{"id":38179,"date":"2023-08-02T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=38179"},"modified":"2023-11-29T19:04:46","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T22:04:46","slug":"best-cities-cat-lovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/","title":{"rendered":"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Which cities are purrfect for ailurophiles and their furry, biscuit-making companions?<\/p>    <p>To mark International Cat Day on Aug. 8, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/\">LawnStarter<\/a> ranked 2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers.<\/p>    <p>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.<br><br>Claw through our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our <a href=\"#methodology\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contents<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"#rankings\">City Rankings + Infographic<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#top-5\">Top 5 Close Up<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#key-insights\">Key Insights<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#ask-the-experts\">Ask the Experts<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#methodology\">Behind the Ranking<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">Happy Cat = Happy Home<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"rankings\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">City Rankings + Infographic<\/h2>    <p>See how each city fared in our ranking:<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"a4422587-7b49-4ad8-afb1-1f39b1b57db0\" data-type=\"interactive\"><\/div><script>!function(e,t,s,i){var n=\"InfogramEmbeds\",o=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\"),d=o[0],r=\/^http:\/.test(e.location)?\"http:\":\"https:\";if(\/^\\\/{2}\/.test(i)&&(i=r+i),window[n]&&window[n].initialized)window[n].process&&window[n].process();else if(!e.getElementById(s)){var a=e.createElement(\"script\");a.async=1,a.id=s,a.src=i,d.parentNode.insertBefore(a,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\",\"\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1795\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Cat-Lovers-Infographic-1.png\" alt=\"Infographic showing the Best Cities for Cat Lovers, a ranking based on access to animal shelters, vets, cat-friendly housing, and more\" class=\"wp-image-96618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Cat-Lovers-Infographic-1.png 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Cat-Lovers-Infographic-1-134x300.png 134w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Cat-Lovers-Infographic-1-646x1449.png 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Cat-Lovers-Infographic-1-67x150.png 67w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Cat-Lovers-Infographic-1-768x1723.png 768w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023s-Best-Cities-for-Cat-Lovers-Infographic-1-685x1536.png 685w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Note: <\/em><\/strong><em>For presentation purposes, not all ties may be displayed for some metrics above.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"00107105-e594-43c8-851f-011ce1104a9a\" data-type=\"interactive\"><\/div><script>!function(e,t,s,i){var n=\"InfogramEmbeds\",o=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\"),d=o[0],r=\/^http:\/.test(e.location)?\"http:\":\"https:\";if(\/^\\\/{2}\/.test(i)&&(i=r+i),window[n]&&window[n].initialized)window[n].process&&window[n].process();else if(!e.getElementById(s)){var a=e.createElement(\"script\");a.async=1,a.id=s,a.src=i,d.parentNode.insertBefore(a,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\",\"\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"top-5\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 5 Close Up<\/h2>    <p>Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top five cities.<\/p>   <div style=\"min-height: 535px;; \" class=\"ub_image_slider swiper-container wp-block-ub-image-slider\" id=\"ub_image_slider_bd6280d5-df85-404d-b93d-196a7c49c50e\" data-swiper-data='{\"speed\":300,\"spaceBetween\":20,\"slidesPerView\":1,\"loop\":true,\"pagination\":{\"el\": \".swiper-pagination\" , \"type\": \"bullets\", \"clickable\":true},\"navigation\": {\"nextEl\": \".swiper-button-next\", \"prevEl\": \".swiper-button-prev\"}, \"keyboard\": { \"enabled\": true }, \"effect\": \"slide\",\"simulateTouch\":false}'>             <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Orlando-FL-LL-1.jpg\" alt=\"A twilight view of the Orlando, Florida, skyline reflecting on Lake Eola\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1: <\/strong>Orlando, Florida | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>59.46<br><br><strong>Cat Access rank: <\/strong>6<br><strong>Care Access rank: <\/strong>1<br><strong>Housing and Accommodations rank: <\/strong>8<br><strong>Affordability rank: <\/strong>152<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/city-view-over-the-lake-7453854\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">M-DESIGNZ<\/a> \/ Pexels \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Knoxville-TN-1.jpg\" alt=\"A view of the Knoxville, Tennessee, skyline with the World\u2019s Fair Park in the foreground\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2: <\/strong>Knoxville, Tennessee | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>49.41<br><br><strong>Cat Access rank: <\/strong>15<br><strong>Care Access rank: <\/strong>5<br><strong>Housing and Accommodations rank: <\/strong>54<br><strong>Affordability rank: <\/strong>172<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/17I0RhymL9M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stephen Ellis<\/a> \/ Unsplash \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unsplash License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Las-Vegas-NV-1.jpg\" alt=\"A