Croatia 2025 – Bonus 2 (Cats)

The abundance of cats in Croatia, particularly in cities like Dubrovnik, stems from a combination of historical, environmental, and cultural factors. One prominent theory attributes the initial presence of cats to the Middle Ages, when sailors brought them on ships to control rodent populations, especially during the time of the Black Plague. It is believed that Dubrovnik’s cats played a crucial role in helping the city avoid the devastating effects of the plague by reducing the rat population, which carried the disease, thereby earning them a revered status in local history.

We encountered cats everywhere we went in Croatia. Most of the older cities had bowls at the base of the walls for food and water, and if they didn’t, locals would place bowls periodically throughout the city. Some of the cats have homes – they live outdoors, but have owners who care for them. Others are truly strays.

Here are some of the cats we met in Croatia.