photo gallery
Cats Around the World
If you’re a cat lover, like I am, you probably notice them everywhere you go. I’ve found myself photographing kitties with almost the same enthusiasm as I do a world-famous site. This collection begins with a few of my own favorites from my personal travel. And some of my fellow travel writers, photographers, and bloggers also share some of their favorite kitties encountered in their travels.
I dedicate this delightful photo collection to my sweet Polly, a Maine Coon mix who is no longer with us.
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
See some mostly funny cat items at my Caught on the Web blog.
10 purr-fect places every cat lover must visit
Have you met Matilda III at The Algonquin Hotel in NYC?
Did you know Japan has a Cat Island?
Catspotting: A crazy cat lover’s guide to cats in Amsterdam
View Kedi, a wonderful movie about cats in Istanbul.
1. I encountered this lovely kitty sitting in the sun in Atotonilco, Mexico, a tiny village near San Miguel de Allende.. “Folk baroque” frescoes in a small church at this UNESCO World Heritage site are being painstakingly restored.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
2. This kitty named Popsicle was hanging out in a kava bowl at the Coconut Grove resort on Taveuni Island in Fiji. He looks like he might have finished off the dregs.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
3. This calico was lounging on the path to our restaurant destination in hilly Valparaiso, Chile. He blends beautifully with the background.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
4. This katnapping kat was seen guarding the Hawaiian Trading Post shop in Lawai on Kauai in Hawaii.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
5. A cat on Vernazza waterfront in Cinque Terre National Park, Italy.
Photographed by Dennis Cox/WorldViews, DennisCox.com
image c Dennis Cox
6. I captured an image of this pensive cat as we were touring the town of Erice in Sicily two years ago. Funny thing about Italian cats is that they hang out on TOP of cars, as opposed to underneath them, which our American cats tend to do. My husband and I, great cat lovers BTW, could never quite figure out why this was so.
Photographed by Joanne DiBona, Get the Picture Travel
7. This was taken at Wrath Winery in Monterey, Calfornia. It’s the winery cat.
Photographed by Mary Jo Manzanares, Traveling with MJ
8. I call this “Stripes.” This cute fellow peered out at me from behind a metal fence while I was walking through the old town section of Nyons, France.
Photographed by Katherine Rodeghier
9. I absolutely LOVE this pic I took of a cat in a lovely shop last winter in the tiny community of Hawi on the Big Island of Hawaii. Talk about a poser! I was touring the Big Island in February, 2014 as part of the research for my series of books, Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate.
Photographed by Doreen Pendgracs
image c Doreen Pendgracs
10. Location: Mayorista Market. City: Trujillo, Peru. This young cat sleeps through all the hustle and bustle of a big outdoor Peruvian market in one of the strangest locations I have ever seen.
Photographed by Coen Wubbels, photocoen.com, landcruisingadventure.com
image c Coen Wubbels
11. I found this beautiful cat laying lazily under a chair on a hot summer day in the small village of Tautavel in the Languedoc-Rousillon region of France.
For more cat photos, check out my gallery.
Photographed by Bianca Bauza, www.nomadbiba.com
12. It was taken in a hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey. We watched four nearly an hour one day as the mother cat taught this cute little rascal how to hunt with a poor insect she’d caught. Fascinating.
Photographed by Suzanne Courtney, thetravelbunny.com
13. We spent some time with our new Croatian friend enjoying the cool shade of the Old City Wall in Dubrovnik Croatia.
Photographed by Mary Chong, Calculated Traveller Magazine
14. The ancient city of Ephesus, Turkey is crawling with cat residents who own the place and prove to be favorite attractions for the visitors.
Photographed by John Roberts, InTheLoopTravel.com
15. My kitty kat photo was snapped in Croatia, back in 2010. These cats were roaming a small village all day, jumping and playing. Then by afternoon were snuggled up together in a chair set up by a local.
Photographed by SJ Begonja, Chasing the Donkey
16. This was taken in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Photographed by Laura Bly, Blyonthefly.com
17. I found this pair on a motu off Huahine where we had a most wonderful lunch of poisson cru and grilled chicken while sitting in chairs submerged in the crystal-clear water. Every Tahitian Island lunch seems to have a cultural session with coconut husking, Tahitian dancing and how to tie a pareau. These resident kitties always get the great leftovers from the coconut husking event. Not such a bad life for a feline!
