Ask a cruise passenger what surprised them most about Old San Juan and a fair number will say the cats. They sun themselves on the sea wall, nap under the benches along the Paseo del Morro and watch you from the lawn below El Morro with total indifference. They have been part of the old city for generations, and in recent years they became the subject of a federal lawsuit.
Where the cats are
The largest concentration is along the Paseo del Morro, the flat waterfront path that runs outside the city walls from the Raíces fountain at the end of Paseo de la Princesa around to the base of El Morro. It is a little under a mile each way, pancake flat, and one of the nicest walks in the city regardless of the cats. You will also see them in the Parque de las Palomas by the Capilla del Cristo and around the lawns at the entrance to El Morro.
Practical notes: they are community cats, not pets, and most keep their distance. Do not pick them up and do not feed them your lunch. The volunteers have a feeding and care routine, and cruise-ship leftovers do them no favors.
Who takes care of them
For years a volunteer group called Save a Gato has run a trap-neuter-return program, feeding stations and adoptions for the old city’s cats. Most of the cats you see with a clipped ear tip have been through their program, which is the standard sign that an animal has been sterilized and vaccinated. The group relies entirely on volunteers and donations, and their work is the reason the population is stable rather than exploding.
Why they made the news
The Paseo del Morro sits inside the San Juan National Historic Site, which is federal land run by the National Park Service. In 2023 the Park Service proposed a plan to remove the free-roaming cats from the site, citing concerns about the historic landscape and public health. The proposal drew thousands of public comments and a wave of coverage far beyond Puerto Rico. In 2024 the national advocacy group Alley Cat Allies sued in federal court, and the Park Service agreed to hold off on removals while the case played out.
Because this is an active matter, the situation can change. The authoritative source is the Park Service’s own page on the Paseo del Morro cat management plan, and Save a Gato posts updates on their own channels. We will keep this page current as the story develops, but if you want the latest, check those two sources before you visit.
Fitting the cats into a port day
The Paseo del Morro is free, flat and about a 15-minute walk from the piers to its start at the Raíces fountain. Walk it out to El Morro, climb up to the fort if you are buying a ticket, and come back through the old city gate. It pairs well with the free things to do in Old San Juan on our list, and it is the “bonus stop” at the end of the Old San Juan treasure hunt.
