People all over the world love cats. It is not uncommon for felines to be the main attraction on internet websites, in books, and even in movies. However, who would have known that there are museums all over the world that are dedicated to our feline friends. From Russia to Malaysia, there are museums that feature cats as their main attraction. Where are these museums located, and what can you expect from them?
Russia's Hermitage Museum
The first cat-centred museum is located in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Hermitage museum is known to be a home to priceless works of art, but hiding in its basement is a whole other world... full of cats.
Cats have been living in the Hermitage since the 1700s when the building was still a home to Russian Tsars and their families. The Empress Elizabeth became fed up with rodents roaming the halls of her home, and she adopted several cats to guard the home from these rodents. These lucky felines were given the best treatment during their stay with the Russian royals, even having their own servants to take care of their every need.
Despite the fall of the Russian Tsars and the threat of war in Russia, cats have continued to live at the museum. Although their population decreased during the 1900s, today the cats are thriving more than ever. In fact, the number of felines residing in the Hermitage has drastically increased due to homeless animals taking refuge in the museum. The museum now acts as a sanctuary for stray and feral felines. There are several feeding areas for the felines, a clinic, and a relaxation room for them to rest.
Visitors to the museum always have the chance to spot a feline roaming in the museum's courtyard. Because the sanctuary also adopts out a few of the felines every year, some lucky visitors even have the opportunity to own a one of a kind Hermitage feline.
Amsterdam's KattenKabinet
Amsterdam is a world-renowned city that is full of all sorts of attractions. Hidden among the well-known attractions is a smaller, cat-themed museum called the KattenKabinet (or CatCabinet).
The KattenKabinet museum is in a Patrician style home located near the Herengracht canal in Amsterdam. A wealthy Dutchman named William Meijer once owned the home. In 1990, Meijer founded the museum to preserve the memory of his feline friend John Pierpont Morgan. This unique museum is home to everything feline related, with cat artwork, sculptures and books displayed throughout the building. Visitors might even be lucky enough to see one of the three resident cats lounging on the furniture.
Malaysia's Kuching Museum
Malaysia is home to one of the largest cat themed museums in the world. The Kuching museum is 1,035.9 Square Metres, and is located on a hill overlooking the city. This unique museum is home to over 2,000 feline artefacts and cat memorabilia.
The museum has some extremely interesting displays, including a mummified feline from ancient Egypt, and cat statues from all over the world. There is even a small section dedication to cats in advertising and media. This section has cat posters, stamps, and even a display of different brands of cat food.
Although the museum is a strange concept, it is definitely worth a look if you are travelling in Malaysia.
Whether you are in Amsterdam, Russia, or Malaysia, if you find yourself close to one of these museums during your travels, be sure to stop in for a once in a lifetime, cat themed experience.