Photographed by Dawna Robertson
18. Last April I was traveling through Luxembourg and found this cute cat on the top of a hill in the city of Vianden. You have to catch a chairlift to reach a lovely cafe, and when I was having a coffee, this cat showed up. The owner of the cafe told that it was the first time that the cat appeared there, so no one know anything about him. I played a few minutes with him and said goodbye before continue on my way to the Vianden castle.
Photographed by Andre Motta, ViagemCriativa.com.br
19. Of all the cats that I had met in my travels, I must say that Cincinna is one of my favorites. She lived in a 15th century house in Bagno a Ripoli, the town next to Firenze, Italy. I was hosted by her human through Couchsurfing, and from day 1 until the day I left, Cincinna never left my side. In the mornings, I had to tickle her to wake her up. I really missed her when I left Firenze for Padova!
More cats . . .
Photographed by Aleah Taboclaon, Solitary Wanderer
20. I love the beautiful blue eyes of this kitty at the Lanai Animal Rescue Center, located on the island of Lanai in Hawaii. Of all the cats at the center, it was the one that stood out the most to me, especially when it immediately tried to climb onto my lap.
Photographed by Barbara Weibel, Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel
21. Meet Bella, she is an old lady in a kitten’s body, tiny and so sweet. She works on a hobby farm in Hana on Maui, Hawaii, keeping it rodent free. When she has time off, she like to hang out with her buddy Makana, a pit bull-ridgeback mix, and 70+ chickens.
Photographed by Nat & Tim Harris, A Cook Not Mad
22. This darling tabby was at the Atiu Villas on the remote island of Atiu in the Cook Islands. The cat waited as I got milk from the fridge–I’m well trained.
Photographed by Barbara Beckley
23. I saw this kitty lounging on a bench on Hydra Island, Greece. Cats abound on this lovely Mediterranean island and there was one or more in my presence nearly everywhere I went … whether it was eating at an outdoor cafe, or walking a path around the island, or meandering the narrow alleys. This one particularly caught my eye with the colorful bench and geraniums, looking extremely content in the middle of a nap.
Photographed by Shara Johnson, SKJ Travel
24. I confess, I’m a cat fanatic. (I even celebrated getting engaged in Umbria by celebrating with the cats at our little vacation rental in the mountains. Ha.) But the cat I recently fell in love with was this cat in Menton, France, the last town before Italy on the French Riviera. I swear he was just lying around on a wall in the Old Town waiting to be photographed – I’ve even seen him on someone else’s blog.
Photographed by Carol Perehudoff, Wandering Carol
25. I found this precious cat sitting on my hostel room balcony in Granada, Spain.
Photographed by Chantae Reden, Chantae
26. This pretty kitty was seen strolling through the Montestigliano estate in the countryside near Siena, Italy. He could be spotted leisurely walking through the many Tuscan villas on the land, stopping only for food or a scratch on the head. What a life!”
Photographed by Annette White, Bucket List Journey
image c Annette White
27. I took this photo of my husband Paul with one of the many, many cats in Valparaiso, Chile. Most stores there seem to have a cat or two–probably to keep the rodent population in check. This one was particularly friendly.
Photographed by Laura Byrne Paquet, Facing The Street and Ottawa Road Trips
28. I saw this kitty sleeping on the goods in a souvenir stall in Aguas Calientes, Peru, near Machu Picchu.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
29. I took this one in Leuven, Belgium last spring. He/she was on a courtyard wall in the university district.
Photographed by Diana Lambdin Meyer, mojotraveler
30. I took this near the Great Wall in China last September.
Photographed by Peggy Bendel
31. Kitty Archibald MacLeisch sprawls across a display case at the Hemingway Museum in Key West, Florida. He is a member of the famous tribe of descendants of Hemingway’s polydactyl (six-toed) cat, Snowball.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
32. I spotted this kitty in Zippori National Park in Israel’s Galilee area. I was impressed with how well he blended in with his surroundings.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
33. This cat, named Sorella, lives at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. Farm Sanctuary is home to many rescued farm animals. Sorella lives in the main barn and greets people as they come to visit! She also loved sitting on our cabin’s porch when we stayed there, and even ran into our cabin at night so she could sleep on our bed!
