Cat from Leiden {Netherlands}

Your first stop when visiting Leiden in the Netherlands should be Begraafplaats Groenesteeg. This 19th century cemetery not only makes for one of the area's prettiest walks in nature; it also has a four-legged gatekeeper: a cat.

This pretty feline seems to be a fixture of Begraafplaats Groenesteeg. She loves rubbing herself against visitors' legs while following them around the cemetery. Once in a while, she sneaks away to chase after some geese.

It looks like the graves are in good paws.

Photos by Catspotting Leiden

Cat from London {England}

For a long time, Lily was a bit of a mystery cat. Although she can be found at the Anglesea Arms most days, she doesn't actually live there. But when live-in Australian deputy-manager Kathryn Wild comes down to get the pub ready for the day, somewhere around 11am, Lily will usually appear outside the window, peering in, patiently waiting for someone to open the front door for her. If Kathryn is not around, then the cleaner will usually oblige.

The elderly feline - who is predominantly white with patches of rusty-brown and black on her face, and a raccoon-like, bushy striped tail - will usually spend most of each day inside, curled up on the shelf of a mirrored, wood-panelled pillar facing the door or, in colder weather, sleeping on one of the big leather sofas beside the fire. She is such a fixture that she has her own food bowl, which gets filled twice a day. It sits below and to the left of her portrait, painted by local artist Jenny Abbott.

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As the pub doesn't open until 5pm Monday to Thursday, she's left undisturbed all afternoon.

Later on, she grudgingly shares her domain with the paying customers. She used to get a little gnarly with anyone who disturbed her, but she has mellowed with age, says Kathryn. Then each evening, come closing time, she departs."She might be sleeping but I just have to say, 'Lily, it's time,' and she'll get up and leave straight away," says manager Chris Welburn.

The mystery was, where did she go? That was solved when a customer came in and identified Lily as her cat. She lives locally, although she spends far more time at the pub than at home. When her owner comes in, Lily always acts as though she doesn't know her.

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It is a very cat-friendly neighborhood. The Anglesea is within what estate agents call Brackenbury Village, a network of pretty terraced streets lined with affluent homes, boutiquey shops and not much traffic. The pub itself is a handsome place, particularly following a four-month refurb in 2014 when the place was taken over by new owners George and Richard Manners. Predating their arrival, the pub had a solid reputation as one of London's original gastropubs, and it still has an excellent kitchen serving lunch Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and dinner seven nights a week.

The Manners brothers own six independent pubs across south-west London, each with its own character. There is one thing they all have in common: like the Anglesea, the Cumberland Arms and Dartmouth Castle, both in Hammersmith, the Swan in Chiswick, Atlas in Fulham, and Fox & Hounds on Latchmere Road in Battersea all have cats. Not all of them are as comfortable around people as Lily and some keep to the staff quarters upstairs, never venturing into the bar.

No one knows for sure how old Lily is, though Kathryn suspects she's "getting on" because she sometimes has difficulty seeing her food.

"We now have to rattle her bowl to let her know where it is," says Kathryn.

Lily still, however, maintains her peculiar habit of flipping the biscuits out of her bowl, one by one, before eating them.

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What she really loves, though, are prawns.

She has in the past leapt onto a customer's table and attempted to swipe the crustaceans.

She isn't allowed in the dining room, a rule that she respects, but people can order food to eat in the bar and regulars sometimes buy her a half-pint glass of prawns of her own.

That can get a bit messy as Lily prefers that you peel the prawns for her.

Brisbane-native Kathryn, who started at the pub at the end of 2014, says it's partly Lily's fault she's still in the UK: "The plan had been to work the summer and then go traveling, but I grew too attached to Lily," she confesses. "I've just moved in upstairs and my plan is now to entice Lily up there to join me, permanently."

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Address: Anglesea Arms, 35 Wingate Road, W6 (Ravenscourt Park tube)

Facilities: Exhibits and sells the work of local artists, outside seating, real fire

Drinks: Global wine list, decent selection of real ales

Food: High-end gastro pub selling locally sourced, seasonal produce. Menu changes daily

Text and photos: London Pubcats

Cats from Westende {Belgium}

Have you read the terrifying suspense book The Strangers Outside?

If you have, you may be familiar with the location featured in these photos.

In The Strangers Outside, two families go on vacation to a resort at the Belgian seaside village Westende. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Shortly after their arrival, they come face to face with 'the strangers outside.' When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn, and an intense battle for survival will begin.

