Cats are personified in many ways—as cute and cuddly, but equally as sly and mischievous. They are omnipresent in popular culture, and dominate many owner’s picture roll. The Meowseum presents cats in history as well as the present, offering visitors sensory experiences and a chance to step into the world of cats for a moment. 

The Meowseum is a group project of the FA24 Making Our Own Museum Fine Arts graduate seminar/ Graduate Elective, including works by GFA students Nishat Ahmed, Amanda Bristow, Chloe Cortez, Ana Diaz Korin, Jennifer Han, JP Herdeg, Jonah Reenders, Badri Valian and Ye Wang, and MDes students Yanan Hou, Wen Guo, and Zijun Wen.

Please join us for an opening reception at the CCA Campus Gallery on Wednesday, December 4, from 5 to 7 pm.

Welcome to The Meowseum

The fates of humans and cats have been intertwined since the beginning of civilization. 100,000 years before the Egyptians domesticated the African wildcat, Mesopotamian farmers welcomed wild felines to feast on the pests that  threatened their crops. 

Over time, domestic cats gained popularity around the world; today, more than 220 million of them live with human caretakers, while an estimated 480 million wait in shelters and on the streets for their “furrever” homes.

In paintings, on the internet, and in our laps, cats command our attention. We feed them, brush them, and scoop their litter boxes, and in return they allow us to pet them – when they’re in the mood. Dogs may be man’s best friend, but being chosen by a cat feels like a special honor.