These 25 Cities Are Home to the Biggest Cat Lovers in the Country—Did Your Hometown Make the List?

Cat lovers can be found nearly anywhere, but some U.S. cities take their feline fandom to the next level—from bustling hubs like Los Angeles to underrated gems like Falls Church, Virginia.

Discover which 25 U.S. cities have the most “cattitude” according to new data from PetSmart. Plus, learn how you can boost your own city’s ranking!

Cat Adoption Numbers Keep Climbing

Rise up, cat parents—it continues to be your moment. Cat adoptions continue to outpace dog adoptions in the U.S., making up a staggering percentage of adoptions at PetSmart, especially. Almost every PetSmart store in the U.S. has adoptable cats on site.

“We’re over 80% cat adoptions,” says Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities.

What’s behind the rise in adoption, you may ask? People are finally uncovering the many benefits cats bring to the table.

“Cat parenting is more universal than you might think, and those old stereotypes no longer apply,” Gilbreath says. “More people than ever are enjoying the playful nature of cat companionship. Cats can thrive in smaller living spaces, and their independence often makes them incredibly appealing to pet parents who can’t get out for regular walks.”

Are You Pampering Your Cat Enough?

Cats are more than just another mouth to feed—they deserve to be celebrated! When determining the Top 25 U.S. Cat-Loving Cities index, cat adoption rates at PetSmart only made up half the equation. The other half: How many pampering products are cat owners purchasing for their favorite feline?

“We figured cat food and cat litter—those are essentials—everyone who has a cat gets those,” Gilbreath says. “But things like cat toys and cat treats are next level.”

The Biggest Cat Lovers in the U.S.

Here is the complete list of cities, based on a combination of cat adoptions and cat pampering product sales at PetSmart.

Lexington, KY
Green Bay, WI
Mount Juliet, TN
Spokane, WA
Falls Church, VA
New York, NY
Clarksville, TN
Fort Collins, CO
Alhambra, CA
Daly City, CA
Plymouth Meeting, PA
North Canton, OH
Plattsburgh, NY
Sioux City, IA
Kennesaw, GA
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Fairless Hills, PA
Los Angeles, CA
Oviedo, FL
Flagstaff, AZ
Commerce Township, MI
Springfield, IL
Evansville, IN
Johnson City, TN
Kensington, MD

How to Crack the Top 25

When boiled down, college towns and suburbs largely made up the Top 25 U.S. Cat-Loving Cities index, with none of the U.S.’s big three—New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago—cracking the top five. More importantly: Did your city make the list?

Whether you want to help move your city up the list or even make the list in the first place, the strategy is pretty simple.

“Adopt a cat, or buy your existing cat pampering products, and that will move your hometown up the rankings,” Gilbreath says.

There’s no better time to adopt a cat—or another cat. Summertime is the busiest time of year for cat shelters—for one very adorable reason.

“July is kitten season, so this is the peak of the peak of cat adoption season,” Gilbreath says.

Celebrate National Adoption Week

To celebrate and even encourage pet parents to take the leap into cat parenthood, PetSmart Charities, in partnership with PetSmart, is celebrating National Adoption Week with special events and retail promotions running July 21-27.

“PetSmart has all of the supplies and a great coupon book to help people get started and to make that entrance into cat parenthood as painless as possible,” Gilbreath says.

“But if you’re not ready,” Gilbreath adds, “this time of year is an amazing time to foster, because shelters have all those litters of moms and babies that are maybe not quite old enough to be adopted and need somewhere to land. So, you could try (cat ownership) out, and you could have an epic amount of kitten cuteness in your own home!”

To learn more about National Adoption Week, visit petsmartcharities.org or your local PetSmart retail location.