The cats on these photos live near the vacation rental where the story's main characters are staying and being slaughtered.

To quote the book: “It was a massive complex of independent structures, each connected by meandering pathways. Louise’s grandmother called the brown houses with low flat ceilings 'military bunkers.' Even the long, narrow gardens looked alike. Ugly or not, they conveyed a sense of security, warmth, and safety.”

The house where these cats live, although it's located outside of the complex, is featured in the book as well.

At a certain point, a character named Claire manages to escape from the masked strangers and runs out of the domain and toward the only house that is showing some light. From behind the window, she sees a senior couple watching a game show on television from the comfort of their soft leather futon. She pounds the door and rings the doorbell, but despite Claire's effort to get their attention, the couple doesn't hear her. Meanwhile, the masked figures are approaching fast.

Westende is a lot more peaceful than in the novel, though, so the cats are safe. In fact, they seemed to be rather spoiled, so no need to worry.

Do you want to see these cats yourself?

They live in a street named Jagerspad in Westende. The main resort from the novel is located in the Heidestraat, just in front.

Will you dare to read The Strangers Outside before visiting these cats? Then why not enter the Rafflecopter below to win this book? Open worldwide.

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Cat from Champex {Switzerland}

I went for a walk in Champex, Switzerland, and found this cute little cat 😊 He wasn't afraid of the thunderstorm starting behind in the mountain.

Text and photo: Thibaut Villenet

Cat from Alexandria {Egypt}

This majestic beast was spotted in Alexandria, Egypt, on our honeymoon. We spotted quite a few feral kitties, but this one might have been my favorite. We were told the cats there steal fish right off the boats of the fishermen. I'm positive he was a white bearded sea captain in a former life.

Text and photos: Charlene Warren

Cats from Stratford-upon-Avon {England}

Blogger Hayley Warren is on a mission to visit every cat café in the UK, and she writes about her feline adventures on her travel, food & lifestyle blog Strangeness & Charm.

One of the most remarkable cat cafés she has ever visited is the Shakespaw Cat Café in Stratford-upon-Avon. "It has to be in my top 5 cat cafés," Hayley says.

Let's take a look inside.

The decor is quirky and cozy and makes you feel like you're in someone's living room. "I felt so relaxed there, and I loved just sitting at my table and watching the cats," Hayley says. "I had a great chat about the cats with one member of staff, Sam. You could tell that she really loves each and every one. The same can be said for the rest of the staff who were there on that day."

Shakespaw houses seven cats from different breeds.

First, there's Viola, a tabby with a very active personality. She's always wandering around and jumping on tables.

The three white cats are called Romeo, Juliet and Tybalt. Can you tell them apart?

"Hermione is the Ragdoll," Hayley says. "While I was there, she spent most of the time asleep in a suitcase, but she did get up for a play before I left."

Puck is the black and white male. He's also the youngest of this clowder of cats.

And then there's Bottom, a grumpy Persian who rarely grooms himself (that's a human's job).

To enter the cat café, you have to pay a £5 entry fee, which goes directly towards the cats' food, toys, litter, and medical assistance. For that sum, you can enjoy 90 minutes of pure, unadulterated feline bliss. It's many cheaper than many of the other cat cafés in the UK (such as Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium).

On the menu, you'll find a decent selection of finger sandwiches and cake (with gluten-free and vegan options), hot drinks, soft drinks, and cocktails. However, you are not allowed to share this food with Shakespaw's feline residents.

You'll find Shakespaws Cat Café on 6 Union Street, which is right in the center of Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It's open every day, except Tuesdays, from 10 am to 6 pm.

It's possible to book your visit online, though the place is not always packed. "When I was there on a Thursday afternoon, the café was pretty quiet," Hayley says. "When I arrived there was just one other table occupied, and when they left, another couple came in, but only stayed for half an hour. So, I pretty much had the whole cat café to myself."

Just like in the Kuro Neko Cat Café in Kortrijk, children and dogs are not allowed inside because they can't guarantee the happiness and safety of the cats. However, Shakespaw does host workshops for children where they teach them about the correct way to handle cats.

"I really enjoyed my visit to Shakespaw Cat Café, and I will definitely be going back," Hayley says. "It was such a friendly atmosphere and all of the cats were lovely."

Read more about Hayley's visit of the Shakespaw Cat Café at Strangeness & Charm.