As summer hit its stride, July delivered an absolutely massive month, rocketing the tally forward with 21 cats. This was a classic combination of reliable local spots and a highly lucrative road trip.
Teignmouth and Torquay Locals
The month kicked off with a return to a firm favourite: Nelson’s Cat Café in Teignmouth. I was in Teignmouth anyway for the inaugural Pirate Takeover, and I knew there were cats at the cafe I hadn’t yet petted. Two of their wonderful residents happily accepted some attention and bumped the numbers up, as well as all the other wonderful kitties I’d petted on my previous visit.
Back on home turf in Torquay, the local patrols paid off brilliantly on some local steps. I managed to log a lovely local tabby, closely followed by a gorgeous Ragdoll. Finding a Ragdoll just hanging out on the steps is a top-tier neighbourhood encounter!
The Great Ayr Expedition
The absolute highlight of the summer, however, was a trip up to Ayr in Scotland. When you are serious about hitting 1,000 cats, you find the premier establishments, and the Kitty Cat Café Ayr is truly a goldmine.
I was greeted by a staggering 17 cats in a single visit! It is only right and proper to list this magnificent clowder in full: Bambi, Brahms, Carlos, Gomez, Jay, Jupiter, Nina, Phoebe, Winter, Autumn, Olive, Casper, Peaches, Rosa, Sienna, Violet, and Winston. Meeting 17 named professionals in one afternoon is an absolute cheat code for this mission and a fantastic way to round off the month.
The Tally So Far:
- Previous Total: 457
- July 2026: 21 cats
- New Total: 478 / 1,000