nighttime aerial view of the Las Vegas, Nevada, skyline featuring some of the most famous landmarks on The Strip, such as the Bellagio fountain, the Eiffel Tower, and the High Roller ferris wheel\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3: <\/strong>Las Vegas | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>48.21<br><br><strong>Cat Access rank: <\/strong>23<br><strong>Care Access rank: <\/strong>3<br><strong>Housing and Accommodations rank: <\/strong>100<br><strong>Affordability rank: <\/strong>167<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/uxU_jyu9e7U\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Julian Paefgen<\/a> \/ Unsplash \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unsplash License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Santa-Rosa-CA-1.jpg\" alt=\"A view of buildings in Downtown Santa Rosa, California, shot from a corner at the intersection of Fourth and D streets\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 4: <\/strong>Santa Rosa, California | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>48.19<br><br><strong>Cat Access rank: <\/strong>1<br><strong>Care Access rank: <\/strong>40<br><strong>Housing and Accommodations rank: <\/strong>131<br><strong>Affordability rank: <\/strong>23<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/flickr.com\/photos\/pasa\/31961079938\/in\/album-72157673350846087\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paul Sableman<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/St.-Louis-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Gateway Arch towers behind the Old Court House \u2014 a stately white building with a teal dome \u2014 in St. Louis\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 5: <\/strong>St. Louis | <strong>Overall Score: <\/strong>47.39<br><br><strong>Cat Access rank: <\/strong>2<br><strong>Care Access rank: <\/strong>29<br><strong>Housing and Accommodations rank: <\/strong>39<br><strong>Affordability rank: <\/strong>175<br><br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/uZnoD1xuL9A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brittney Butler<\/a> \/ Unsplash \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unsplash License<\/a>\u00a0<\/figcaption>             <\/figure><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div> <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>         <\/div>  <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"key-insights\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Insights<\/h2>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Gist<\/h3>    <p>The <strong>Southern half of the U.S.<\/strong> is the <strong>cat\u2019s meow<\/strong> for our feline friends. Nearly <strong>three-quarters<\/strong> of our <strong>top 20<\/strong> cities come <strong>from this region<\/strong> \u2014 possibly more depending on where you draw the line between Northern and Southern states. <strong>Most<\/strong> of the cities in this elite group \u2014 spanning California to Florida \u2014 <strong>ranked<\/strong> particularly <strong>well<\/strong> in both <strong>Cat Access<\/strong> and <strong>Care Access<\/strong>.<\/p>    <p>At the <strong>opposite end<\/strong> of our ranking are a <strong>mix<\/strong> of <strong>Northern<\/strong> and <strong>Southern<\/strong> cities, with <strong>Detroit<\/strong> once again in <strong>last place<\/strong>. Motor City earned nearly five more points since 2022, but the improvements barely scratched the surface in any category. Our <strong>bottom cities<\/strong> collectively <strong>earned<\/strong> some of the <strong>worst scores<\/strong> across <strong>all categories<\/strong> \u2014 with some exceptions.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Standout Stats<\/h3>    <p><strong>Orlando Magic<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>A certain mouse better watch out \u2014 <strong>Orlando, Florida<\/strong>, is our <strong>Cat Lovers Capital <\/strong>for the <strong>2nd year in a row<\/strong>. O-Town <strong>leads<\/strong> by over <strong>10 points<\/strong> ahead of silver medalist Knoxville, Tennessee \u2014 up from six points in 2022 ahead of this year\u2019s 7th placer, Scottsdale, Arizona.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>Spoiled in the Sunshine State<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Florida\u2019s felines will feel least neglected when visiting the state. <strong>Florida cities<\/strong> like <strong>Orlando<\/strong> (No. 1), <strong>Miami<\/strong> (No. 14), and <strong>Fort Lauderdale<\/strong> (No. 13) make up <strong>half<\/strong> of our <strong>top 10<\/strong> for <strong>Care Access<\/strong>. This impressive group performance comes down to <strong>high scores<\/strong> in three metrics: <strong>cat sitters<\/strong>, <strong>cat boarding options<\/strong>, and <strong>pet stores<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>No Cats Allowed<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Although cats vacationing with their owners in Florida will have no problem finding a temporary place to stay, it\u2019s a different story for local felines. <strong>Sunshine State cities<\/strong> make up <strong>six<\/strong> of the <strong>10 worst <\/strong>in <strong>Housing and Accommodations<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>Nosedivers<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Among the <strong>10 cities<\/strong> that <strong>fell furthest overall<\/strong> in our ranking this year, <strong>four<\/strong> managed to <strong>remain<\/strong> in the <strong>top 50%<\/strong>.<strong> <\/strong>They include <strong>Olathe, Kansas<\/strong> (No. 57), <strong>Frisco, Texas<\/strong> (No. 67), <strong>Naperville, Illinois<\/strong> (No. 78), and <strong>Chattanooga, Tennessee<\/strong> (No. 96).