It is a truth universally acknowledged that cats love Malta and the Maltese love cats, even going so far as to earn the nickname ‘island of cats’. And now, the cat is truly out of the bag (sorry), thanks to a recent feature on Coastal Living.

Listing Malta as one of 10 Best Beach Vacations for People Who Love Cats, along with the likes of San Francisco, Mykonos and Tampa, the lifestyle magazine seems to have caught on to the local’s love of our feline friends, noting that “caring for the island nation’s feral cats is a group effort, undertaken by more than a thousand locals” – and, well, it’s true!

“While visitors can snap plenty of photos of felines roaming the picturesque island streets,” the article continues – again, true – “many cats also congregate in the St Julian’s Cat Village, a famous small corner lot outfitted with shelters, food, and plush toys for cats to lounge in and around.” Have you been? It's adorable!

So if you’re a cat lover looking for your next holiday spot, there you have it – Malta should definitely make it onto your radar, and while you’re here, see if you can spot these different types of cats on the Maltese Islands.