Santa Fe Known as Cat Lady Friendly City

Santa Fe is well known for its art, culture, history, activities, museums, and architecture. But did you also know that it is recognized as being a “cat lady friendly city?”

Unfortunately, when some people think of a cat lady, they think of a crazy old woman with dozens of cats. In reality, it is simply any single woman who loves and owns one cat or more.

In 2015, research firm Nielsen Scarborough (part of Nielsen) surveyed more than 400,000 people about cats. The research was part of a two-year market data study to determine habits and ownerships of single women who owned cats.

The study found that there is something to the concept that women love cats. It found that by a 2-1 margin, women are more likely than men to own a cat.

The Nielsen Scarborough study also determined what cities in the United States were the most “cat lady friendly.” Part of that determination was the number of single women who owned cats. Santa Fe came in #6. Here are the top 7 Cat Lady Friendly Cities in the United States:

1. Most Cat Lady Friendly Cities in the U.S.
2. Portland, Oregon (9.9%)
3. Seattle, Washington (9.3%)
4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (8.7%)
5. Kansas City, Missouri (8.4%)
6. Denver, Colorado (8.3%)
7. Santa Fe, New Mexico and Albuquerque, New Mexico (8.2%)
8. Minneapolis, Minnesota and St Paul, Minnesota and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (tie – 7.7%)

The ranking criteria for the study was the percentage of single women, in each city, who live alone with at least one cat.

The term “cat lady” used to have a negative association attached to it. But these days, what it means to be a cat lady is being redefined. It’s something to be proud of and to own. Here’s a video that takes a look at the modern cat lady: