Cats from Arure {La Gomera}

La Gomera is the second-smallest of the seven Spanish Canary Islands (after El Hierro). Located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Africa, it is only 20 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide. 

Most tourists here are daytrippers from Tenerife who want to discover the dramatic landscapes and quiet mountain villages of La Gomera. 

One of the most popular walks on La Gomera is in Arure. 

The hike provides a sense of adventure as you have to climb several boulders, ledges, and cliffs before arriving at a beautiful waterfall. 

Not many people know, though, that the volcanic island of La Gomera is also a holiday destination for cat lovers. 

Generally, most tourists don't like the many stray cats of La Gomera (most of which are being spayed and neutered by Pro Animal Gomera). But if you love to hike and enjoy beautiful scenery in the company of a bunch of cats, La Gomera may be right up your alley. 

 Text and photos by Claudia Mannes

Cat from Brussels {Belgium}

I spent the past three weeks at the Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels where I introduced several of their movies. In the superb Galerie du Roi, near the cinema where the festival takes place, I saw this tuxedo kitty outside Mokafé, a popular brasserie known for its typical Belgian dishes.

With his cute poses, the cat was entertaining the guests as they were enjoying their Belgian waffles and coffee. 

Rumor has it the cat is Mokafé's most regular visitor.

According to this YouTube video, Mokafé used to have another resident cat: Moka. Unfortunately, Moka passed away in June 2007.

P.S. Have you also seen the cat from Le Vieux Bruxelles, the cat from Chez Léon, and Jean-Claude from Au Soleil?

Cats from Hiriwadunna {Sri Lanka}

“Hiriwadunna is a paradise for cat lovers like me,” says travel blogger Laurel Robbins. 

 The first kitty she encountered during her Hiriwadunna Village Trek tour was on an onion farm. “Hiriwadunna is a village of approximately 2500 people. While I can't say that cows outnumber people here, I can say that onions do. And if you happen to be one of the cats living there, you have the added bonus of always having toys to play with!” 

 Laurel encountered another cat on after climbing a coconut tree. “As we dug into our coconut milk straight from the coconut, I learned that cats love coconut milk! This guy couldn’t get enough!”

 But it was only when Laurel met the cats that live with an elephant scarer, that she knew that Hiriwadunna is a paradise for cat lovers (In case you're wondering, an elephant scarer is a farmer who prevents elephants from decimating the crop by standing guard all night in a watch tower and yelling when any elephants approach).

 The Hiriwadunna Village Trek benefits the surrounding communities by providing self-employment and partnership opportunities. 

 Check out Laurel's travel blog Monkeys and Mountains for travel stories and pictures.

Cats from Deià {Mallorca}

Travel blogger Claudia Mannes sent in these beautiful pictures of Deià, a foreign artists' colony situated in the Tramuntana mountains on the island of Mallorca.

“I visited Deià several times, and the cats are always present,” says Mannes. 

“There are many things I like about Deià, such as the cemetery, but what I prefer about this village are its cats. They are definitely the most photographed and sought-after attraction in Deià. Even guidebooks write about them.” 

“Most of these cats belong to a lady called Joanna Kuhne. She's an American engineer who, after graduating, hired a sailing boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. When the boat arrived in Mallorca, she first fell in love with Deià and then with her future husband. Together, they opened a café where Joanna began to exhibit her ceramics. After a while, Joanna could live off her art, so they didn't have to keep the café. They now live a happy, artistic existence in the company of their cats.”

Also check out our story about the cat that became a local celebrity in Gračišće, Croatia.

Cat from Rome {Italy}

This Roman kitty is sitting in front of Bocca della Verità - The Mouth of Truth. Rumor has it the statue will bite your hand off if you're telling a lie. The Mouth Of Truth makes an appearance in the 1953 movie Roman Holiday, in which Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck challenge each other to tell the truth in front of the statue.

Cat picture by: Giancarlo Gasponi

P.S. Roman cats at the Spanish Steps and the restaurant Da Meo Pataca.