November 3, 2025 Back Home

The Windy Kitty: Your Guide to Cats in Chicago

Known for deep dish pizza, Wrigley Field, and The Bean (maybe it’s really a cat toe bean?), Chicago is also quite the cat town.

As No. 7 on our list of Top Cat Kingdoms (aka the U.S. cities that use the most cat litter) — Chi-town is overflowing with cat culture. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there’s a cat-related activity to suit anyone’s fancy.

So let’s explore Chicago’s interesting cat history, cafes, shelters, and more!

But first, just how many cats can be found in Chicago?

How many cats are there in Chicago?

Chicago isn’t just the Windy City—it’s also one of the cat capitals of the Midwest.

Between pet cats curled up in apartments and community cats found all over, Chicago is home to hundreds of thousands of felines. While exact numbers are hard to pin down, estimates suggest there are around 200,000 to 500,000 community cats living outdoors in the Chicago area.

As for owned cats, the city’s love for feline companionship runs deep. Some estimates put the number of owned cats in Chicago at roughly 600,000 or more, with about 41% of pet-owning households including at least one cat. Statewide, Illinois has around 1.6 million pet cats—so Chicago likely accounts for a significant share of that total.

These combined figures mean that there may be close to a million cats total in and around Chicago when both owned and community cats are counted.

Where to see cats in Chicago

If you’re a cat lover exploring the Chicago area, you don’t need to look far to find some truly special places where you can meet—and maybe even adopt—your next feline friend.

What to do in Chicago if you love cats

If you like playing video games while cats walk on your back and into your lap, then the Catcade might be your new favorite spot.

Located on West Belmont Ave., this non-profit arcade-themed cafe is devoted to rescuing cats from life-threatening situations. The cats at this cafe are available for adoption. It’s highly recommended that you make a reservation first, and don’t forget to check out their awesome merch!

@savannahrosson 𝘾𝙖𝙩 𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙜𝙤📍The Catcade 624 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 #catcafe #chicago #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – Savannah | CHI + Travel

Another local favorite is the Tree House Humane Society Cat Café. Stop by for a coffee to go and a quick pet on your way to work or make a reservation to spend 30 minutes socializing with some new feline friends. The cats available for adoption here all have feline leukemia. Their immune systems are weaker than other cats, so the staff keeps them healthy by limiting the number of cats out in the cafe.

The Cat House (TCH) in Roselle offers a unique selection of drinks and snacks and an even better selection of adoptable cats. TCH partners with three local rescue organizations by inviting foster cats into the cafe lounge. All the cats are available for adoption, and TCH donates the adoption fees right back to the rescue. Book a reservation here for a cat therapy session and keep an eye out for upcoming events, like movie nights and painting classes.

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Random facts about cats and Chicago

• About 205 miles outside of Chicago is Muscatine, Iowa — home to Kent Worldwide™, the maker of World’s Best Cat Litter®.

• Where cat fancy began – Chicago is home to one of the first cat fancier associations in the United States: The Beresford Cat Club of America. Established at a cat show in 1899, the organization was named after Lady Marcus Beresford, a notable cat breeder and the founder of the Cat Club of England.

• Cats and rats – Chicago may be known more as a dog city, but cats are in high demand in a city that’s repeatedly named the “rattiest” in America. The Tree House Humane Society saw this rat infestation as an opportunity to put their best hunters to work. They deployed 1,000 feral cats to particularly ratty areas and quickly saw a decline in the rat population.

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Are you a Chicago cat lover?

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