Superstar cat couple Andrew Marttila, the renowned professional cat photographer, and Hannah Shaw, the author, educator, and rescuer better known as “Kitten Lady” to her 1.3 million-strong following, recently embarked on a trip of a lifetime. The couple visited 30 countries, documenting their cat-focused itinerary in their new book, Cats of the World. You’re going to want to get your paws on a copy. We asked the cat-obsessed duo about their incredible trip. 

Q: What inspired your trip and, ultimately, the book documenting your travels? 

Between working professionally with cats, fostering neonatal kittens, and running a kitten welfare nonprofit, it’s always been difficult for Andrew and I to unplug…so we made a commitment to each other that we would take an international trip together once a year. But inevitably, our love of cats wasn’t just something we could leave at home. We would find ourselves on a Japanese cat island, rescuing a kitten in Peru, or visiting a cat rescue beach in Malaysia! We wanted to tell the stories of felines and their advocates all around the globe and to capture photos of cats living in some of the most unique, fascinating places on earth. 

India

Q: What were your top three destinations and why? 

This is an impossible question to answer, but I’ll give it a shot! One would have to be Kotor, Montenegro, a city with the unofficial nickname “The City of Cats” thanks to folklore dating back to the 14th century. It is said that cats saved the city from the Black Plague, and cats have been a local mascot ever since. Kotor is a beautiful, fortified city surrounded by stone walls and breathtaking mountains, and it’s lovely to see the appreciation that locals have for the cats. But the best part is that a local group, Kotor Kitties, has sterilized thousands of cats! 

Another top destination would have to be Pokhara, Nepal. We visited during Tihar—a very beautiful annual Hindu festival to honour various animals and deities. We were able to work with several local rescuers and witness the wonderful customs of adorning cats and dogs with marigold garlands and red tikka and bestowing them with special treats to honour their loyalty and importance during Kukur Tihar. It was very heartwarming to see how beloved these animals are—even those living on the street are worshipped and treated with dignity. 

Oh gosh—how can I choose a third city? Perhaps I’d say Zanzibar, Tanzania. Not only is it a gorgeous place, but the people are just so welcoming and warm—both to visitors and to the cats who share their community. It was absolutely fascinating to learn about how local rescuers help kittens in a place where there are almost no adoption prospects, but where the community truly comes together to help the cats on their block. The whole approach to caring for animals is very community-based, and it’s really inspiring. 

Tanzania

Q: What was the most challenging part? 

Because we were trying to do so much on a limited budget, we really had to grind to achieve these photos and stories. We sometimes had as little as 24 or 48 hours in a city, and our appointments were often back-to-back…so there was very little room for error if there was a weather issue or if a cat didn’t feel like participating! We prepared thoroughly for these trips in order to pack in as many photoshoots and interviews as possible, so these were often long, exhausting days. But it was worth it!

Hannah Shaw & Andrew Marttila

 

Q: What is it like travelling and working together as a husband-and-wife duo? 

We travel very well together, honestly! I am more of a planner: I want to make spreadsheets of exactly where we are going to be, at what time, with whom, and I do a ton of pre-calls and research to ensure the trip will be a success. But if something unexpected happens in the moment (and it often does), Andrew’s resourceful, flexible nature is really an asset. We balance each other very well! 

absolutely fascinating to learn about how local rescuers help kittens in a place where there are almost no adoption prospects, but where the community truly comes together to help the cats on their block. The whole approach to caring for animals is very community-based, and it’s really inspiring. 

Greece

Q: Who is this book for? 

Anyone who loves cats, travel, and photography will love this book. It’s a visually beautiful exploration of the lives of cats and cat lovers around the world—but it’s also a fascinating peek at how history, culture, politics, religion, and so many other factors converge to influence our societal relationships with felines…we are so excited for people to get their hands on it! 

Croatia

Q: Biggest takeaway? 

For me, the biggest takeaway is that compassion truly exists around every corner. Maybe that sounds cheesy, but it’s really true. If you go looking for kindness, you are bound to find it. It was pretty spectacular to find that whether we were visiting a small village in Greece, a major city in Chile, or a remote island in Kenya, there were always people who we could connect deeply with over our shared love of cats. 

Tanzania

> Visit catsofthe.world to see a selection of photos from the book, watch videos from their travels, and learn more. 

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!