Tourists flock to Iceland to see the dazzling Northern Lights in the winter or the golden Midnight Sun in the summer. But another surprising attraction is not found in the sky. In fact, it may welcome you with a warm rub around the ankles. Yup, Iceland is also known for its friendly felines.
City Catwalks
While I didn’t see any live cats during my trip, I definitely noticed the themed artwork plastered on buildings and featured in marketing campaigns. There’s even a special walking tour dedicated to spotting cats throughout the city, including a stop at Reykjavík’s cat café, Kattakaffihúsið.
Since I visited before the holiday, there was also talk of Iceland’s most famous Yule Cat, Jólakötturinn. Based on the lore, this enormous animal isn’t one of the cuddly kinds. Quite the opposite. It prefers to torment and devour children not wearing new clothes to celebrate the season.
Cat Fights
Even though cats were once praised for keeping the rodent population down around town, they may be doing the job too well now. Some areas of Iceland have imposed curfews and bans on outdoor cats. Turns out the abundance of natural predators have threatened the ecosystem by attacking birds and spreading disease.
The Legacy Lives On
Some areas are cracking down on cat-ivity, but these little lions are still loved throughout the area. Unlike many of the stray cats seen stalking alleyways in other cities, Reykjavik cats are well loved and cared for. Even if the cat has a home, locals still cater to wandering kitties with food, water, and shelter. There’s also a Cat Protection Society and shelters for those in need.
If you’re looking for these famous Icelandic cats, no need to update your passport—social media has you covered! From Facebook to YouTube, cats are no stranger to the camera. They even had their own reality show, Keeping Up with the Kattarshians. It’s one way to see the claws come out!
So don’t be surprised if you see some cats strutting down the streets of Reykjavik or muraled on the walls. But please, for the good of the children, get them some new socks for Christmas and save them from the hungry Jólakötturinn.
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