<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>Contradictory Costs<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Nine of the <strong>10 most affordable cities<\/strong> for cat owners are <strong>in California<\/strong> \u2014 the <strong>2nd <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickenloans.com\/learn\/most-expensive-states-to-live-in\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>most expensive<\/strong><\/a><strong> U.S. state<\/strong>. Surprised? The <strong>average household income<\/strong> in the Golden State is the <strong>6th highest<\/strong> in the nation. So, despite high cost of living and inflation, many residents are able to splurge on their kitties.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>Stray Cats Strut<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>You\u2019ll have a hard time finding cats to adopt or play with in <strong>11 cities <\/strong>that tied for last place in <strong>Cat Access<\/strong>. <strong>Miramar, Florida<\/strong> (No. 199), <strong>Paterson, New Jersey <\/strong>(No. 196), <strong>Sunnyvale, California<\/strong> (No. 158), and <strong>Olathe, Kansas<\/strong> (No. 57), are among the cities <strong>lacking animal shelters<\/strong> and <strong>cat cafes<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <p><strong>Last But Not Least<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Two <strong>New Jersey cities <\/strong>stood out among the <strong>10 worst cities<\/strong> \u2014 for good reasons.<strong> Paterson <\/strong>(5th worst overall), is <strong>more affordable<\/strong> than 153 other big cities, while <strong>Newark <\/strong>(7th worst) <strong>outranked<\/strong> 140 cities in <strong>Housing and Accommodations<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"ask-the-experts\"><\/a><\/p>  <div id=\"experts-block\" class=\"experts\">     <h2 class=\"text-2xl font-bold text-black mb-3\">Ask The Experts<\/h2>    <p>&nbsp;<\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cats are known for being pretty easygoing, but there are still many ways that human butlers can optimize their kitty\u2019s comfort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We turned to a panel of experts to find out how to keep our feline friends feeling fine. Explore their insights below.<\/span><\/p> <ol> <li>What are the top three items cat owners should have in their homes for their cats&#8217; enrichment?<\/li> <li>What are the most common signs of illness in cats that owners should look out for?<\/li> <li>Do you recommend letting pet cats roam outdoors? Why or why not?<\/li> <li>How much exercise do cats need in a day? What&#8217;s the best way to make sure they get enough exercise?<\/li> <li>What does a healthy diet look like for a strictly indoor cat?<\/li> <\/ol>    <div id=\"experts-container\" class=\"relative lg:mt-6\" x-data=\"experts()\" x-init=\"init()\">      <style>       .expert-avatars {         scrollbar-width: none;         -ms-overflow-style: none;          \/* momentum scroll on iOS *\/         -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;          \/* disbable vertical scroll for touch *\/         touch-action: pan-x;       }        \/* hide scroll bar *\/       .expert-avatars::-webkit-scrollbar {         display: none;       }        .expert-avatars .item {         width: 125px;         flex-shrink: 0;       }        .expert-avatars .item:not(:last-child) {         margin-right: 10px;       }        \/* hacky fix for padding at the end of the.expert-avatars *\/       .expert-avatars .item:last-child {         position: relative;       }        .expert-avatars .item:last-child::after {         position: absolute;         left: 100%;         height: 1px;         width: 20px;         display: block;         content: \"\";       }        .trim-label {         max-height: 18px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials {         max-height: 18px;         width: 250px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        .credentials-small {         max-height: 18px;         width: 110px;         text-overflow: ellipsis;         overflow: hidden;         display: -webkit-box;         -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        [x-cloak] {         display: none;       }     <\/style>      <div class=\"expert-avatars flex overflow-x-scroll overscroll-contain px-2 mb-10 lg:hidden\">                         <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_katherine_houpt.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Katherine A. Houpt\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, James Law Professor Emeritus, Section of Behavior Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('alison-meindl', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_alison_meindl.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Alison Meindl\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Alison Meindl <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Assistant Professor, Community Practice<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_dawn_spangler.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Dawn M. Spangler\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Dawn M. Spangler, DVM, MS <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Associate Professor of Shelter Medicine<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_diane_delmain-1.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Diane Delmain\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Diane Delmain DVM DABVP-Feline <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Associate Clinical Professor of Community Practice, Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital<\/div>           <\/div>                   <\/div>                     <div           id=\"expert-katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_katherine_houpt.