As pet lovers hungry for travel, we understand the excitement of spotting your favourite animal while exploring the world. And while dogs are often a friendlier companion to meet on holiday, there’s no feeling like that joy of seeing a cat while travelling for cat enthusiasts. This is why we’ve gathered 6 top destinations around the world that cat lovers must visit in 2025 – because why wouldn’t we combine your love for cats with travel?
Welcome to the cat island of Aoshima, Japan
Photo by Peter Lam CH on Unsplash
Move aside, herds of deer in Nara because Aoshima Island is the spot cat lovers must visit in Japan. Nicknamed the “Cat Island”, Aoshima is set in the Ehime Prefecture in the northwestern part of Shikoku. It’s allegedly the oldest cat island in the world, with the introduction of cats starting in the 1940s, although its involvement with feline enthusiasm began as an accident.
Aoshima Island was previously a bustling fishing village but rat infestation soon became a problem as they damaged the fishermen’s nets. This was when cats were brought to the island as natural hunters, skillfully eliminating rodent issues for the villagers. However, fishing activities slowed for the villagers but the cat population continued to grow over time.
Today, there are approximately 200 cats roaming freely on Aoshima Island. This is a stark contrast to its 6 elderly residents who voluntarily remain to feed and care for the cats. Thankfully, the popularity of Aoshima Island as a Cat Island continues to grow thanks to word of mouth and multiple viral social media posts.
If you’re a cat lover who would like to visit Aoshima Island and see its feline residents for yourself, you’ll have to first make your way to the Nagahama Port. This is set roughly 40 minutes away from Tokyo. Two ferries depart from the port daily at 8 AM and 2:30 PM, but only one returns from the island at 4:30 PM. Unfortunately, bad weather conditions may result in the cancellation of these ferries, so you’ll want to plan ahead should you wish to travel to Cat Island.
Is Tashirojima, Japan the next spot that cat lovers must visit?
Photo by Japan Cheapo
But Aoshima isn’t the only destination cat lovers must visit in Japan. Located towards the north of Japan lies Tashirojima, a rural island off the coast of the Ishinomaki City in the Miyagi prefecture. While it’s home to less than 100 residents, the population of felines is upwards of approximately 200 cats. These furry companions are left to roam the streets freely and collectively cared for by the remaining residents and tourists who pop in the “Cat Island” to meet them.
Fishing and silkworm farming were the island’s main industries, so it came as no surprise that islanders would bring in cats to help with pest control in the past. Fishermen also saw these semi-wild cats as a good luck charm, going as far as to build a small cat shrine known as Nekokamisama in the middle of the island. Funny enough, the shrine is even shaped to look like a cat and is located by the road between the Odomari and Nitoda villages.
However, it’s good to note that Tashirojima wasn’t built to be a tourist island hence you’ll find a lack of tourist-friendly facilities. With only a handful of shops and restaurants mostly servicing the locals, it may feel shocking when you first set foot on the island. On the flip side, the peaceful lifestyle is a great shift from our otherwise busy lifestyles and is often embraced by those who visit.
For pet lovers looking to head to Tashirojima, you can take a boat from the Ajishima Line Chuo ferry pier that sits across the water from the Ishinomori Manga Museum. For those commuting across Japan by train, you can reach the pier after stopping at the Ishinomaki Station and walking for about 15 minutes.
There are 3 to 4 round trips made daily, with most ferries making a stop at Tashirojima Island before ending at Ajishima Island. Each trip takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes, so do plan ahead if you plan to come meet the felines of Tashirojima.
ATTENTIOn, CAT LOVERS: Hong Kong’s cats are the true shopkeepers
Photo by Mandy Choi on Unsplash
On top of being an iconic shopping destination for many, shops in Hong Kong hold just another secret – the feline shopkeepers who truly run the show. That’s right, plenty of shops in Hong Kong often have a cat or two lazing away whether in-store, behind the counters, or just by the door to “greet” the customers. Thankfully, Hong Kong is just a quick trip away from Kuala Lumpur when travelling with Holiday Tours and you may even snag great deals on Cathay Pacific flights between now and the 31st of March 2026!
But how did the cats become a symbol to businesses in Hong Kong? As it happens, Hong Kong is an important trading hub. Packed with stores and warehouses, the occasional lack of sanitation meant that pests and rodents would run rampant. This not only posed a risk to the health of the shopkeepers, staff, and customers but also to the goods that would be destroyed.
Enter the natural predators of rodents like rats and mice as well as insects – the cats. With their swift paws and perhaps questionable work ethics, having cats meant that businesses had their pest issues under control without having to resort to harmful chemicals. The introduction of cats to businesses has since then become a tradition that you’ll still see across many shops and even warehouses in Hong Kong today.
Cats are an iconic addition to many shops especially in areas such as Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun. But beyond having them at “work” with pest control, cats are seen as lucky omens who bring good fortune and attract customers to these businesses. In fact, some pet lovers have even admitted to entering a store just to meet the “true” shopkeepers who have become somewhat a celebrity to holidaymakers.
