Cat Lover? Jerusalem is for You

One lesser-known fact about Israel is its abundant cat population. When visiting the Holy Land, one can see the plentiful amount of felines meandering around the city streets, climbing trees, begging for food, or diving in dumpsters for a meal. Whether you are fond of cats or not, many have speculated how these small carnivores got to Israel in the first place.

Before the 1930s, the cat population in Israel was considered minimal, however, after the British Mandate, the population exploded. Due to a rat epidemic throughout the country, the British supposedly imported numerous felines in order to neutralize their rodent problems. The cats did an efficient job of getting rid of the rats, and they also benefited tremendously from the steady food source.

In Israel today, there are an estimated two million stray cats roaming the streets. Additionally, about 32% of Israeli citizens are reported to be pet owners, 10% of which own cats. While some are concerned that a rabies outbreak will occur as a result of the high stray cat population, the disease still remains uncommon.

The biggest threat that the unruly street cats pose is to the local birds and small animals that also reside in Israel. Cats instinctively hunt for their food; however, they also enjoy preying on small animals for their own amusement. Thus, an increase in the number of cats simultaneously lowers the number of birds, lizards, snakes, and rats in the area.

Despite their keen hunting abilities, it is not uncommon to see Israelis regularly feeding the neighborhood cats. In Jerusalem, you can find numerous plastic bowls filled with food and water scattered throughout neighborhoods and even the city center.

There is undoubtedly a special relationship that God created between mankind and animals. Whether it is about livestock or pets, there is an emphasis on the protection and preservation of all living creatures. In fact, there are several places throughout the Bible as well as the Talmud that explicitly state how animals should be treated by humans.

For example, Proverbs 12:210 states,

The Talmud goes on to describe a principle called “tza’ar ba’alei chaim” which means “the suffering of animals.” This ethic has to do with the unnecessary distress of animals, and it mostly goes into detail about how to properly care for livestock.

It does, however, go on to prohibit the unnecessary suffering of all animals, including the killing of animals that are not causing any harm to humans. Likewise, it describes how it is incumbent upon animal owners to feed, water, care for basic needs, and take extra precautions in order to prevent the potential anguish of their animals.

Similar to the values in Judaism, the Israeli government has also created numerous regulations about animal care. Israel treats the care of stray animals as a public moral responsibility, combining legal protection against cruelty with practical, humane measures to manage and sustain the street-cat population.

Regardless of whether you love or hate cats, if you plan to visit Israel, do bear in mind that these pesky felines play an active role in Israeli society. Finally, it is amazing how much one can learn about both Judaism and Israeli culture based on the way that animals are regarded.