Cats in Morocco: Facts and Cultural Significance

Nov 06, 2025 0

When taking travel photography in a particular location, it is intriguing to document the lives of all its inhabitants, not just people. Morocco, like many countries (particularly in the Middle East), has a large population of stray cats and dogs roaming the streets in search of food and comfort. Cats and dogs can be seen practically everywhere: on the street, in stores, in monuments, monitoring people, alone or in groups, more friendly or violent. This article will concentrate on cats and why, contrary to the common assumption in most countries, cats are much more popular as companion animals than dogs.

Religious Background

In a society where religion is so important, such as Moroccan culture, it is essential to seek an Islamic foundation for any deeply ingrained habit. It is important to understand that Moroccans have two primary theological sources: the Koran and Sunna. The Koran never mentions cats and only three times mentions dogs, stressing their ability as hunters and guardians. The hadiths provide a sharper contrast, stating that whereas a dog must fully cleanse a dish after licking it, cats do not need to do so.

Muslims consider cats to be ritually clean, and they do not spoil a person's purity for prayer, thus allowing them to enter homes and even mosques. There is a widespread belief among Muslims that cats seek out people who are praying. Cats are often depicted in paintings alongside Islamic scholars and bibliophiles who loved their cats as they protected their precious books from mice.

Islam stresses conduct based on respect for others and oneself, while simultaneously seeking to safeguard the health of the community. Hygienic behavior is associated with a favorable religious attitude among Muslims, and the cat is preferred because it is seen to be cleaner.

Contrary to popular belief, Moroccans do not mistreat dogs. The Koran often cites the need to respect all animals and even deems their maltreatment to be a grave sin.

Read also: Protect Your Cat: African Violets

Are Moroccan Cats Cleaner Than Dogs?

Cats spend several hours a day cleaning, eliminating parasites, and shedding dead hair, while dogs, being a subspecies of wolves, prefer to wallow in the dirt to hide their smell from their prey.

Cultural Significance

It would be easy to attribute the reason for admittance to a single religious basis, but it is more probable that a range of stories and traditions play an important part. In popular culture, it has long been considered that the prophet had a fondness for animals, especially cats. He once got up to cut a piece of his robe because he didn’t want to disturb his favorite cat that was sleeping on him, according to oral legend.

One of the primary cultural characteristics that contribute to a Moroccan’s desire for a cat as a pet is their keen awareness of all the dimensions that comprise society: their street, their neighborhood, their city, and so on. An animal with greater freedom and the capacity to wander and assimilate into all parts of the city is likely to be favored over one that is too dependent on family care. Cats are often not allocated to a specific house and are instead cared for and fed by the whole community.

Whatever the reason, the reality is that they choose cats as daily companions, which is only one of their cultural distinctions. Using our western perspective as a yardstick and concluding that their preferences for sharing their lives with an animal are less valid is, of course, a complete blunder, because it is simply another difference, and as a difference, it is positive and adds to our interest in a country so different yet so close to us.

The Story of Muezza

The Prophet Muhammad loved cats and is said to have had a favorite cat named Muezza. One evening when the call to prayer was heard, Muezza was asleep on the sleeve of one of the Prophet’s robes. Rather than disturb Muezza, Muhammad cut the sleeve of the robe to leave Muezza in peace. When Muhammad returned from his prayers, Muezza gave him a bow of gratitude. The Prophet is said to have stroked Muezza between her ears, which is why Tabby cats have stripes between their ears shaped like an M.

Read also: Cats of Nigeria

The Cat as a Pure Being

In addition to being sacred, cats are said to be a pure being as a species. A glance at biblical texts tells us that the cat was included in Noah’s Ark. They did not board in twos but were apparently born from the sneeze of a lion. It was a boon because the ship was infested with rats. The lion feared they would bite his muzzle, but after sneezing, he gave birth to a few treasured cats. They could now go about their business and trap the nasty rodents on board.

Predator Cats

Cats are innate predators despite their loving nature. They warm up to humans while being useful around the house. It is easy to win a top place in a home with a few purrs. A clean house will have cats around at all times! Woe to any rodent who dares enter. They are pets, predators, loving beings, and purveyors of a clean space. After all, don’t they wash themselves constantly to remove dirt and debris? They spend hours on end licking their coats with their paws.

Thus, they have acquired the privilege of being symbols of purity. Whereas many Muslims consider dogs impure, people don’t balk when cats sit on the furniture or their laps. They may sleep curled up under your chin or the most whimsical of places. In most parts of Morocco, they are respected and protected by offering them food and drink.

Animal Welfare Concerns

Like every country in the world, Morocco has its share of stray or community cats and dogs. Veterinary services, especially spay/neuter programs, are urgently needed. There are organizations who do amazing animal rescue work in Morocco.

One of the first things you notice when you arrive in Morocco is that there are cats EVERYWHERE! It is not that there are no dogs, it's just that you don't see them as often. Cats roam the streets freely and seem to have no real fear of people and you often see people feeding stray cats on the street.

However, the street cats of Morocco face numerous challenges, including:

Infected eyes and scarred faces
Injured legs and mangled tails
Scrawny, dirty, starving bodies
Constant hunger, thirst, fear, and pain
Fights for food and territory
Torment by humans
Endless cycle of pregnancy

Animal welfare isn’t a priority in Morocco, and it probably won’t be for a long time. Morocco’s street cats are not cute. They are suffering.

Travellers to Morocco often want to help the many homeless cats they see. One way of doing this is by donating to SPANA, an international animal welfare charity with a branch in Marrakech. They treat, rescue, and care for stray cats and dogs (as well as working animals like donkeys, mules, and horses; more on that in a later blog). SPANA also offers affordable veterinary treatment for low income pet owners, and runs adoption programs for rescued cats, helping find caring homes for them.

While most tourists adopt an animal and take it home, donating money or food helps SPANA to continue its vital work.

Alley Cat Allies in Morocco

Alley Cat Allies’ work on behalf of cats is truly global! Members of their team were on the ground in Morocco to protect cats in Casablanca, the North African country’s largest city, and Rabat, its capital city. Casablanca is known worldwide, including as a tourist destination and the setting of a highly popular film. In fact, community cats are a fixture in many Moroccan cities. Take a walk through the streets-or even just through an airport-and you’ll spot a cat almost anywhere you look. Moroccans have a deep cultural and even religious connection with their cat community members.

While in Morocco, the Alley Cat Allies team walked the streets of Casablanca and Rabat, offering food to community cats and providing emergency medical care. The joy from locals at seeing their attention to their cats was palpable. But they saw firsthand how few cats had been spayed or neutered, or provided with other needed treatment.

While setting down bowls of wet cat food for cats in a Casablanca park, their team spotted a small, skinny orange kitten. They quickly wrapped her in a towel, scooped her up, and headed to the closest veterinary clinic-a 30-minute walk away. Despite her young age, Soleil was calm and brave as she was examined and treated for dehydration, fleas, and anemia.

Speaking with the young veterinarian caring for Soleil, the deeper needs in Morocco quickly came into focus. While many people love their cats, and some dedicated professionals perform Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), there remains a desert in affordable options for veterinary care.

Here's a table summarizing the key aspects of cat culture in Morocco:

Aspect	Description
Religious Significance	Cats are considered ritually clean in Islam and are allowed in homes and mosques.
Cultural Beliefs	Cats are seen as bringing luck and are often cared for by the community.
Historical Context	The Prophet Muhammad's love for his cat Muezza is a significant part of Islamic tradition.
Animal Welfare	Stray cats face challenges such as disease, hunger, and mistreatment, highlighting the need for more veterinary services and animal welfare initiatives.