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Katherine A. Houpt\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, James Law Professor Emeritus, Section of Behavior Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('katherine-a-houpt-vmd-phd')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_katherine_houpt.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Katherine A. Houpt\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, James Law Professor Emeritus, Section of Behavior Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>What are the top three items cat owners should have in their homes for their cats&#8217; enrichment? <\/strong><\/p> <p>1. A cat tree<\/p> <p>2. A fishing pole-type toy<\/p> <p>3. Cat grass<\/p> <p><strong>What are the most common signs of illness in cats that owners should look out for? <\/strong><\/p> <p>Loss of appetite and failure to groom. Urinating out of the box is common if the cat has a urinary tract problem.<\/p> <p><strong>Do you recommend letting pet cats roam outdoors? Why or why not? <\/strong><\/p> <p>No, the cat is in dander of disease and predation by coyotes, dogs, or raptors. In addition, the birds are in danger from the cat.<\/p> <p><strong>How much exercise do cats need in a day? What&#8217;s the best way to make sure they get enough exercise?<\/strong><\/p> <p>There is no 10,000-step recommendation for cats. Exercise is more important than enrichment \u2014 that is, playing.<\/p> <p><strong>What does a healthy diet look like for a strictly indoor cat?<\/strong><\/p> <p>A healthy diet should include both wet and dry food. The former assures that the cat is hydrated. The large pet food companies Purina Hills Royal Canin test their food on cats so they can guarantee that they are safe. Avoid trendy no-grain, raw, or boutique diets.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-alison-meindl\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'alison-meindl', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'alison-meindl'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('alison-meindl', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'alison-meindl', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'alison-meindl'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('alison-meindl', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_alison_meindl.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Alison Meindl\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'alison-meindl'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Alison Meindl <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'alison-meindl'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor, Community Practice<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'alison-meindl'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Colorado State University<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'alison-meindl'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('alison-meindl', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'alison-meindl'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('alison-meindl')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_alison_meindl.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Alison Meindl\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Alison Meindl <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor, Community Practice<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Colorado State University<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>What are the top three items cat owners should have in their homes for their cats&#8217; enrichment?<\/strong><\/p> <p>1. Laser pointer<\/p> <p>2. Scratching posts<\/p> <p>3. Food puzzles<\/p> <p><strong>What are the most common signs of illness in cats that owners should look out for?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Decreased or increased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, a change in water consumption, and\/or an increase or decrease in activity level should prompt a visit to the veterinarian.<\/p> <p><strong>Do you recommend letting pet cats roam outdoors? Why or why not?<\/strong><\/p> <p>While time outdoors can be beneficial for cats\u2019 mental and physical health, outdoor cats are much more likely to contract contagious diseases, be hit by cars, or be injured by altercations with other cats or animals.<\/p> <p>A good compromise is an enclosed outdoor area (commonly referred to as a \u201ccatio\u201d), where cats can enjoy time outdoors while also being protected from some of the aforementioned risks.<\/p> <p><strong>How much exercise do cats need in a day? What&#8217;s the best way to make sure they get enough exercise? <\/strong><\/p> <p>There is no specific time allotment for feline daily exercise. Like in humans, exercise provides many mental and physical benefits for cats.<\/p> <p>If your cat is currently sedentary, start slowly with an exercise program by increasing physical activity 10-15% per week.<\/p> <p>Some good ways to encourage physical activity are by:<\/p> <ul> <li>Encouraging cats to chase laser pointers (be sure to occasionally let them \u201ccatch\u201d the light or a treat so that they don\u2019t become frustrated);<\/li> <li>Playing with dangly feather or rope toys (be careful not to let them ingest anything like string, which could become lodged in their intestines); and\/or<\/li> <li>Something as simple as encouraging them to run up and down stairs in order to get their daily meals.<\/li> <\/ul> <p><strong>What does a healthy diet look like for a strictly indoor cat?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Look for foods that are approved by AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials). This group is responsible for formulating guidelines that ensure foods meet minimum nutritional requirements for animals.<\/p> <p>If you choose to home-cook for your cat, be sure to discuss a diet plan with a veterinary nutritionist as it is very difficult to properly balance a cat\u2019s diet without professional help.