December 15, 2025 Back Home

Discover the Best of Cats in Orlando, FL

Orlando may be known worldwide for a certain famous mouse, but it’s the cats who really rule the city! 

Coming in at No. 9 on our list of U.S. Cities that Use the Most Cat Litter, “The City Beautiful” is packed with sunshine and feline charm. From Florida’s very first cat café to a viral college meowing contest to, Orlando is a paradise for both cats and the people who adore them.

Here’s why Orlando is one of America’s most cat-tastic cities!

How many cats are there in Orlando?

Estimates say that Orange County, Florida (which includes Orlando) is home to 93,000+ feral cats. That’s nearly one-third of the human population of Orlando!

Florida and other southern states usually have high populations of stray and feral cats because of the weather. In northern and western states, kitten season starts in the spring and ends in late fall. But Florida’s warm temperatures means kitten season lasts almost all year, and momma cats can give birth to several litters in that time.       

There are no estimates on the number of pet cats in Orlando specifically, but Florida as a whole has a 24.2% ownership rate. That means Orlando could have at least 80,000 pet cats.

@thekittybeautiful Night Night from the Kiddos! December 5, 2025 @thekittybeautiful @kittythebeautiful #AdoptDontShopOrlando #orlandosmallbusiness #orlandosonlycatcafe #orlandotouristguide #orlandosmallbiz #catsoffacebook #familyowned #thekittybeautifulfoundation #orlandofun #thekittybeautifulcatcafe #adoptdontshop🐾 #catsofinstagram #orlandocats #catsarecool #catsoftiktok #catcafeadventures #downtownorlandocatcafe #kittybeautiful #catcafeorlando #gatocafe ♬ original sound – thekittybeautiful

Cats, caffeine, and endless cuteness

Grab a latte and a pastry and spend some time with the coolest cats in Orlando. Located downtown, The Kitty Beautiful is part cafe, part adoption center — and a proud GiveLitter® cafe partner. The cats at this amazing cafe are from their rescue partner CATS CAN, and almost all are available for adoption!

The Kitty Beautiful also hosts special events, like: 

• Painting classes 
• Yoga with cats
• Purr-lates

Have a special event coming up and need some adorable entertainment? You can rent the cafe for parties! 

Another local cat hangout is the state’s first cat cafe: The Orlando Cat Cafe! Although technically the cafe is in Clermont, a town just 30 minutes west of Orlando and close to Disney World. The cozy cafe has delicious coffee from nearby Minch Coffee, and a 1,000 square foot adoption and play area with at least 12 to 15 cats from the SPCA Florida. Sip on something sweet and get a side order of head butts and purrs!

Where to see (and adopt!) cats in Orlando

All across Orlando you’ll find a passionate animal care community, several no-kill animal shelters, and non-profits dedicated to saving as many cats as possible. 

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) does its best to help animals, but there are still a high number of euthanasias and a low number of adoptions. That’s where Kindness for Cats steps in! 

Kindness for Cats is a non-profit organization created to increase the visibility of OCAS’ adoptable kittens and cats. They promote and hold adoption events all around the Orlando area, usually at Pet Supplies Plus locations, to increase the likelihood that these overlooked cats find their fur-ever homes. 

The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando is Central Florida’s oldest and largest humane society, and has a 95% adoption rate. Also a GiveLitter® shelter partner, this shelter takes in animals from nearly all of central Florida, including Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties.

The Pet Alliance does a lot of community outreach and hosts popular events, including the annual Paws in the Park pet festival/fundraising event. Held near beautiful Lake Eola near downtown Orlando, Paws in the Park is the largest pet festival in the U.S. Attendees come from all over the South with their pets to enjoy the live entertainment, pet costume contests, and pet-themed vendors. It’s definitely a must-see event!

A unique program of the Pet Alliance, Whisker’s Workforce gives “unadoptable” cats a new purpose. These are cats that don’t thrive in the typical pet-human household, and prefer living freely outdoors. Whisker’s Workforce helps the cats find permanent homes in barns, warehouses, and plant nurseries where they can earn their keep through pest control. 

Fun facts about cats, Orlando, and Florida

• In 2025, the University of Central Florida held a meowing contest. More than 1,200 people RSVP’d and over 100 competed to win a labubu, pet food, and treats from Dunkin’ Donuts. 
• The official state animal of Florida is the Florida panther. The panther’s range once extended from Florida to Louisiana, but today they are only found in southwestern Florida. 
• Due to the climate and long breeding seasons, Florida has one of the largest populations of feral cats in the country.
• The Orlando City Soccer Club’s mascot is a big murder kitten, also known as a lion.

Are you an Orlando-area cat lover?

Let us know your favorite local cat activities in the comments below!