King’s or Cat's Landing? An Unexpected Surprise in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Prior to my arrival in Croatia I had prepped myself with a casual to-do list of sorts, full of sites I wanted to visit, foods I wanted to try and so on. To a novice traveler, Dubrovnik might be traveled to for its stunning Old Town and impressive 6365 feet of defensive walls that encircle the city from the surrounding Adriatic Sea.

To a fellow Game of Thrones lover, this city IS King's Landing, home to the original Iron Throne and Fort Lovrijenac, aka the base of the Red Keep.

Regardless of what brings you to Dubrovnik, one thing is One aspect of the city that I wasn’t aware of prior to my voyage was the sheer number of cats that freely roam the town.

These kittens and cats do not belong to one specific person, but the community as a whole. Tourists and locals alike keep these adorable little animals well fed and in good health. Cat food and treats are available in nearly every corner market and I noticed countless little dishes full of cat-friendly meals placed outside of churches and apartments. The cats have become accustomed to the constant swarming of visitors within the Old Town walls and have thus developed a very curious and affable demeanor that makes walking the street and coming across one or two (or three +) a pleasant experience. This is coming from a full-on dog lover, too.

While eating dinner, some of the more forward cats will walk right up and touch you with their paw. The more composed cats simply sit around, waiting to bombard you with their little “meows” and soft, eager eyes until you have no choice but to relinquish part of your meal to them. After all, what are humans without a little compassion?

The reasoning behind the excessive number of cats is because Croatians don’t pay to have their cats spayed or neutered. Coming from America, this seemed strange to me, but I’ve learned that a decent amount of European countries let their furry friends keep their reproductive parts. In today’s climate, I kind of dig the mindset. I’m not sure if the price is unreasonably high, if it’s difficult to find a vet to do the procedure, or if they simple don’t agree with the idea. Regardless, it’s a free-for-all sexy party for the scruffy animals and kittens are constantly born as a result.

Remember that these animals live among the community and depending on an array of variables, they could be cuddly, sick, amiable, injured or unfriendly. Leave the sick and injured cats alone for both your sake and theirs. A good rule of thumb: bend down and stick your hand out toward them. Squeamish or uninterested cats will walk away once they realize you don’t have food while affable ones will welcome your touch and purr. Some may even opt to sit on your lap or follow you around!

If you’re more of a dog person and you find yourself in Dubrovnik, push away any predispositions you may have and give a cat some TLC. And if you’re a cat person, you’ll be in heaven along the Adriatic.