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A Cat Lover’s Guide to Tampa & Fort Myers, Florida
It’s No. 4 on our list of Top Cat Kingdoms and it’s filled with plenty of feline fun.
Ahhh sunny Florida…where the cats are cool and the weather is always fine.
But if you’re looking for some real feline fun, look no further than the Tampa/Fort Myers area — we’re talking plenty of purr-worthy opportunities to explore.
From cool cat video festivals to cozy cat cafés filled with adoptable cats, the region is a feline-friendly paradise. And, as the No. 4 city on our list of Top Cat Kingdoms, aka the cities that uses the most cat litter in the United States, we couldn’t help but be curious about what cat life is like in this Southwest region of Florida.
But first, like all of the amazing cities on our list, let’s look at just how many cats are in this community.
How Many Cats Are in the Tampa/Fort Myers Area?
While it’s tough to count every pawprint, estimates suggest thousands of cats call the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida regions home—many of them feral and community cats.
With the state of Florida having a 24.2% at ownership rate (according to Dogster), a simple math equation involving the populations of both Tampa and Fort Myers shows there could be more than 60,000 pet cats. And according to local rescues and animal services, Tampa alone may have over 200,000 free-roaming or community cats, with Fort Myers not far behind.
That’s a lot of cat love floating around these two Florida towns.
Where Would I Go to See a Cat in the Tampa/Fort Myers Area?
Looking for a guaranteed cat sighting? You have a few fluffy and fabulous options.
You can relax in a stylish café like Cats & Caffeine (Tampa) and chill with adoptable cats from local rescues. They also host events like kitten yoga and meow-vie nights.
There’s also the Cattyshack Café (Fort Myers), a trendy space where coffee meets cat cuddles. All felines are adoptable and part of a broader rescue mission.
And just east of Tampa in Lakeland is one of our GiveLitter shelter partners — the Purrology Cat Cafe. This place rules. A vertical cat playground coupled with great coffee and latte? You can’t beat it.
If rescues and shelters are more your thing there’s multiple organizations in the area — Cat Cradle Sanctuary is not far from Tampa, and the Animal Refuge Center in Fort Myers is one of the largest no-kill shelters in the state. Also not far from Tampa is the Humane Society of Pinellas — another GiveLitter® shelter partner that routinely hosts events like cat yoga, “paint your pal pawties”, and more. And about an hour away in Palm Harbor is the Suncoast Animal League – another GiveLitter shelter partner.
And, if you’re simply out for a stroll and want to see some cats, the area of Ybor City and Hyde Park in Tampa are known for their community cat colonies.
What to Do in Tampa/Fort Myers if You Love Cats
Beyond seeing cats, there’s a surprising amount of cat-themed entertainment and culture in the area. If you’re lucky enough to be in the area in August each year, you can check out the critically acclaimed CatVideoFest at the historic Tampa Theatre.
You could even attend a “Paint Your Pet” night at any of the local art studios, or check out one of the many cat-theme paintings around the region — like the cool collection of cat heads at Cafe Hey in Tampa.
Random facts about Cats & Tampa/Fort Myers
Here are a few weird and wonderful facts about cats and the cities of Tampa and Fort Myers that might surprise you — from ghost stories to cat murals and feline mayors:
- Tampa was once ranked one of the most pet-friendly cities in the U.S., with an above-average number of cat cafés per capita.
- Fort Myers is home to several island communities where free-roaming cats live peacefully among locals and tourists.
- A local Tampa artist, Danial Ryan, is known for creating surreal cat art and was featured during National Cat Day celebrations.
Got any other cool connections between Cats & Tampa/Fort Myers to share?
Leave some in the comments below:
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