Cats of Kotor

While visiting Kotor during a two week trip trough Albania, Montenegro and Croatia, I couldn’t help but notice the unusually high number of cats roaming the Old Town.

Cats also seemed to be central theme to many of your run-of-the-mill souvenirs found in local gift shops. One of these shops was appropriately named Cats of Kotor, a charming little boutique filled with hand made arts and craft honouring felines. I asked the shop keeper “What’s the story behind the cats of Kotor?” She laughed and explained that during the Middle Ages, the city had a serious rodent and snake problem. Ships entering the port were asked to leave behind their cats to help control the rodent population. Centuries later, these feral cats still populate Kotor’s Stari Grad. You will usually find dozen of cats around Cat Square, the only place in the city were residents are permitted to feed them.