Celebrate National Pet Day at one of these Airbnbs with resident cat hosts

In celebration of today being National Pet Day, Airbnb is highlighting some of its accommodation offerings around the world that have resident cats. The feline-loving hosts featured here have all received great reviews, thanks in part to the welcoming role played by their pet co-hosts. Here is a sample of some of the magnificent moggies that could share your holiday home space in the future.

Kookie in London

Artist Sue and her cat Kooky live at their beautifully furnished flat in central London. “Kooky is ten years old,” says Sue. “I bought him from an owner who became allergic to his fine hair. As I advertise ‘for cat lovers only,’ most guests are cat owners themselves and get a real kick out of having a ‘holiday cat’ on the premises. I actually suspect Kooky is the main attraction and he certainly loves the attention from guests. Kooky thinks it’s a privilege for them to have the pleasure of his company. Basically, he owns the flat and we are lucky to have him as a rather imperious host.”

Chica in Portland

Host Ashley and her cat Chica have a charming lilac bungalow in Portland, which they share with golden retriever Florie.  “Chica is from Mexico and is about ten years old or more,” say Ashley. “I met her at a hotel I stayed at in Baja in 2009. She was the pool cat and the barman used to feed her. A couple of years later the hotel changed owners and she was going to be evicted. So my friends rescued her and I offered to take her in. When I first got her, she was my only pet, but then I got a golden retriever called Florie so she really values the extra attention from guests. Sometimes I’ll come home in the evening and she’s cuddled up with them watching a movie.”

Pere and Chupa in Berlin

Host Thor lives with cats Chupa and Pere in their ‘cool cats’ home in the trendy Kreuzberg area of Berlin. “Having cats is a selling point, not an issue,” he says. “It’s been a really nice surprise. Chupacabra is a Reubenesque, voluminous or, well, basically a massive feline. She was found abandoned and half-starved to death. Since then, she’s been eating everything as if it’s her last meal. Perejil, which is Spanish for parsley, was found as a lost and scared kitten with a broken tail, hiding in a vegetable stall – hence his name – in downtown Buenos Aires 14 years ago. Pere is so Argentinian that he’ll have nothing but proper meat. No fish, thank you. No way!”

Sansa in Sydney

Janine and her five-year-old cat Sansa live in their light-filled loft in Sydney. “A friend I used to work with took in a stray cat that had kittens,” says Janine. “I went to have a look at them and ended up taking Sansa home. I’ve have had quite a few people tell me they booked specifically because I have a cat. Sansa loves having people visit. Firstly because bags are her favourite thing – she loves to sniff and rub her face on them. And secondly, she likes to show off in front of guests, with exaggerated stretches that I think are designed to receive extra pats. I could be wrong, but I think she glances my way to see if I’m watching.”

Ghin and Sumire in Tokyo

Host Wakana and her cats, Ghin and Sumire, enjoy spending quality time together in their Tokyo home. They also host a unique Experience for cat-lovers in their local Tokyo neighbourhood. “Ghin, a boy, is an eight-year-old French breed called Chartreux, and Sumire is a one-year-old British short-haired female,” says Wakana. “Both were abandoned by their previous owners, and I got them from animal protection organisations.  A lot of cats and dogs are abandoned like this and need new homes. I help those organisations sometimes with the Airbnb host community. Having cats actually helps me to get more bookings. Ghin used to be a very shy cat, hiding under the bed when new guests came, but because all of our guests are so friendly, my cats have built up their trust over the years and now they love the attention.”