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_dawn_spangler.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Dawn M. Spangler\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Dawn M. Spangler, DVM, MS <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Professor of Shelter Medicine<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Lincoln Memorial University, College of Veterinary Medicine<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('dawn-m-spangler-dvm-ms')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_dawn_spangler.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Dawn M. Spangler\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Dawn M. Spangler, DVM, MS <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Professor of Shelter Medicine<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Lincoln Memorial University, College of Veterinary Medicine<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>What are the top three items cat owners should have in their homes for their cats&#8217; enrichment?<\/strong><\/p> <p><strong>1. Toys \u2014 lots of them:<\/strong> There are a lot of interactive toys available now that can entertain them and keep them busy. Be sure they are safe-no small pieces or parts that could be swallowed and cause gastrointestinal issues.<\/p> <p><strong>2. Scratching posts:<\/strong> Give them both horizontal and vertical surfaces. Scratching posts made from cardboard and sisal rope are favorites for cats. If they are vertical, buy a tall one as they like to stretch and reach when scratching.<\/p> <p><strong>3. Cat trees:<\/strong> Cats like to be vertical and off the ground. Cat trees or wall shelves give them the opportunity to be elevated which makes them less stressed and happy especially if you have children or dogs.<\/p> <p><strong>What are the most common signs of illness in cats that owners should look out for?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Cats are very good at hiding their symptoms when sick. Be sure to monitor their food and water bowl to ensure they are consuming adequate food and water on a daily basis.<\/p> <p>Monitor the litter box daily to determine that they are urinating and having normal bowel movements.<\/p> <p>Also, keep an eye out for vomiting or any urination outside of the litter box. Cats will often hide or avoid the family when they don\u2019t feel good, so if you aren\u2019t seeing them hanging around like usual, there may be something wrong.<\/p> <p>If you notice anything out of the ordinary or symptoms mentioned above, it would be worth a visit to your primary care veterinarian to assess their health.<\/p> <p><strong>Do you recommend letting pet cats roam outdoors? Why or why not?<\/strong><\/p> <p>While giving a cat outdoor access can be a positive enrichment experience, it can be filled with many dangers, especially if you live in a suburban area.<\/p> <p>Of course, the biggest concern is the potential for vehicular trauma, which causes very serious injuries requiring extensive veterinary care or even death.<\/p> <p>Other hazards include exposure to toxins, such as antifreeze; wild animals, such as coyotes or even big dogs; and exposure to the elements, such as heat and cold, which can cause significant medical issues.<\/p> <p>To give them the outdoor experience without the hazards, consider building them a \u201ccatio,\u201d such as <a href=\"https:\/\/catiospaces.com\/catios-cat-enclosures\/diy-plans\/sanctuary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">these<\/a>. Catios are a great way for them to enjoy the sunshine and avoid the dangers that lurk outside.<\/p> <p><strong>How much exercise do cats need in a day? What&#8217;s the best way to make sure they get enough exercise? <\/strong><\/p> <p>Cats are crepuscular, which means they are most active in the morning and the evening. This is when they tend to exercise the most and a time when you can engage them in play that will help burn some energy and enrich their daily life.<\/p> <p>At least 15-30 minutes of play per day is recommended to keep your cat healthy and active. This is good time to pull out the laser pointer or the feather wand to get them moving. Not only does this give them exercise for their body, but it also exercises their mind, which is great at reducing stress and making them a happier, healthier cat.<\/p> <p>Stress has a significant negative impact on the health of cats, so providing them ways to exercise and enrich their lives is highly beneficial.<\/p> <p><strong>What does a healthy diet look like for a strictly indoor cat?<\/strong><\/p> <p>A healthy diet for a cat would be feeding a good-quality, commercially available dry kibble that feeds to their life stage. For example, a kitten should eat a diet formulated for kittens, and a senior cat should eat a diet formulated for a senior.<\/p> <p>Feeding canned food, in addition to the dry kibble, also benefits cats as they will intake more water eating canned food, which is important to help cats maintain a healthy urinary tract.<\/p> <p>Be sure to follow the feeding guidelines or consult with your primary care veterinarian on the amount to feed as you don\u2019t want to overfeed them, which can lead to obesity.<\/p> <p>In addition, using a water fountain will help cats drink more water and can also be a source of enrichment for them.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_diane_delmain-1.