Russia topped the rating of the most cat countries in the world

Russia topped the rating of countries by the share of families that have cats as pets. The list was published by Seasia Stats.

According to the study, 59% of Russian families have at least one cat. Romania and Indonesia came in second and third, with 48% and 47% respectively. The top ten countries also included the Philippines (43% of families), Thailand (42%), Poland (41%), New Zealand (41%), the United States (37%), Latvia (37%) and Hungary (35%).

The popularity of cats in Eastern Europe is associated with traditions. In the past, these animals played an important practical role in agriculture. A growing number of families have cats in Southeast Asia, according to the ranking. The authors of the study linked this to urbanization and the growth of the middle class. They also note that New Zealand is among the leaders, despite ongoing discussions in the country about bird conservation.