The Best Cities for Cat Lovers in 2023

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on LawnStarter.

Which cities are purrfect for ailurophiles and their furry, biscuit-making companions?

LawnStarter has ranked 2023’s Best Cities for Cat Lovers.

We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on four categories.

We looked at access to animal shelters, vets, and cat-friendly housing. We also factored in affordability, among 15 indicators of feline-friendliness.

Claw through our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology at the end.

1. Orlando, FL

• Overall Score: 59.46
• Cat Access Rank: 6
• Care Access Rank: 1
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 8
• Affordability Rank: 152

2. Knoxville, TN

• Overall Score: 49.41
• Cat Access Rank: 15
• Care Access Rank: 5
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 54
• Affordability Rank: 172

3. Las Vegas, NV

• Overall Score: 48.21
• Cat Access Rank: 23
• Care Access Rank: 3
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 100
• Affordability Rank: 167

4. Santa Rosa, CA

• Overall Score: 48.19
• Cat Access Rank: 1
• Care Access Rank: 40
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 131
• Affordability Rank: 23

5. St. Louis, MO

• Overall Score: 47.39
• Cat Access Rank: 2
• Care Access Rank: 29
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 39
• Affordability Rank: 175

6. Richmond, VA

• Overall Score: 47.31
• Cat Access Rank: 21
• Care Access Rank: 14
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 44
• Affordability Rank: 96

7. Scottsdale, AZ

• Overall Score: 47.02
• Cat Access Rank: 4
• Care Access Rank: 22
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 7
• Affordability Rank: 180

8. Atlanta, GA

• Overall Score: 46.53
• Cat Access Rank: 3
• Care Access Rank: 38
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 6
• Affordability Rank: 133

9. Savannah, GA

• Overall Score: 46.13
• Cat Access Rank: 38
• Care Access Rank: 11
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 21
• Affordability Rank: 132

10. Fort Collins, CO

• Overall Score: 45.62
• Cat Access Rank: 81
• Care Access Rank: 6
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 124
• Affordability Rank: 76

11. Tampa, FL

• Overall Score: 45.46
• Cat Access Rank: 52
• Care Access Rank: 10
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 59
• Affordability Rank: 109

12. Tacoma, WA

• Overall Score: 45.31
• Cat Access Rank: 118
• Care Access Rank: 13
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 49
• Affordability Rank: 17

13. Fort Lauderdale, FL

• Overall Score: 45.27
• Cat Access Rank: 9
• Care Access Rank: 7
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 145
• Affordability Rank: 154

14. Miami, FL

• Overall Score: 44.55
• Cat Access Rank: 46
• Care Access Rank: 2
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 198
• Affordability Rank: 146

15. Pittsburgh, PA

• Overall Score: 44.18
• Cat Access Rank: 12
• Care Access Rank: 23
• Housing and Accommodations Rank: 61
• Affordability Rank: 129

Behind the Ranking

First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant for ranking the Best Cities for Cat Lovers.

We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into four categories: Cat Access, Care Access, Cat-Friendly Housing and Accommodations, and Affordability. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed below.

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor.

Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1).

• Animal Shelters per 100,000 Residents
• Number of Cat Cafes
• Cat Sitters per 100,000 Residents
• Cat Boarding Options per 100,000 Residents
• Cat-Friendly Veterinarians per 100,000 Residents
• Veterinarians per 100,000 Residents
• Number of Animal Hospitals
• Number of Emergency Vets and Hospitals
• Pet Stores per 100,000 Residents
• Average Home Square Footage
• Share of Cat-Friendly Rental Properties
• Cat-Friendly Hotels per 100,000 Residents
• Average Cat Sitter Rate per Visit (as % of Average Household Income)
• Average State Cat Insurance Premium (as % of Average Household Income)
• Average Hotel Pet Fee (as % of Average Household Income)