The 10 Countries with the Most Cats Worldwide

#1 USA

At the top of the list for places with the most cats worldwide is the United States. The country has an estimated population of about 76.5 million, which is a mixture of pets and stray animals. About one in three households owns a pet cat and each tends to have two or more. While most cats are indoors (and frankly all should be), a number are either completely outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats. Many people living in the United States also care for feral cats in the area. Folks will often even bring in the cats living on the streets.

Each state has different laws regarding pet ownership. All either have state or private spay and neuter programs as well as vaccination programs. People living in the United States can often get their felines fixed for cheap with these programs. After spaying or neutering the strays, shelters and animal organizations will often clip a part of their ear and release them back into the wild. This is especially true if the animal did not adapt well to shelter life and has low chances of being adopted.

#2 China

The population of cats in China is around 53 million. That makes the country number two for most cats worldwide. The number is a mixture of stray, feral, and pet animals. The city of Beijing alone has thousands of stray cats. The country tends to hold the felines responsible for issues such as pollution, disease transmission, and traffic accidents. The government violently culled many cats, especially before the Olympics. People in China will frequently abandon their cats due to moving and fear of cat-borne illnesses. Many animal welfare organizations operate in China and care for these animals. The organizations run spaying and neutering programs rather than the government.

#3 Russia

The population of cats in Russia is about 12.75 million, which is a mixture of strays and pets. The population generally feels fondly towards the animals and will often feed and care for those on the street. Many people also adopt cats they found on the street. The Russian Blue is a common pet in the country and around the world. People in Russia tend to own multiple cats at once.

The stray and feral cats are often vaccinated and spayed/neutered. In some cases, the cats become community heros and help people. People do not react well to culling the animals and prefer more humane methods of wild animal population control.

#4 Brazil

For cats worldwide, Brazil sits in the fourth-place position. The country has a rising population, but it is not well documented. The estimate is around 12.5 million, a combination of stray and pet felines. Many people feed strays and take care of them, but do not adopt them into their homes. People tend to get one cat and usually also have a dog.

#5 France

Cats symbolize many things in France. For some, the animals provide companionship in a world that continues to fragment. Others use the animals are fashion symbols. Still others brought in animals from the street out of the kindness of their hearts. The population sits around 9.5 million. France maintains strict rules about keeping cats as pets. Each animal needs to be officially identified, through tattoo or internal chip.

The feral and stray cat population continues to explode, despite intense spay and neuter programs. Though vaccinations are common for street and pet cats, many animals will still attack humans or dogs.

#6 Italy

Cats are allowed to roam freely in the country of Italy, both strays and pets. Humans often feed and care for the felines on the street and will even adopt some. Many get pets and cuddles frequently. Italy operates many no-kill shelters that both stray and feral cats occupy. The government also uses spaying and neutering programs to keep the wild populations in check. Plus, the country vaccinates as many of the animals as they can. They identify the felines with chips, tattoos, or collars. Many of these shelters are free roaming. The population, both stray and pet, is about 9.5 million.

#7 UK

The United Kingdom sits at the seventh-place spot for most cats worldwide. There are about 7.75 million cats in the region, both stray and pet. The country also has well developed animal welfare laws. While there are many pet cats, strays and feral felines comprise a large part of the population. Unfortunately, spaying and neutering is not yet a part of the government programs. In the country, unplanned litters are most common. The shelters are overflowing and overwhelmed currently.

#8 Germany

The population of felines in Germany is 7.75, which puts them in eighth place for most cats worldwide. The stray cat population is a large portion of the figure. Spaying and neutering are not as common as vaccination programs, which explains the large outdoor population. This includes strays and pets. The government banned killing strays and is working to make fixing the felines more countrywide. Many of the unfixed cats destroy yards and plant life, plus they kill native species.

#9 Ukraine

The population of cats in Ukraine sits at 7.5 million. That means that the country is in the ninth-place position for most cats worldwide. While a large portion of that figure is strays, unhoused felines receive harsh treatment. The government often culls the animals cruelly and there are no laws to defend the animals. People will often abandon their pet cats after a year or two, due to moving or fear of illness.

#10 Japan

The country in the tenth-place position for most cats worldwide is Japan. The number of felines in the country is about 7.25 million, both stray and pets. People in Japan adore cats and often include them in art and literature. Tashirojima Island contains a large number of cats that live outdoors. The human population takes care of the animals. The island even has a shine, called the Neko-jinja, where people worship cats to gain good luck. Another island that has many cats is Aoshima, in Shikoku. The cat to human ratio is 100:15. In most areas of Japan, cat salons, cafeterias, and food shops are common.