The Most Cat-Dense Countries in the EU

Voyager Research

The Most Cat-Dense Countries in the EU

6th of April 2025

Voyager Research: The Most Cat-Dense Countries in the EU

Since ancient times, cats have been known for their independence. In fact, cats domesticated themselves when humans started to farm grains, which attracted rodents, and they, in turn, attracted wild cats.

Cats, for obvious reasons, tried to live closer to places where it was easier to find food and therefore, to reproduce, and less aggressive and more social cats were naturally selected without breeding or control. The ability to keep rodents out and the unnecessary feeding or capture of them, compared to other livestock or dogs, formed a great bond between cats and humans.

Nowadays, if cats were counted as humans, more than 1/5 of the EU population would be cats. As per Statista data, the most popular pet in Europe is a cat, and on average, 26.48% of EU households own a cat.

At GoVoyager, we’d love to embrace the love for our feline companions. As we continue to explore how local environments shape travel and lifestyle choices, we're shedding light on the countries where cats thrive — not only to highlight pet trends, but to better understand the social, cultural, and environmental factors that influence pet ownership across the EU.

Key Metrics Considered

In this study, we have managed to collect data to identify the most cat-populated EU countries. The following indices have been used:

Cats per km²: What is the cat population per square kilometer of the country

Percentage of households that own a cat

By ranking each EU country based on the aforementioned data, our team was able to find out which EU member state is best for cat lovers to visit, as there is a higher chance of meeting a furry friend while traveling within a specific European country.

Key Findings

The most densely cat-populated country is Malta, and the least is Greece.
The most cats per km² are in Malta (316.46), the least in Finland (2.9)
The country with the most households is Romania (48%), the least - Greece (13%)
The lowest number of cats is in Cyprus (60,810), the highest in Germany (15,200,000)
Greece, especially Athens, is known for its stray cat population, yet statistically, they have the lowest percentage of households that own a cat.
In 2024, the cat population in Germany alone increased by 1.8 million.
There are an estimated 600 million cats in the world.
Cats are counted as an invasive species.

Regional Insights

Western Europe
Belgium leads with sky-high cat density, with over 80 cats per km² due to a strong pet culture and tight living spaces. The Netherlands has fewer households with cats (just 23%). Yet, the country still ends up with a high density of over 45 cats per km² due to urban living. France and Austria love cats, but their bigger land sizes spread them out more across it. Ireland is a quiet outlier with low ownership and very low cat density.
Nordic Countries
Sweden, Finland, and Denmark have lots of space and plenty of cats, but their big lands also spread them around the countries. Even with decent ownership rates, you’ll only find 3–4 cats per km². People here often have multiple cats, but the land is vast and rural. While cats are loved, you won’t be able to find many of them on your path.
Eastern & Southeastern Europe
This region loves cats. Romania tops the EU for cat ownership (48% of households!), and Poland isn’t far behind (41%). But despite high ownership, big land areas keep densities moderate. Malta demonstrates the highest cats per km² of 316.46, which is the highest index out of all 27 EU members due to its small size and almost 550,000 residents. Greece is the opposite- very few households own cats (13%), but stray cats are common.

The Most Cat-Populated EU Countries

Belgium

Cats/km²: 81.89

% of Households that Own a Cat: 33

Malta

Cats/km²: 316.46

% of Households that Own a Cat: 25.4

Hungary

Cats/km²: 25.80

% of Households that Own a Cat: 34

Poland

Cats/km²: 22.71

% of Households that Own a Cat: 41

Romania

Cats/km²: 18.46

% of Households that Own a Cat: 48

France

Cats/km²: 27.01

% of Households that Own a Cat: 31

Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Malta are considered the most cat-populated EU countries due to various factors. In Belgium, cats have long been cherished as household pets, with a strong cultural appreciation for their companionship. The country offers many cat-friendly cities where furry companions wandering around the streets remain untouched. Cats in Poland and Hungary are valued for their ability to protect the land from rodents, leading to higher numbers of both owned and stray cats. Additionally, all 5 EU members have fewer restrictions on stray cats compared to other EU members. Malta, in particular, stands out with an impressive 316.46 cats per km² due to its small land size of 316 km² and 542,000 residents. Romania demonstrates the highest percentage of households that own a cat, as nearly 50% of families have at least one furry friend.

The lease Cat-Populated EU Countries

Greece

Cats/km²: 4.61

% of Households that Own a Cat: 13

Ireland

Cats/km²: 5.05

% of Households that Own a Cat: 18

Croatia

Cats/km²: 7.73

% of Households that Own a Cat: 15

Sweden

Cats/km²: 3.78

% of Households that Own a Cat: 21

Cyprus

Cats/km²: 6.57

% of Households that Own a Cat: 18

Greece, Ireland, Croatia, Sweden, and Cyprus have the lowest cat populations among all EU countries. Strict animal control policies and widespread spay/neuter rates in Sweden and Croatia prevent uncontrolled breeding of cats. Ireland has a relatively low human population density and effective animal control policies, which contributes to lower numbers of 5.05 cats per km². Greece also demonstrates low cat population rates of 4.61 cats per km² due to urbanisation in coastal areas and harsh summers reducing stray survival rates gradually. The country also has the lowest percentage of 13% of households that own a cat. Cyprus has a lot of natural predators in the wild, which affects to a low cats per km² of 6.57.