While it’s adorable to meet these cats in business, we do recommend getting the permission of shop owners should you wish to snap pictures of these furry companions. Plenty of businesses are often happy to oblige and some have even dressed up their cats to be camera-ready, but this mark of respect can go a long way to helping keep this tradition alive and thriving for other cat lovers to enjoy in the future.
Cat lovers must visit the city of your feline dreams: Istanbul, Turkey
Photo by Kaan Melhemci on Unsplash
Long known for their love for cats, Istanbul in Turkey is a must-visit for anyone who proclaims the need to pet every cat. Nicknamed the “World Capital of Cats”, Istanbul’s love for these feline companions allegedly dates back to the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Like many destinations worldwide, cats were primarily cared for to help with rodents and pest control in Istanbul in the past and stayed on for many centuries after.
Seen as naturally clean animals, the existence of cats around the city also blends well with the Turkish culture of cleanliness. Most cats around Istanbul are often allowed to freely roam, which means they don’t belong to a particular family or business, and rather that they are communally cared for. Instead, cat lovers will probably catch glimpses of little houses outside restaurants and hotels that welcome any cat who wants a shelter to curl up for a nap during the day or to stay the night.
Many residents will also put out fresh water and food for cats to nibble on, so no cat ever goes hungry on the streets of Istanbul. And if you’re a visitor looking to feed an approaching feline but suddenly find yourself empty-handed, you wouldn’t have to worry about disappointing your new friend. This is as coin-operated vending machines that dispense cat food can be found scattered across the city – just another sign of how much this city loves their cats!
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is one of the most popular destinations in Istanbul where you’ll spot cats simply roaming about, as the love for felines is just as deeply rooted in the Islamic community. In fact, there was once a cat celebrity named Gli who amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram and lived around the Hagia Sophia before its passing in 2020. Today, you’ll find just as many feline friends hanging about the mosque to bring a smile to pet lovers who pass by.
Houtong, Taiwan is a cat lover’s paradise
Photo by Taiwan Obsessed
Located just an hour away from the Taipei Main Station via the Jiufeng rail line, the little town of Houtong in Ruifang is a true cat lover’s paradise. Also known as the Houtong Cat Village, the little town used to be the residential village of coal miners from the 1890s. Interestingly, the name “Houtong” actually referred to the coal mining cave that used to be home to some wild monkeys. This former mining cave can also be visited today for a small fee, although these primates have long left the village altogether.
Unfortunately, as the coal mining industry began its decline, so did the number of residents. This left Houtong as an abandoned village, with many of the younger generation moving away in search of better opportunities in larger cities within Taiwan or even going abroad.
The fate of this village, however, took a better turn in 2008 when a fellow cat lover advocated to turn Houtong into a safe space for abandoned cats. Alongside other feline enthusiasts, they began taking to social media to introduce the cats of Houtong. This resulted in a nationwide spread of support that later turned the village into a worldwide sensation.
These days, over 200 cats can be found roaming around Houtong Village and living their best lives as they are cared for by volunteer groups including veterinarians. Aside from providing food and shelter, these cat lovers also deliver medications and vaccines that help with the well-being of the cats in the village. Most cats on the island are also neutered and spayed to keep overbreeding at bay.
Thanks to its soaring popularity among tourists, you’ll often find many cat-themed restaurants and souvenir shops lining the streets of Houtong waiting to greet pet lovers like yourself. The village’s connection via the Pingxi Railway also makes it a great pit stop if you’re on your way to the Shifen Village where you can see the iconic sky lanterns, or if you just want a cute day trip to fulfil your cat petting quota.
A “kucing” lover’s must-visit spot: This is Kuching, Malaysia
And finally, how can we forget a city in our homeland that quite literally has a cat in its name – Kuching? Nicknamed “Cat City”, this capital of Sarawak is a beautiful gem with plenty to see and do especially if you love all things cats.
To start off, the Padungan Roundabout Cat Statue which was built in 1988 should be on every visitor’s itinerary. Made to commemorate Kuching City Day which falls on the 1st of August annually, this 9-foot-tall statue has its left paw raised and appears to wave at oncoming traffic that whizzes by. While left clean and white on most days, local pet lovers often dress up the cat in traditional costumes during major festivals such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and even Christmas.
Many cat lovers often make a pitstop to capture a moment with the Great White Cat, and you’ll also see how well-kept the statue is with the flourishing flowers and shrubbery surrounding it. You’ll also find plenty of other cat statues and cat-themed art pieces sprawled across the city, making it a fun day-out activity as you explore Kuching.
The world’s first cat museum can be found in this city, housing over 4,000 cat-related items across four galleries. Known as the DBKU Cat Museum, this unique attraction for cat lovers can be found in the lobby of the Kuching North City Hall Headquarters and is spread out to over 1,000 square meters. The town hall itself also offers a beautiful view over Kuching City as it’s located atop Bukit Siol which sits 60 meters above sea level.
Of course, if you’d like to spot some real feline friends during your trip to Kuching, then we recommend heading down to the Sarawak River or Chinatown. This is as plenty of cats are often hanging about the area and you may even slip into a cat café that operates along the river.
So, what are you waiting for, cat lovers? It’s time to pack your bags and get in touch with our holiday advisors to plan the next holiday where you can give every cat around the world the affection and head scratches they deserve!