Cats of Iceland

Store Cat

In Reykjavik, we saw cats nearly everywhere, and later learned that the city allows them to roam outside freely during the day. Each of them has a collar and tag with the cat’s name.

Elyse loves cats. So do we. So it was only natural to stop and pet each individual cat along our way. Two cats lived in one of the apartments behind ours and were out daily meeting their public.

You might think that roaming the city streets would have toughened these guys up, made them street smart. But, oh, they are the most loving, friendly kitties we’ve seen anywhere in the world. They stretch their heads to meet your hand when you reach to pet them. They rub your legs. They roll over to get their bellies rubbed. It’s a cat lover’s delight.

Apartment Cat

We visited one Icewear store that the neighbor’s kitty had adopted (or was that a takeover?). Curled up on a stack of Icelandic wool sweaters was this soft gray and white kitty, sound asleep. Alongside him was a sign explaining his presence and that he was not for sale. He endured almost constant petting from customers, stayed soundly asleep – or at least he wasn’t acknowledging his admirers – and added a lot of hominess to the commercial establishment.

We didn’t know what to expect in the rest of the country, but if Heimaey Island is any indication, Icelandic cats snuggle their way into your heart anywhere in the country. On Heimaey, we met a large caramel colored furry outside the volcano museum who gave us such royal treatment it was tempting to stay outside and play with him (or her).

Socks, the Volcano Museum Cat 

When we exited the museum, there was the soft beauty, lying on it’s back while two utterly entranced tourists repeatedly petted it and rubbed its belly. As Elyse approached, the little beauty became “her” cat again, turning on all its fickle charm.

Apparently, Iceland’s cats are like its people: warm, friendly, and welcoming. Elyse chose the right country for us.