Popular myths/misconceptions about cats

Cats are surrounded by many myths and misconceptions, which arise from cultural beliefs, superstitions, and behavior patterns, which sometimes can be misunderstood by cat lovers:

Cats purr only when they are happy: they also purr when they feel stressed, sick, or in pain.
Black cats bring bad luck: during ancient times, many believed that witches could take the form of a black cat, but this belief has nothing to do with these friendly species, as some cultures consider cats as a symbol of luck.
Milk is good for cats: most adult cats are lactose intolerant, and it is recommended to give cats water, as it is much healthier and safer.
Cats hate water: while many cats don’t like staying in water, some species, such as Bengals or Turkish Vans, enjoy bathing.
Cats can see in complete darkness: although their night vision is much better than ours, they still need at least a little light to see properly in the dark.

False insights from social media

Social media often spreads false or misleading insights about cats, as well as creates faulty trends, further leading to misunderstandings about their behavior and care.

Viral videos may portray cats as isolated and unemotional creatures. Thus, many pet owners tend to ignore the real behavior patterns of their furry friends, as they do experience a wide range of emotions.

Misinformation about diets can harm their health due to the wrong food. According to TikTok, there are 93.3 million posts with “Cat Food” titles and hashtags, and many publications are sharing nutrition tips for cats, which can be harmful for them.

Dressing cats in costumes or forcing them into uncomfortable situations due to viral content may cause stress or anxiety, further leading to cats losing trust in their owners and avoiding any contact with them.

Animal Welfare Infrastructure Across the EU

While the European Union members try their best to protect stray cats, the state of animal welfare infrastructure varies gradually by country. Countries from Central and Northern Europe, such as Germany and Sweden, are offering the best practices for stray creatures. For example, state-funded shelters, strict neutering programs, and emergency vet networks help keep the stray population comfortable.

Eastern and Southern EU countries, on the other hand, often rely on underfunded non-government companies and volunteer efforts to assist the stray population. Additionally, there are drawbacks in state-funded organizations and practices, including inconsistent enforcement of EU-wide regulations (e.g., mandatory microchipping), outdated vet clinics, and limited public awareness in regions where cats are still considered pests rather than pets. However, such practices like TNR project (Trap-Neuter-Return) show positive progress in Greece and Romania, as more stray cats are given proper care.

Cats in culture

Cats have held a significant place in human culture for thousands of years, either in the form of folklore, art, or literature. In ancient Egypt, they symbolised grace and protection, while in Japanese folklore, the maneki-neko (beckoning cat) figurine is considered to bring good luck.

Over centuries, artists have used cats as the object of inspiration. Renaissance painters like Leonardo da Vinci painted them as symbols of mystery, while medieval art sometimes portrayed them as tricky animals.

Cats have also been a part of storytelling. Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland embodies philosophical mystery. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Black Cat explores topics of guilt and superstition, while H.P. Lovecraft’s stories feature cats as imaginary creatures.

Conclusion

Cats are an integral part of our daily lives. These beautiful creatures serve not only as great furry companions, but they also had an important impact on the culture in many ways over the centuries. Many social media trends tend to spread out faulty information about cats by neglecting nutrition or using them to create viral content. Nevertheless, many pet owners do not consider online content to be a reliable source of information and do not put their furry friends in danger.

According to the collected data, a lot of cats can be encountered in each EU region, which makes them a great destination for cat lovers! Some countries, like Romania or Poland, don’t impose strict laws against them, while other EU members, such as Croatia, promote strict animal control policies, which affects the population of cats on the street. Many EU member states tend to create more cat-friendly environments, like France, so that all stray cats would have a chance for a better existence. Additionally, foreign visitors and locals often feed them, but when interacting with the furry friends, remember not to put them in situations that can cause any stress or harm them!

Bonus: Tips for Cat Lovers Travelling in the EU

Visit cat cafés in high-density countries like Belgium or Germany.

Support local shelters: Countries like the Netherlands have a strong nonprofit infrastructure for stray and abandoned cats.

Respect local laws: Pet regulations, especially in rental homes, vary widely by country.

The full list of Cat-Dense Countries in the EU

Country	Cats/km2	Cats % households
Belgium	81.89	33
Hungary	25.80	34
Poland	22.71	41
Malta	316.46	25
Romania	18.46	48
France	27.01	31
Slovenia	22.44	32
Germany	42.56	24
Netherlands	45.40	23
Austria	23.85	28
Portugal	19.55	32
Italy	33.85	22
Lithuania	9.26	32
Latvia	6.35	37
Czech Republic	17.75	23
Bulgaria	7.35	25
Luxembourg	26.83
Denmark	15.52	19
Spain	11.66	17
Slovakia	11.01	15
Finland	2.90	23
Estonia	6.41	18
Cyprus	6.57	18
Sweden	3.78	21
Croatia	7.73	15
Ireland	5.05	18
Greece	4.61	13

Methodology

The GoVoyager team has analysed the number of domestic cats per square kilometer across all 27 EU member states. The data was gathered from veterinary associations, pet ownership surveys, and national statistics offices (2023–2024). To ensure comparability, all figures were normalised by land area using official Eurostat land surface data.

Each country received a Feline Density Score calculated as:

FDS = Total Estimated Cat Population / Land Area (km²)

The percentage of households that have a cat was gathered from Statista.

The final index was calculated based on the ranking of each country from 1 to 27 by comparing them across the 2 aforementioned categories.

Countries were then ranked from highest to lowest based on FDS.