Domestic Cat (Felis catus) is in the Felids family (Felidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 36,150 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Domestic Cat: observations by month (U.S.)
About Domestic Cat
The cat (Felis catus), commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae. Recent advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of the cat occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. It is commonly kept as a house pet and farm cat, but also ranges freely as a feral cat avoiding human contact. It is valued by humans for companionship and its...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Domestic Cat by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,387 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Texas | 4,507 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Florida | 3,269 | April | Mar–Feb |
| New York | 1,953 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 1,848 | November | Oct–Sep |
| Georgia | 1,745 | March | Feb–May |
| District of Columbia | 1,434 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 1,249 | November | Oct–Sep |
| Hawaii | 1,137 | May | Apr–Mar |
| North Carolina | 1,028 | April | Jan–Nov |
| Ohio | 1,028 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Illinois | 988 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Washington | 873 | April | Jan–Oct |
| Oregon | 726 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Virginia | 723 | April | Mar–Feb |
| New Jersey | 697 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Arizona | 608 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Michigan | 437 | May | Jan–Sep |
| Indiana | 418 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Louisiana | 378 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Minnesota | 343 | September | Apr–Jan |
| Utah | 338 | April | Feb–Nov |
| Alabama | 325 | April | Feb–May |
| Massachusetts | 312 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 272 | May | Dec–Oct |
| South Carolina | 264 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Kentucky | 260 | June | Jan–Nov |
| Missouri | 243 | May | Apr–Feb |
| Oklahoma | 215 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Colorado | 192 | September | Mar–Nov |
| Kansas | 181 | September | Jul–Nov |
| Connecticut | 168 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Mississippi | 165 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Arkansas | 148 | April | Feb–Dec |
| Idaho | 148 | May | Mar–Sep |
| New Mexico | 148 | April | Mar–Jan |
| West Virginia | 145 | August | Dec–Oct |
| Iowa | 118 | May | Jan–Jul |
| Tennessee | 109 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Vermont | 97 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Nebraska | 90 | September | Mar–Dec |
| Maine | 76 | August | Jun–Apr |
| Nevada | 73 | March | Feb–May |
| Montana | 72 | January | Dec–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 57 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Delaware | 41 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 36 | July | Jun–Oct |
| South Dakota | 32 | July | Mar–Oct |
| Wyoming | 22 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Alaska | 16 | July | Jun–Sep |
| North Dakota | 11 | June | Apr–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Felids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Domestic Cat?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Domestic Cat most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.