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Diane Delmain\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Diane Delmain DVM DABVP-Feline <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Clinical Professor of Community Practice, Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Auburn University<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('diane-delmain-dvm-dabvp-feline')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_diane_delmain-1.jpg?wsr\" alt=\"Diane Delmain\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Diane Delmain DVM DABVP-Feline <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Associate Clinical Professor of Community Practice, Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Auburn University<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>What are the top three items cat owners should have in their homes for their cats\u2019 enrichment? <\/strong><\/p> <p>Cats are designed to be amazing hunters that eat many meals of small prey daily. This requires constant surveillance of an area and the ability to hunt and capture wily prey items.<\/p> <p>Cats are also vulnerable to becoming prey for larger hunters and territorial disputes with other cats.<\/p> <p>To allow for natural behaviors, cats need to be able to do all of these activities: hunt, view, and hide. That means having perches and safe hiding areas for our feline friends.<\/p> <ol> <li>Many cat trees provide both types of these spaces, but a fancy tree is not necessary. Cats love perching in windows and hiding in boxes.<\/li> <li>Cats need to hunt, but that does not mean you need to have mice in the house. Playing with toys is actually a hunting activity, especially wand toys.<\/li> <li>Puzzle feeders are terrific for simulating hunting and giving cats the chance for problem-solving. However, there is a learning curve. Cats need to start with puzzle feeders that easily release treats, then progress to more difficult ones.<\/li> <\/ol> <p><strong>Do you recommend letting pet cats roam outdoors? Why or why not? <\/strong><\/p> <p>There are pros and cons to letting cats outdoors. Going outdoors allows for the types of activities discussed in the previous question \u2013\u2013 hunting, hiding, and viewing.<\/p> <p>However, outdoor cats risk catching diseases or parasites and injuries such as bite wounds or road accidents. Free roaming cats contribute to the decline in bird populations but get an unfair amount of blame. Humans are the largest cause of the decrease in birds due to habitat loss.<\/p> <p>Being inside is safe but boring. Many indoor cats are overweight as they are inactive and may view eating as a hobby.<\/p> <p>Enrichment is vital for indoor cats. There are some creative solutions to combine the safety of indoors with the fun of outdoors for our kitties. \u201cCatification,\u201d indoor cat play structures, and \u201ccatios,\u201d enclosed outdoor areas, are wonderful.<\/p> <p><strong>What are the most common signs of illness in cats that owners should look out for? <\/strong><\/p> <p>Cats do not like to make it easy for their owners to know when they are ill. Many times they do not tell us until they are very sick. The best thing a cat lover can do is to watch for changes.<\/p> <p>Signs of illness may include<\/p> <ol> <li>losing weight<\/li> <li>showing changes in appetite, drinking, or urination<\/li> <li>vomiting, having diarrhea, coughing, or sneezing.<\/li> <\/ol> <p>If you think your cat may be ill, consult a veterinarian. If your cat is having trouble breathing or is not urinating, this is an emergency.<\/p> <p><strong>How much exercise do cats need in a day? What\u2019s the best way to make sure they get enough exercise? <\/strong><\/p> <p>Cats are too smart to exercise just for the sake of exercise, but like the rest of us, benefit from activity. Playing with your cat once or twice daily is great for the cat and fun, as well.<\/p> <p><strong>What does a healthy diet look like for a strictly indoor cat? <\/strong><\/p> <p>There is no single diet that is ideal for all cats. Is the cat young? Old? Active? Sedentary? Are there any medical issues? All of these are important to consider. Obesity is a problem for many indoor cats, so it is important to control intake.<\/p> <p>Most cats need about 250-300 kcal per day, but the calorie content of food is quite variable. Check labels and calculate how much of that particular diet a cat should eat. In multi-cat homes, it may be difficult to regulate how much each cat eats. Microchip-activated feeders are very handy for this.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>              <\/div> <\/div>  <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"methodology\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Behind the Ranking<\/h2>    <p>First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank 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 in the table below.<\/p>    <p>For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.<\/p>    <p>Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city\u2019s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked \u201cBest\u201d (No. 1) and the lowest \u201cWorst\u201d (No. 200). Note: The \u201cWorst\u201d among individual factors may not be No. 200 due to ties.<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"1883ee7b-157b-4a6d-bbbc-99b99900b650\" data-type=\"interactive\"><\/div><script>!function(e,t,s,i){var n=\"InfogramEmbeds\",o=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\"),d=o[0],r=\/^http:\/.test(e.location)?\"http:\":\"https:\";if(\/^\\\/{2}\/.test(i)&&(i=r+i),window[n]&&window[n].initialized)window[n].process&&window[n].process();else if(!e.getElementById(s)){var a=e.createElement(\"script\");a.async=1,a.id=s,a.src=i,d.parentNode.insertBefore(a,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\",\"\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong><em>Sources:<\/em><\/strong><em> American Animal Hospital Association, Cat Friendly Homes, CatTipper, Emergency Vet 24\/7, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Meow Around, MoneyGeek.com, PetSitter.com, Petswelcome.com, Rent.com, U.S. Census Bureau, and Yelp<\/em><\/p>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"final-thoughts\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Happy Cat = Happy Home&nbsp;<\/h2>    <p>Cats are famous for their napping skills, but dozing isn&#8217;t their only hobby. Just like people, cats need entertainment to keep from getting bored or depressed. A true cat lover&#8217;s home should be filled with fun cat-tivities for kitties to enjoy \u2014 without getting into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/plants-poisonous-cats\/\">trouble<\/a>.