Imagine a city where cats can walk peacefully down the street, they are respected, loved, cared for… Sounds like a great place to spend your holidays, doesn't it? Know that there are some cities like this in the world.

In others, such as Tokyo, the love of cats comes from traditional folklore – which says that feeding and caring for cats is good luck and the gene knows this to be true. In the Japanese capital, there are even café con gato, a service that only arrived in Brazil recently.

So, if you're thinking about traveling and haven't chosen your itinerary yet, be sure to check out this list. They are beautiful places, full of tourist attractions, culture, gastronomy. And cats!

And it is worth highlighting: the first place, including, is a scenario for a movie (about cats). Do you know where we're talking about?

The first must-see destination for anyone who loves cats is the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. Its origins date back to the 10th century; so, it's a city with thousands of old buildings. At the same time, it is a very modern and technological city. And it's a city that loves cats.

The city even has a museum, exclusively dedicated to works of art featuring cats. The Kattenkabinet, with books, pictures, sculptures and paintings. Just about cats.

Another very famous tour in the city is the De Poezenboot, which translated means “The boat of cats”. It's more or less self-explanatory isn't it? But for the avoidance of doubt, suffice it to say that it is a boat, permanently moored in the Singel canal, with only cats.

You can go there to adopt a cat, or just get to know the place and play with some felines.

The city also has some cat cafes.

Second largest city in Russia, and one of the country's cultural hubs, Saint Petersburg is a city that, since 2005, celebrates the National Day of Cats (March 1st). In addition to having the Hermitage Cats, a group of cats that live in the most important museum in Russia.

It all started in 1999, when a businessman donated two sculptures of cats, called Elisha and Vasilisa, to the city. Based on this fact, animal welfare groups proposed the creation of the date in order to raise awareness of the situation of cats.

The history of the Hermitage is older.

It started in the 18th century, and more specifically, in 1745, when Empress Elizabeth of Russia ordered cats to be taken to the museum to catch mice.

Since then, cats have reproduced, generation after generation. During World War II, all were killed, but at the end of the battle, new cats were taken to the museum. It is the descendants of these that the tourist sees today.

In the 1990s, the museum's board began creating cat health campaigns. In 2007, a cat adoption program was created. However, it is also possible to go to the museum just to play with the cats.

A good plan for the holidays, isn't it?

Are you traveling without pets and don't know what to do? Check here the advantages and disadvantages of a pet hotel and caregiver services.

The capital of Italy is one of the oldest cities in Europe. There History and modernity mix. And there you can see hundreds of cats… In the place where Emperor Julius Caesar was killed!

Largo di Torre Argentina was discovered in an excavation. Documents and research show that it was there that Julius Caesar was stabbed, in 44 BC However, thousands of cats took over the square.

Aware of this issue, an animal welfare association set up its headquarters there, and the cats are fed all day (so, no giving them treats), and treated by veterinarians and volunteers. The cats are peaceful and live well with humans, and the association offers guided tours for tourists.

But cats are common throughout the city of Rome, and roam the shops and historic ruins without a hitch. Many villagers even feed them and provide veterinary care for them.

So, you already know: when in Rome, do as the Romans do!

Historically, in Japanese culture, feeding and caring for cats is good luck. The country even has somecat islands”, islands where there are as many (or more) cats than humans, living.

Just remember Hello Kitty, Doraemon and the Maneki Nekos (the famous sculpture of a white cat with a raised paw).

So Tokyo, the capital, could not be different. The city is full of technologies of the most advanced types. But it is also full of cat cafes (places full of scratching posts, where you can go with your cat, have an espresso, or go without one, playing with the cats you find).

Plus, there's an entire neighborhood that loves cats. Yanaka, informally called the City of Cats, is a neighborhood that survived the infamous 1923 earthquake (which left almost 2 million people homeless).

In Yanaka there is also a cemetery where some of the best known Japanese celebrities are buried. And in the cemeteries there are… Cats (alive), walking peacefully. In addition, local merchants bet on the cat fever, offering products with felines such as magnets, trinkets, stickers, mugs and the like.

AriGATO!

It's immediate. You search for “city of cats” on the internet and the Turkish capital comes up first. The fame is such that in 2015 the filmmaker Ceyda Torun made the film Kedi, where we follow the lives of some stray cats in the city.

And where does this love of the Turks for cats come from? Why is Istanbul the city where cats walk in and out of cafes, restaurants, designer stores and even mosques?

The answer is due to the many legends and stories involving the prophet muhammed and felines. A legend even says that cats would have saved the prophet from a snake attack.

In addition, the Koran brings messages of respect and tolerance for irrational beings. Thus, both for the issue of respect for life and for the issue of usefulness (hunting rats and other harmful animals), among Muslims, cats are almost sacred animals.

This makes all Turks have enormous respect for cats. The cats, in addition to having free access to restaurants, shops and temples, are fed by residents.

That is, if you love cats and love to travel, but haven't been to Istanbul yet, write it down on your agenda, IMMEDIATELY. Every cat lover needs to go to Istanbul at least once in their life.

And you? Do you think we missed talking about any city? Have you traveled to any of these listed cities? Tell us how it went in the comments. Tell us if we forgot to address something.

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