On International Cat Day, August 8 every year, cat lovers around the world dedicate an entire day to recognising and celebrating one of the most beloved pets on earth.
If you're enough of a cat fanatic to celebrate International Cat Day, why not take your next holiday in August and take a pilgrimage to one of these international locations to celebrate:
Cat cafes in Tokyo
Cats are hugely popular in Japan though many apartments forbid pets. The result? Cat cafes! There are nearly 60 in Tokyo, many of which exist to raise awareness of issues surrounding cat welfare and to find homes for cats looking for owners to adopt them. Try the fairytale-esque Temari no Ouchi, the popular MoCHA in Shibuya, or the two-storey wonderland that is Calico in Shinjuku.
'Cat Island', Japan
That's right, there's more than a few reasons for cat-lovers to visit Japan. Tashirojima (also known as 'Cat Island') is an island off the east coast where wild cats outnumber humans 6 to 1. Though mostly feral, the cats are well-fed and cared for by local residents; tourists flock to the sparsely populated island (which now has less than 100 residents) to get a glimpse of what a world run by our feline overlords might look like.
KattenKabinet, Amsterdam
In the Netherlands, the KattenKabinet (literally 'Cat Cabinet') is an art museum devoted to works depicting cats - from drawings, paintings and sculptures to ceiling murals and even architecture. Film buffs take note: this feline shrine was even featured in the movie Ocean's Twelve, so you can kill two sightseeing birds with one stone here, so to speak.
Kattenstoet, Belgium
Nearby, in Belgium, every three years the city of Ypres devotes an entire parade to cats. Back when Kattenstoet (literally 'Festival of the Cats') began, cats were thrown from the belfry tower of Ypres's Cloth Hall for superstitious reasons - these days, the gesture is purely symbolic, with stuffed toys being thrown instead. The next parade - attended by thousands each time it's on - is happening in May 2018.
Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West, Florida
From 1931 to 1939, celebrated author Ernest Hemingway lived in a French Colonial-style house in Key West, Florida - just across from the well-known Key West Lighthouse. Hemingway kept a number of six- and seven-toed cats (known as polydactyls) as pets. His home, now preserved as a landmark, museum and tourist destination, still houses many descendants of the originals. There's something here for literature-lovers and cat-lovers alike.