How many cats are there in the world and in Russia?

Pet popularity varies across countries: in some places, cats are more popular, while in others, dogs are. Russia is among the countries where cats are favored: according to Dalia Research, 59% of households have at least one pet. The World Atlas Geographical Service once calculated the total number of cats in the world, and the estimate was successful.

According to WorldAtlas:

The total number of cats in the world
There are approximately 400 million cats worldwide. The exact number is difficult to determine: various estimates range from 200 to 600 million individuals. These estimates include both domestic pets and stray and feral cats.
Countries with the most cats
The United States remains the world's largest cat population, with approximately 76.5 million animals. China ranks second with 53 million cats. Russia, with 12.75 million, ranks third in the world.
European countries with the largest cat populations
In Europe, France and Italy have the largest cat populations, with 9.5 million in each country. Over the past decade, the feline population in the EU has grown, and they are quickly becoming one of the most popular pets on the continent.

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1 Love for cats in the world

Love for cats in the world

According to statistics, there are approximately 600 million cats worldwide, but only 200 million of them are domesticated. Some people keep pets for religious reasons, others use them to control rodents, and still others simply can't resist a furry bundle of joy and adopt one. A list of the 10 most cat-friendly countries was recently compiled.

United States of America

According to the World Atlas, approximately 76.5 million cats live in the United States. One in three families has a furry pet, and many have more than one. Having two or three cats per house is considered normal for Americans. They don't pursue breeds and often adopt pets from animal shelters or from the streets. In this country, it's common to give kittens as gifts for holidays, and according to statistics, only 3% of these are elite breeds.

China

Despite the horrific tradition of killing and eating cats (their meat is considered a delicacy in the southern provinces), China ranks second in the world for the popularity of these animals. There are approximately 53 million cats in the country. Residents readily adopt them from the streets and shelters, and just as readily part with them when they grow tired of them. The number of strays is growing exponentially every year, leading to the establishment of organizations in China in recent years that protect animals from human abuse. Even at the state level, humanitarian programs have already been developed to combat strays.

Russia

Local experts have attempted to calculate the number of cats living in Russia, and their data is far more compelling than the global average: 30 million versus 12.5 million. In Russia, cats even outnumber dogs: 37% versus 30%. Every third family has a pet: two-thirds of them adopt a kitten from the street, and one-third from catteries. Every year, cat shelters open in cities large and small: this is how the government and volunteers combat the growing number of strays. Our breeders have even developed a new breed – the Russian Blue.

Brazil

Brazil shares fourth place with Russia, with 12.5 million cats counted there. The data is approximate and based on an analysis of pet food and accessory sales. Over the past 10 years, Brazil has experienced a real cat boom, with sales of cat products increasing by 37% annually. Comparing these same figures to Russia, it's safe to say that there are more pets than stray cats in our country.

France

In Old Europe, cats are valued not as pets but as fashion accessories. A black cat has even been chosen as the country's symbol. France is perhaps the only country where the number of pets can be accurately counted, as every animal is registered in a national database. They are microchipped or tagged with the owner's information. According to the World Atlas, the French are home to 9.5 million cats.

Italy

This country is not far behind France, yet people's attitudes toward cats are radically different. Here, love reigns supreme: there is no registration, every family has at least two cats, and strays are adopted. Complete freedom—that's the principle by which animals live in Italy. They are not kept in shelters, but simply fed and released into the wild, and cats are freely allowed access to shops and cafes.

United Kingdom

The cat population in Britain stands at 7.75 million. The country has laws protecting pets, and the rise in strays is closely monitored, as nearly 85% of kittens in England are born unplanned. State shelters are being opened, and volunteer programs are receiving financial support. Sterilization programs are being implemented to reduce the number of stray cats.

Germany

Germans adore cats just as much as the British, with the German Geographical Society also counting 7.7 million felines. Here, the animals are treated with special affection: they are given expensive food and accessories, and are walked on leashes like dogs. However, the problem of stray cats persists: authorities have been forced to ban the free-roaming of unneutered cats to prevent their uncontrolled reproduction.

Ukraine

There are 7.5 million cats in this country, half of which are domesticated, elite, or simple mousers, while the rest are strays. The rights of strays are completely unprotected at the state level, there are no penalties for abandoning pets, and the opening of shelters is left entirely to volunteers.

Japan

It's surprising that the Land of the Rising Sun ranked 10th in the World Atlas, given that it boasts a cat temple and even cat islands. Cafes and salons for these furry pets are opening. The cat population is estimated at 7.2 million.

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