Suburban and mid-sized communities continue to lead the way in cat ownership and adoption, according to PetSmart's 2026 Top Cat-Loving Cities ranking, which analyzed cat adoption activity and consumer spending on cat products across the United States. Lexington, Ky., retained the top spot for the second consecutive year, while 76 per cent of the cities in the 2025 rankings remained in the top 25. Six communities entered the list for the first time this year. PetSmart Charities president Aimee Gilbreath said the findings reflect the growing popularity of cats as companion animals: "Cats continue to capture the hearts of pet parents across the country and these rankings confirm their popularity isn't slowing down anytime soon. Cats can thrive in smaller spaces, making them ideal for a variety of living spaces and lifestyles. More people than ever are discovering that their independence makes them incredible companions. These feline-friendly cities show us that cat adoption isn't a fleeting trend, it's a way of life." Top 10 cat-loving cities in 2026 Lexington, Ky. Mount Juliet, Tenn. Spokane, Wash. Plattsburgh, N.Y. Falls Church, Va. Daly City, Calif. Alhambra, Calif. Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Fairless Hills, Pa. Clarksville, Tenn. The ranking comes during "kitten season," when animal shelters reportedly typically see an influx of kittens and cats requiring care and adoption. Photo courtesy PetSmart The rankings are based on internal PetSmart data collected between June 10, 2025, and June 9, 2026. Cities were evaluated using two equally weighted measures: the number of cat adoptions recorded through the PetSmart Charities Adoptions Database and customer spending on selected cat product categories, including toys, furniture, collars and leads, scratch products, and treats. Results were adjusted for the number of PetSmart store locations in each city and indexed against national performance before final rankings were calculated.
