If you take a trip to Chefchaouen, it will be hard to miss the abundance of cats present throughout the town. You will find cats on almost every street. Some of the kittens you see are only a few weeks old.

20160515_153945Dogs are much harder to come across. They are not kept as pets, since cats are preferred by Moroccan people.

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The reason cats are more popular than dogs is due to religion. Dogs are viewed as unhygienic and should not be kept in the house. Cats are viewed as more hygienic. Some scientific research has shown that, in fact, the opposite is true.

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Despite this scientific research, cats remain the pet of choice. Since cats are considered clean, Muslims can pray after touching a cat without washing. However, if they touch a dog, they would need to wash again.

So, if you are a cat person, then come to Morocco!