Dubrovnik is a simply stunning walled city on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea and in 1979 was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town.

The history of the city dates back to the 7th century and was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire and later under the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice – the Venetian influence is everywhere. The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade.

Wandering this fabulous town, whether along the two kilometers of walls or the seemingly never-ending labyrinthine alley ways, squares and steep stairways, you’ll see well fed and pampered cats and kittens at every turn. Cats are considered the city’s oldest citizens. The felines we see living in the old town are direct descendants of the cats introduced in the 14th century to help fight the bubonic plague by catching and killing the disease carrying rats responsible for spreading the disease.

In those days, Dubrovnik functioned as a main trading hub between Europe and the Ottoman Empire and welcomed trading boats from all major cities dotted around the Mediterranean. It was a hot spot for the bubonic plague and as a result, it was in the locals’ interest to keep their protectors healthy and well-fed.

Unfortunately, the plague carried on throughout Croatia and its surroundings for many years until 1691, when the last urban outbreak struck the city. The city’s love for the cats on the front lines carried right along with it and can still be seen today.