<\/p>    <p>So, what do cats like to do besides sleep? Most of their favorite pastimes are inspired by instincts built into their DNA from back when their ancestors prowled the wild. But behaviors suited for the jungle don&#8217;t always translate well to a home with carpets to tear and valuables to topple.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>The best way to protect your home from cat-astrophe is to build an environment where your kitty can indulge those ancient instincts in a positive way. A few examples of what that looks like:<\/p>    <p><strong>Climbing<\/strong><\/p>    <p>Cats need to climb, and they&#8217;ll find a way to do it. Give them plenty of safe spaces to climb and perch up high, such as cat trees and cat towers, and they&#8217;re much less likely to climb on your new curtains or freshly cleaned countertops.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p><strong>Scratching<\/strong><\/p>    <p>Scratching is another unavoidable cat behavior, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you have to live with shredded furniture. You can find scratching posts and pads in all shapes and sizes at your local pet store, and they usually aren&#8217;t very expensive.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>The next time your kitty gets cat-scratch fever, they can take it out on their scratching toys instead of your sofa.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p><strong>Hunting<\/strong><\/p>    <p>All cats love to hunt. Outdoor cats get plenty of opportunities to stalk and pounce on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/pest-control\/how-to-get-rid-of-squirrels\/\">squirrels<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/pest-control\/how-to-get-rid-of-mice\/\">mice<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/how-to-attract-birds-to-your-yard\/\">birds<\/a> \u2014 but beware of fleas. Indoor cats need something to hunt, too. Their prey could be your favorite vase, goldfish, socks that always go missing \u2014 or cat toys, if you provide them.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p>Small balls, springs, and toy mice are perfect for hunting practice. There are even toys that roll or zoom around your house on their own so your kitty can chase them all day long.&nbsp;<br>If you love cats now, you&#8217;ll love them even more when they stop destroying your stuff. Turn your home into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/landscaping\/ways-to-make-cat-friendly-garden\/\">kitty playground<\/a> with a few affordable items, and you can have the best of both worlds: a happy, satisfied cat and a home that isn&#8217;t a total wreck.<\/p>    <p><em>Want a backyard where your feline friends can play? Talk to one of LawnStarter\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/landscaping\"><em>local landscapers<\/em><\/a><em> about pet-safe plants, chemical-free lawn treatments, and more cat-friendly landscaping ideas.<\/em><\/p>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Writing and research contributed by <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/jordan-ardoin\/\"><em>Jordan Ardoin<\/em><\/a><\/p>   <p><a class=\"js-anchor\" id=\"media-resources\"><\/a><\/p>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Media Resources<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1wgGdp_-cTpu1jFXSp3zmlOBTwKK-oEBP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">High-resolution image of infographic<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1DAez0eoaXqlbpkyhL553MwV4C0eEHQeRndj6mexkXWs\/edit#gid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">High-resolution images of cities<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1DNnau3BkK-2tbT2sE4zlM5wOwSjQ7dcw\/edit#gid=124150126\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2022\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers ranking results<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1NBCP1qrs-phk6jGu-UGR_gXEojC_Y5q3\/edit#gid=1272610232\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers ranking results<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Main Photo Credit: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/close-spanish-man-stubble-closing-his-1963526803\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Which cities are purrfect for ailurophiles and their furry, biscuit-making companions? To mark International Cat Day on Aug. 8, LawnStarter [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":52346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[853],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-studies"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr","author_info":{"display_name":"Sav Maive","author_link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/sav-maive\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for a city that loves your feline friend as much as you do? Check out our list of 2023&#039;s best cities for cat lovers to find out.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Looking for a city that loves your feline friend as much as you do? Check out our list of 2023&#039;s best cities for cat lovers to find out.