Photographed by Lauren, Justin Plus Lauren
34. This huge kitty is being all loved up by my daughter, Suzanne, at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow in Upstate New York.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
35. I saw this pampered pussy hanging out at the spa at Esencia, a Seaside Estate in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
36. This kitty was spotted on the Skolavordustigur shopping street in Reykjavik, Iceland. She would not stop for me!
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
37. Elvis hangs at the Julia Morgan-designed North Star House in Grass Valley, California while it is being renovated.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
38. Life is good for a bookstore cat. This one slumbers in Pegasus in Berkeley, California.
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
39. Cats just want to have fun! Such as this kitty in Dubrovnik, Croatia, who enjoyed prancing atop the famous walls of the city’s Old Town. The sweet cat was quite willing, though, to stop and let my husband administer a few rubs and some kind words. Photographed by Susan Farlow
40. Kitty waiting for morning latte in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy.
Photographed by Debbie Murray, Pacman Hikes the 2013 Pacific Crest Trail
41. Debbie Murray says: When we showed up at Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy, we searched for lunch. This quaint place had pizza, fresh cheeses, and sausage. It was all molto bene. While my hubby bought the lunch, the cats gathered around me. (I guess they knew…) We shared lunch and they followed me around town. I felt at home!
Photographed by Roger Murray, Pacman Hikes the 2013 Pacific Crest Trail
image c Roger Murray
42. It wasn’t until I got home and started looking thru my photographs that I realized I had so many shots of cats. Not dogs, but cats. You know how when you are in Mexico, you always see stray dogs? Well, not here, here in Istanbul, Turkey, there are stray cats.
See my photo gallery of Istanbul cats.
Photographed by Cadinda Maloney, Points and Travel
43. This image was captured in the men’s bathroom at Ephesus in Turkey and apparently this is their favorite sleeping hole by the toilets. I thought this was a pretty cool shot even though there were a lot of stray cats all over the ancient site.
Photographed by Noel Morata
Even though this site is rife with ads, it is fun to browse through even more cats in sinks.
44. This contented kitty was sitting on a doorstep inside the medina in Tunis, Tunisia, clearly well-positioned to see an approach from any angle. Whether he took his prominent post there in order to guard the doors or in hopes of being petted by passersby, I don’t know!
Photographed by Shara Johnson, SKJ Travel
45. If you love cats, Essaouira, Morocco is the place to go. They are everywhere, loved and fed by locals and tourists alike. They can be seen sleeping in many places around town, including the many shops selling beautiful handcrafts.
Photographed by Michele, Legging It
46. The alleys of the Marrakesh medina are dark and crowded and it’s not difficult to imagine a mouse – or God forbid something larger – scurrying underfoot. The cat, nicknamed MarraKat, looks well-fed and yes, his owners do feed him every day. That probably doesn’t stop him from nibbling a stray treat or two. The alleys of Marrakesh are full of cats, waiting for scraps from nearby eateries or chasing after things smaller than themselves. Each day they seem to stand on the same spot, like a gendarme guarding his corner and keeping trespassers away.
Photographed by Leyla, Women on the Road
47. This is the castle cat at Amberley Castle in England. What a life!
Photographed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Travels with Carole
image c Carole Terwilliger Meyers
48. We spent most of the day in Bolsena, Italy, when we walked into the medieval part there were no people out at all. Then we saw this cat, at first he was crouched down in a doorway, looking a little timid, we called him and he came running to us.
Photographed by Nat Harris, A Cook Not Mad
49. I admit I am a cat lover. I can spot cats from a distance, in random places. This cat was happily sitting in the window of a shop near the Grand Bazar in Istanbul, Turkey. He was seriously relaxed, and why would he not be, he even had a number of pillows all to himself!
Photographed by Claudia Tavani, My Adventures Across The World
image c Claudia Tavani
50. This adorable little creature is the resident cat of a perfect English cabin located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, known as the Half Moon Cabin. As she guards the property throughout the day, and soaks in the sun in the mornings, this long weekend rental cabin is serenely situated amid the popular Appalachian Mountains that surround the city. Along with the creeks and the little fishing lakes nearby, many travelers opt for a vacation in this area, mostly to spend a quiet time in the wilderness or to hike and visit the waterfalls around.
Photographed by Shraddha Gupta, www.streettrotter.com
