovenia
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Austria
- Portugal
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Latvia
The least cat-populated countries in the EU
Not every European country is overflowing with feline friends. While some nations are known for their love of cats, others show surprisingly low numbers—whether due to climate, urbanization, or strong animal control policies.
Take Greece, for example. Despite Athens and the Greek islands being famous for its stray cats, the country actually has the lowest percentage of cat-owning households in the EU—just 13%.
In Sweden and Croatia, on the other hand, strict spay/neuter programs and well-regulated animal policies help prevent stray populations from growing. Both countries have low cat densities, despite being generally pet-friendly.
Ireland also lands low on the list. With a small population and effective animal control, it only averages 5.05 cats per km².
Meanwhile, in Cyprus, natural predators in the wild help keep cat numbers down, resulting in 6.57 cats per km². Regardless, there are more cats than people in Cyprus, especially in cities such as Limassol.
Here’s the full list of EU countries with the lowest cat population densities, according to the Go Voyager study:
How Go Voyager ranked Europe’s most cat friendly countries
To find out which EU countries are true feline paradises, they looked at two main things:
-
Cats per square kilometer
– This shows how densely packed a country is with cats. The more cats per km², the higher your chances of spotting one on the street, in a garden, or even lounging in a café. -
Percentage of households with a cat
– This tells us how many people actually share their homes with a furry friend. A higher percentage means cats are a big part of daily life in that country.
Also, the Go Voyager study focused exclusively on the 27 countries within the European Union. That means well-known European nations outside the EU – such as England, Norway, Iceland, Montenegro, Switzerland, Serbia, and others – were not included in the rankings.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re dreaming of sipping coffee alongside a café cat in Belgium or go on a cat lover’s sightseeing itinerary through Malta, Europe has no shortage of purr-fect places for cat lovers. With some countries practically overflowing with whiskers and others offering more elusive encounters, there’s a destination for every type of cat enthusiast.
🐾 Have you spotted any street cats on your European travels? Which countries have felt the most cat-friendly to you? Drop a comment below and let us know where you’ve found the most furry friends—or where you’re planning to go next!
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Curious about cat mythology around the world?
Do you want to know more about how cats have influenced people across cultures and continents? If so, Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies is worth a look.
This book covers feline roles in films from over 40 countries, offering a unique glimpse into global cat culture, mythology, and storytelling. It’s a fascinating way to see how different societies view cats—not just as pets, but as symbols, guardians, and sometimes even supernatural beings.
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4 responses
Personally, I don’t believe negative depictions of cats to be anything to be proud of. I will not watch anything depicting harm to cats, and I won’t watch horror “entertainment” because I abhor violence and negativity. Existence is harsh enough!
No one has visited my neighbourhood in the UK to count. We used to have 4 cats but now we only have 2. But there are so many cats here, I have one visit my garden every hour and they are always walking along the fences.
It surprises me that Belgium is the top country for cat owners. I associate Greece out of the EU countries with cats, but that’s because you see so many strays. Thank you for joining in with #pocolo
This is so fascinating! I live in Czech Republic and can confirm we have a LOT of cats here 🙂