Cool Cats of Cuba – Cuban Cat Photos

Last updated: December 6th, 2018

This blog post is a little different from usual, and simply contains photos of cats – which I think we all agree is a good thing! The one thing these cats have in common is that they are all Cuban.

On a recent trip to Cuba, I was surprised to see how many stray cats were roaming the streets,  so decided to photograph some of them. Cuba is an intriguing place, and I think this collection of Cuban cat photos shows how they reflect the country they live in. Cuba is a poor country, but the people are generally friendly and happy. They live surrounded by beautiful countryside, and architecture that is very striking but has seen better days.

Most of the stray cats (and dogs) appeared to be healthy, and it was clear that the Cuban people care for their four-legged neighbours even though life is very tough for them as well.

You can click on any of the photos to open up a larger version.

Cool Cats of Cuba

This black and white cat was sitting in the doorway of a fruit and vegetable shop, keeping a watchful eye on anyone passing by.

These two kittens were quite shy, yet playful and curious – and their mum was always close by making sure they didn’t get in to any trouble.

These three black and white cats lived in a house near the railway station in Havana, and would spend most of their day watching the world go by from behind the window grill.

This confident black and white cat lived near the station in Havana, and clearly isn’t a cat to be messed with!

These two inquisitive kittens were living in the grounds of a hotel in Vinales, and were very curious about what we were up to.

It didn’t take long for them to become brave enough to explore my camera bag. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to bring them home with me!

This ginger cat lived at the restaurant we ate in one day, and was enjoying relaxing in the sun on the terrace.

This isn’t a cat, but I had to make an exception for this adorable puppy who lived in a Casa in Vinales. What it lacked in size, it made up for with cuteness. How can you resist those eyes and ears!

I found this very small kitten sheltering by the roadside early one morning in Cienfuegos. It walked straight over to me and was wet and shivering – I had no food though so all I could offer it were some strokes and affection.

I felt very sorry for it, and went back later with some food from the hotel breakfast buffet however it was nowhere to be seen. I left the food under the terracotta pots, hoping it would return and sniff it out.

This gorgeous tabby kitten was peering out from its vantage point in a tree. It almost blends in, but those big round yellow eyes are hard to miss!

Yep – this one isn’t a cat either, but this pet dog called Paco was happily watching the world go by from the vantage point of this window. Check out his smile!

Not all Cuban cats are strays living on the streets – this beautiful cat was let out by its owner to stretch and scratch its claws on a convenient wooden pole.

Wandering around the main square in a town called Trinidad, I spotted this rather scruffy-looking cat sleeping on a window ledge, enjoying the warmth from the sun.

This pretty cat was watching the world go by from inside a doorway in Trinidad.

Not long later, it decided to go for a wander, but was very alert and not quite sure about being photographed.

This slightly scruffy looking black and white cat seemed very surprised to be photographed.

A very friendly and inquisitive black and white kitten was sitting on the counter of a small shop in the old part of Havana, and eager to greet potential customers!

Waiting to serve the next customer.

All that working is quite tiring for a young kitten, so time for a quick break.

Many windows and doorways in Havana are protected by ornate metal frames, which provides somewhere safe for this cat to watch the world go by from.

While there are lots of stray cats roaming the streets, there are also some who have a home, such as this dainty kitten with a pretty red collar. Just look at those legs!

A grey cat roaming a typical Havana street, searching for its next meal.

As I took photos of this very pretty cat, it wondered what I was doing and decided to sit somewhere safe to keep an eye on me.

Safety in this case was in the doorway of a house, behind a metal gate.

This mostly white cat wasn’t nervous at all, although does look quite grumpy. But look at those stunning blue eyes!

A ginger cat this time, relaxing under an old broken chair in a street in Old Havana.

I discovered an abandoned car on the streets near the famous El Floridita bar (well known for serving Daiquiris and being a favourite hangout of Ernest Hemingway). I soon noticed several cats sheltering underneath, including this Tortoiseshell cat with the most amazing pink lips.

Another resident of this old car was this white tabby cat.

After one cat climbed out of a hole in the bonnet, I looked in through the hole where the headlight had been, and noticed this cat having a snooze on the inner wheel arch.

This striking looking cat was roaming the streets in old Havana, and spent its day watching tourists wandering around the souvenir shops.

So that’s all from the Cool Cats of Cuba. If you have any cat photos to share, please post them on our Facebook page!