Cats from Málaga {Spain}

Feral cat communities can mainly be found in three different places in Málaga. Most of the cats reside at the Alcazaba fortress, but you can also find them at the Roman theater and at the Castle of Gibralfaro, which are all located in the proximity of each other.

The Alcazaba fortress stems from the 9th century. It is built against the Gibralfaro mountain and towers high above the city, which means that the views from atop the walls and gardens are stunning. From here, you can see the port of Málaga and the peer Muelle Uno on one side, and the Montes de Málaga and the old center on the other.

Just like the Alhambra in Granada, the building features many Arabic influences from the time of the Moorish rule, such as richly-decorated arches and an irrigation system in the gardens.

The cats of Málaga are protected and well cared for. They are being spayed and neutered and receive medical treatment whenever necessary. Volunteers feed them on a daily basis.

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You can find the majority of the cats near the lowest roads leading up to the Alcazaba.

These cats are not afraid of people, but during the tourist season and on weekends, they prefer to nap in the bushes where you can't easily see them.

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On quieter days, however, the cats are everywhere you look.

Some of them remain shy, while others are sociable and seek out your company.

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An entrance to the Alcazaba costs 3,50 euros, but you can visit the surrounding gardens and the cats without buying a ticket.

For 5,50 euros, the ticket also includes a visit to the higher located Castle of Gibralfaro where even more cats will be waiting for you.

It's possible to book your tickets to the Alcazaba Castle and the Roman Theater in advance. This way, you can rest assured you won't miss out on the cats of Málaga.

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Text and photos: Vanessa Morgan

Cats from Churriana de la Vega {Spain}

Churriana de la Vega is a small town, situated 20 minutes from Granada in Spain. Only about 13,000 people live there, and it's not the type of place that tourists have a reason to visit, although it's always nice to have your morning coffee al fresco with a view on the Sierra Nevada mountains. Or maybe you'd like to visit to see some of the local cats.

You'll find the majority of the cats in the alleys surrounding the Calle San Ramón.

They can also be found at a few abandoned sites.

And there's always a black cat lurking about the Plaza Maestro Antonio Agustín, especially near the tapas bar El Mosquetero. Maybe the cat knows that you get free tapas in this bar.

Would you like to visit Churriana de la Vega to meet the local cats?

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Cats from Cologne {Germany}

Each year, millions of tourists from around the world visit Cologne, Germany, to stroll around the famous Christmas markets (or “Weihnachtsmarkt,” as they say in German) and soak up the magical atmosphere.

But if you really want to make the most of your stay in Cologne, you can't go without a visit to a small, cat-friendly place called Café Schnurrke.

Café Schnurrke (the name comes from the German word for “purring”) is one of the coziest cafés you can go to in Cologne.

It's decorated as a living room – complete with vintage sofas and cute decorations – and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.

The best thing about it, however, are the four cats that roam the premises.

The concept is based upon the Japanese tradition of the “cat café,” a place where people spend a couple of hours cuddling cats because they are not allowed to have any pets in their own tiny apartments. Cat cafés have since become popular all over the world, with new cafés popping up in almost every major city.

Freddy is the most sociable cat in the café.

Born in 2017, he was found as a kitten in a dustbin in Sofia, Bulgaria, and was transported to Germany so he could spend the rest of his life snoring at Café Schnurrke. He immediately adapted to his new environment and loves meeting new people.

He also loves all kinds of food and just takes what is his, even though it happens to be on your plate.

Just like Freddy, Lora was found inside a dustbin in Sofia. She may seem reticent at first, but once she has assessed the situation she loves to play. She's less of an attention-seeker than Freddy, though, and she isn't fond of children.

Cheri is the oldest of the bunch. She's almost always sleeping in the back of the café, behind the kitchen, where no one can see her. She doesn't like cuddles and prefers to be left alone.

And then there's Cleo, who was born in May 2014. Before her arrival at Café Schnurrke, she used to be a restaurant cat, but she was never really welcome there, especially once she got kittens.

What to eat and drink at the cat café?

Only vegan and vegetarian snacks are served, such as home-made soup and cake.

There's also a wide variety of hot drinks and homemade lemonade. Around Christmas, you can also opt for flavored lattes or spiced hot chocolate.

How to get to the cat café?

Cafe Schnurrke is located just outside of Cologne's main city center, about a 15-minute walk from Cologne Cathedral.

Address: Ritterstraße 27, 50668 Cologne, Germany

Opening hours

From Tuesday to Friday from 12 am until 6 pm 

Saturday and Sunday from 11 am until 6 pm

Check out their Facebook page for more info and to make a reservation.

Although booking your spot beforehand isn't mandatory, it's always better to do so because the place is small and the café fills up quickly. And you wouldn't want to miss out on those amazing cats, would you?

A few other cat cafés to check out:

Espai de Gats (Barcelona) 

Meowtropolitan (Seattle) 

Le café des chats (Paris)

Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium (London)

Kuro Neko (Kortrijk)

La ronronnerie (Nice)

Cats from Granada {Spain}

According to the cat rescue organization Animalica, the Campo del Príncipe is the spot where you can find the largest population of community cats in Granada.

The place was built in 1497 to celebrate the wedding of Prince Juan and Margarita of Austria. Before that, it used to be an old Muslim cemetery.

Around the Campo del Príncipe are several bars and restaurants where you can sit outside to enjoy the view... and the cats.

There is also a recreational area for children.

At first, it may be hard to spot the cats.

But if you sit on one of the benches for a while, or if you enjoy a drink at one of the surrounding bars, it'll be impossible not to notice entire clowders of felines going about their day.

They especially come out of their hiding places once the volunteers arrive with food.

Even though the majority of the cats hang out at the side of the restaurants and bars, they seem to know they are not allowed to ask the customers for food, and they stay at their side of the Campo.

You will rarely see a cat in the middle of the Campo del Príncipe, except for that rare adventurous feline that loves to venture outside of his comfort zone.

The community cats of Granada are all protected and fed on a daily basis by a number of volunteers.

The organization Animalica catches the cats to spay and neuter them so their numbers won't increase too much.

From here, you can easily walk up to the Alhambra where more cats will be waiting for you.

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Cats from Granada {Spain}

The Alhambra in Granada is the most visited monument in all of Spain. It was built in the 9th century starting as a military zone and became the royal residence and court of Granada in the 13th century after the establishment of the Nasrid kingdom. It is now a Unesco World Heritage Site, consisting of several palaces (Alcazaba, Charles V, Nasrid) and a garden area (Generalife). The fortress sits on a hill overlooking the river Darro and the Sierra Nevada.

Several cats have gathered in and around the Alhambra, making sure you look at them and not at the beautiful architecture.

Haven't we always known cats are meant to live at a palace?

In order to visit the Alhambra, it's best to book your tickets in advance, otherwise, chances are you won't be able to get in. The Nasrid Palace, in particular, is hard to get into without a reservation.

However, it's always possible to go see the Alhambra from the outside, which is also where the majority of the cats reside.

They particularly love to hang around the restaurant La Mimbre...

... and can be quite demanding of attention and food.

They often come and sit on the stools next to the customers (and sometimes even on the tables), hoping to get their share of the tapas.

When their bellies are full, they retreat for a nap.

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