Attention, cat parents! Here are the most cat-friendly cities in the US for this year.
The American Vet Medical Association says that approximately 32 million US residents have one feline at home. That's about 1 in every four families! This number has also swelled quickly because of the pet adoption boom during the coronavirus pandemic.
However, not all cities in the US are equal when it comes to being ideal cities for cats and their owners. With this in mind, these are the top 10 best cities for cats and their humans to live in in 2021 based on the study by Petfinder.
How Do We Know What Cat-Friendly Cities Are?
The metrics used consisted of the following:
- The number of American Association of Feline Practitioners Licensed Cat Veterinary Practice.
- A high presence of Animal Shelter & Welfare Group in the area.
- The city has several pet stores.
- A high percentage of homes Denoted as "Cat-Friendly," with favorable housing features as high ceilings, extra bathrooms for storing litter boxes, and those with safe outdoor spaces for cats.
The result was a complicated scoring system that rates the most feline-friendly cities for 2021.
Without further ado, here are the Most Cat-Friendly US Cities for 2021. We will present them in a reverse order *drumroll*
10. Denver, CO
We open with Denver, Colorado as one of the best cities for cat lovers. Though the city is lagging in the number of pet shelters, the Mile High City was 2nd for feline-friendly housing, with 82.8% readily available services for cats.
9. Greensboro, NC
Greensboro is the nine most cat-friendly city in America, scoring solid marks in the number of pet sanctuaries, accredited veterinarians, and nearby facilities to cater for cats and cat-friendly rental homes. The town got an overall A grade in this study.
8. Orlando, FL
Orlando scored highest in the nation for animal shelters and pet stores, with over 12.5 sanctuaries and 16.7 pet stores per 100,000 locals. While strong in the categories mentioned, Orlando was held back at 8th place by a lower-than-average rating for feline-friendly housing.
7. Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida, is the best city for cat owners in Florida and the 7th best across the whole US. The city bagged excellent marks in animal sanctuaries, veterinarians, and pet stores. Nonetheless, those trying to find cat-friendly housing might have a bumpy ride, as only 50% of all rental properties are cat-friendly rental properties.
6. St. Louis, MO
St. Louis is the 6th best city for cat owners in America, positioning itself in the top 3 for every category in our ranking. The city beamed for pet sanctuaries specifically, where it had the 5th highest number in the country. About 64% of real estate housing in St. Louis is cat-friendly.
5. Minneapolis, MN
If you're trying to find a new cat-friendly house, Minneapolis provides excellent access to pet stores. It also comes 4th in cities with the highest number of pet shelters and rescue institutions per capita. This cat-friendly city also has a lot of choices when it comes to cat-friendly rental homes, with just under two-thirds of all listings allowing a feline companion.
4. Richmond, VA
Richmond is the 4th best city for cat owners. It is the leading city in the country for pet sanctuaries & rescue and welfare groups, and certified cat vets. Richmond is positioned in the 99th and 94th percentile for shelters and veterinarians, respectively.
3. Madison, WI
Madison places 3rd because of its solid metrics throughout all the metrics. If you are looking to find a new veterinarian for your cat, this is the city for you; Madison has the second-highest number of AAFP-certified vets per person in the whole country.
2. Rose City, OR
Rose city is 2nd on this list, racking up solid marks for feline-friendly housing and AAFP accredited veterinarian practices. The city's housing market keeps itself at the 92nd percentile nationwide for cat friendliness. While stable throughout all the mentioned categories, Rose city was held back on top due to fewer pet shops compared to other cities.
1. Birmingham, AL
Birmingham snatched the most car-friendly city in America! It got high scores across every category. The city has an abundance of AAFP-certified feline veterinary practices, animal sanctuaries, and the 3rd highest concentration of pet stores per head. Birmingham's housing market is likewise suitable for a cat owner, with 81% of all available rental properties allowing cats—the sixth-highest possible in the nation.
That wraps up our list!
Some Honorable Mentions:
- Ft Wayne, IN
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Seattle, WA
- Omaha, NE
- Tulsa, OK
- St. Paul, MN
- Sacramento, CA
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Reno, NV
- Cincinnati, OH
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Albuquerque, NM
- Wichita, KS
Recap:
The study examined the 100 most populous American cities using four crucial indications of feline-friendliness: percentage of cat-friendly real estate, the amount of American Organization of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) certified cat veterinary practices, the number of pet sanctuaries and well-being teams, and several animal stores on Yelp. Birmingham, Alabama, therefore, came out as the most cat-friendly US city for 2021.
The city got an A+ score: 81% of rental buildings permit cats, and the city has an abundance of vets and shelters. Birmingham, Alabama is followed by Portland, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Richmond, Virginia; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; Tampa Bay and Orlando, Florida; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Denver, Colorado.
The cities at the bottom of this list with D and F quality scores are Philly, Pennsylvania; Fremont, The Golden State; Paradise, Nevada; Newark, New Jacket; New York City, New York City; Corpus Christi, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; and El Paso, Texas.
Is your city included in the best or worst cities for cats? Share it with us in the comments!