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lawnstarter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-02T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-11-29T22:04:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"801\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sav Maive\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sav Maive\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sav Maive\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/30eb0fcb57700a0338f28e7dcece5e8c\"},\"headline\":\"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-02T13:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-11-29T22:04:46+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1299,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr\",\"articleSection\":[\"Studies\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/\",\"name\":\"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-02T13:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-11-29T22:04:46+00:00\",\"description\":\"Looking for a city that loves your feline friend as much as you do? Check out our list of 2023's best cities for cat lovers to find out.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":801,\"caption\":\"Man kissing his gray cat lying down asleep\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/studies\\\/best-cities-cat-lovers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Lawnstarter\",\"description\":\"The LawnStarter Blog\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Lawnstarter\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/10\\\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr\",\"width\":198,\"height\":26,\"caption\":\"Lawnstarter\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/30eb0fcb57700a0338f28e7dcece5e8c\",\"name\":\"Sav Maive\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c0d1adb62a79ca6253c4dfe20004b978d16cc75979d009fecd44f462b5479ee9?s=96&d=wp_user_avatar&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c0d1adb62a79ca6253c4dfe20004b978d16cc75979d009fecd44f462b5479ee9?s=96&d=wp_user_avatar&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c0d1adb62a79ca6253c4dfe20004b978d16cc75979d009fecd44f462b5479ee9?s=96&d=wp_user_avatar&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sav Maive\"},\"description\":\"Sav Maive is a writer based in San Antonio, with roots in the Adirondacks and Blue Ridge Mountains. She has also lived in San Diego and Washington, D.C., and has been writing lawn care stories for LawnStarter since 2021. With a passion for sustainability, Sav loves covering eco-friendly practices to empower homeowners to cultivate beautiful yards while building a healthier planet.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lawnstarter.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/sav-maive\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers","description":"Looking for a city that loves your feline friend as much as you do? Check out our list of 2023's best cities for cat lovers to find out.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers","og_description":"Looking for a city that loves your feline friend as much as you do? Check out our list of 2023's best cities for cat lovers to find out.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/","og_site_name":"Lawnstarter","article_published_time":"2023-08-02T13:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-11-29T22:04:46+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":801,"url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sav Maive","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sav Maive","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/"},"author":{"name":"Sav Maive","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/30eb0fcb57700a0338f28e7dcece5e8c"},"headline":"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers","datePublished":"2023-08-02T13:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-11-29T22:04:46+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/"},"wordCount":1299,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr","articleSection":["Studies"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/","name":"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr","datePublished":"2023-08-02T13:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-11-29T22:04:46+00:00","description":"Looking for a city that loves your feline friend as much as you do? Check out our list of 2023's best cities for cat lovers to find out.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shutterstock_1963526803-1.jpg?wsr","width":1200,"height":801,"caption":"Man kissing his gray cat lying down asleep"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/studies\/best-cities-cat-lovers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"2023\u2019s Best Cities for Cat Lovers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/","name":"Lawnstarter","description":"The LawnStarter Blog","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Lawnstarter","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/lawnstarter-logo.svg?wsr","width":198,"height":26,"caption":"Lawnstarter"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/30eb0fcb57700a0338f28e7dcece5e8c","name":"Sav Maive","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0d1adb62a79ca6253c4dfe20004b978d16cc75979d009fecd44f462b5479ee9?s=96&d=wp_user_avatar&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0d1adb62a79ca6253c4dfe20004b978d16cc75979d009fecd44f462b5479ee9?s=96&d=wp_user_avatar&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c0d1adb62a79ca6253c4dfe20004b978d16cc75979d009fecd44f462b5479ee9?s=96&d=wp_user_avatar&r=g","caption":"Sav Maive"},"description":"Sav Maive is a writer based in San Antonio, with roots in the Adirondacks and Blue Ridge Mountains. She has also lived in San Diego and Washington, D.C., and has been writing lawn care stories for LawnStarter since 2021. With a passion for sustainability, Sav loves covering eco-friendly practices to empower homeowners to cultivate beautiful yards while building a healthier planet.","url":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/sav-maive\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}