The Top 10 Cat-Loving Cities and the Rise of Cat Popularity

Cats are more popular than ever! For the past several years, cat adoptions have outpaced dog adoptions, fueling a rising wave of feline fandom across Canada.

PetSmart has unveiled the Top 10 Cat-Loving Cities in Canada, the places where pet parents are not only adopting more cats but also spoiling them most—with the highest purchases of cat toys, treats, and other pampering products from PetSmart.

“We’ve been following this trend as cat adoptions outpace dog adoptions, and it’s fair to say cats are having a moment,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada. “This index shows us that cat parenting is more universal than you might think, and those old stereotypes no longer apply. More people than ever are enjoying the playful nature of cat companionship. Cats can thrive in smaller living spaces, and their independence often makes them incredibly appealing to pet parents who can’t get out for regular walks.”

These are the top 10 cities in Canada where residents have invested the most in their love for cats, based on PetSmart Charities of Canada cat adoptions and sales of cat pampering products purchased from PetSmart stores.*

July is the perfect time to show your love for cats. PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Week, happening July 21–27, 2025 will feature adoption events in PetSmart stores across the country. Prospective pet parents will have the opportunity to meet adoptable cats and kittens from local animal welfare organizations. Summer marks the height of kitten season, when most kittens are born and shelters and rescues become overwhelmed with vulnerable kittens and cats in need of loving homes.

To encourage adoptions, PetSmart is offering pet parents who adopt during July’s National Adoption Week the chance to claim VIPP (Very Important Pet Parent)** status, the highest tier and level of savings for PetSmart Treats Rewards members.

To learn more about PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Week events and to find adoptable pets near you, visit PetSmartCharities.ca.

* Rankings are based on internal data from PetSmart Canada stores which excludes Quebec. Data was collected from June 17, 2024 through June 16, 2025. Cities were evaluated using two key metrics: the number of pet adoptions recorded in PetSmart Charities of Canada’s Adoptions Database and customer spending on select cat product categories, including toys, furniture, collars and leads, scratch products, and treats. To ensure fair comparison, results were adjusted for the number of PetSmart store locations in each city and indexed against national performance. Final rankings were determined using a weighted formula: 50% adoptions and 50% product sales.