Parque Kennedy Or Cat Park In Peru
Another favorite tourist spot overrun with cats is Parque Kennedy in Peru, a local park in the heart of Lima's Miraflores District.
Parque Kennedy has existed since the 1900s, and it shares a location with the Virgen Milagrosa Church and the Municipalidad de Miraflores, or City Hall.
The park has undergone multiple name changes over its history. It was eventually renamed after U.S. President John F. Kennedy provided aid to Peru before he was assassinated.
Over the years, however, the 240,000-square-foot park has attracted more feline visitors than human ones. It is allegedly home to over 100 stray cats, but nobody knows exactly how they began to congregate there.
One version of the cat park's origin story claims that most of the cats were descended from a pregnant cat who gave birth among the park's bushes. Another legend suggests that the cats were the offspring of church felines who escaped from their mouse-catching duties.
The cats reportedly receive necessary care, like spay and neuter services as well as food and medical attention, from the Grupo Voluntario de Defensa Felina, or the Feline Protection Volunteer Group. Because of this, the park remains relatively clean despite the crowds of people and cats.
Like other cat-friendly spots on this list, the cats at Peru's cat park are semi-feral. Many park-goers play with them and bring them food to eat, which makes the cats more than happy to interact with humans.
However, the cat park's population continues to grow as people have become emboldened to leave their own unwanted pets there. It has become an issue for some residents who think that the cat park is a public health concern.
Despite some of these issues, the cat park remains a beloved fixture in Lima. It seems that it will continue to serve as a home for hundreds of strays.
And as for the other places on this list, they're sure to host hordes of felines for many years to come as well — leaving visitors ample opportunity to check them out.
Now that you've explored these unbelievable cat havens, view 25 breathtaking photographs of Chefchaouen, Morocco's mysterious "blue pearl." Then, take a look at the 2,000-year-old ancient Egyptian temple Esna that was restored to its former glory.
