How Many Cats in the World?

There are roughly 600 million cats on Earth, making them more numerous than dogs (500 million). About 220 million are house cats living with humans. The other 380 million are feral or stray, and they are one of the most successful invasive species on the planet. Cats have colonized every continent except Antarctica, and feral cat populations exist on hundreds of islands where they have driven native birds to extinction.

The domestic cat was domesticated much later than the dog, about 10,000 years ago in the Near East, when humans started farming grain. Grain attracted mice, mice attracted wild cats, and the cats that tolerated human presence got more food. But unlike dogs, which were actively bred for specific jobs (herding, guarding, hunting), cats mostly domesticated themselves. This might explain why cats still behave like they are doing you a favor by living in your house.

The United States has the most pet cats (about 74 million), followed by China (58 million), Russia (23 million), and Brazil (22 million). Turkey is famous for its street cats, particularly in Istanbul, where cats are considered sacred and the city maintains feeding stations, water bowls, and even tiny houses throughout the streets. There is a documentary about it called "Kedi" (2016) that made grown adults cry about stray cats.

Cats by country

Cats vs dogs worldwide