Cat-Themed Museums to Visit

Museums Full of Feline Fun

Does a cat-themed road trip sound right up your alley? Then check out these museums (or mewseums!) where you can enjoy a multitude of things feline.

The Salem Cat Museum

The Salem Cat Museum in Salem, MA, strives to “inspire engagement with cats through art, artifacts, and the unique relationship Salem, MA has with cats,” according to their website. Admission fees are voluntary, and half goes to a featured non-profit. On-going exhibits include a history of house cats living with people, rescue work with populations of stray and feral cats, and information about the wildcats of Massachusetts.

From the Salem Cat Museum Instagram Page

Non-profits are featured on a rotating basis, so you never know what cat-centric vendors and artwork you may discover. Art pieces in the museum are on temporary loan. Each time you visit, you may find a whole different museum than the time before.

The American Museum of the House Cat

The American Museum of the House Cat in Jackson County, NC, says it is devoted to “the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of art, artifacts, and literature of the house cat for the purposes of education, historical perspective, aesthetic enjoyment, and for the significance of the unique five-million-year relationship between man and the domesticated feline.” Entrance fees are listed at their website, but you can also schedule a private tour.

The collections inside the museum may look a bit chaotic, but they are serious about sharing the love of all things cat as part of the Museums for All program—providing reduced entrance fees for families with SNAP benefits.

From the American Museum of the House Cats Website

Lucky Cat Mewseum

At the Lucky Cat Mewseum in Cincinnati, you can view the owners astounding collection of thousands of Maneki Neko (Japanese Lucky Cats). You may have seen these waving or beckoning cat figures, based on a legend of a monk who was saved by a cat that led him to safety. Depending on the color, design, raised paw, body position, etc, Maneki Neko beckon for all sorts of things, but usually they are inviting fortune, luck, or customers. They have become an icon in both Japanese and Chinese culture.

You’ll need an appointment to take a tour of this collection, but there is no set fee. (Donations to maintain the museum are welcome and appreciated!) The collection includes the traditional waving cat statues, as well as stationary, plush toys, jewelry, and artworks.

From the Lucky Cat Instagram Page

Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum

Then there Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum in Menomonee Falls, WI. Run by Sphere and wife Hilary, their collection began with cat figurine shopping as a way to keep Sphere busy while he struggled to stop drinking alcohol. After gathering an enormous collection, they decided to open it up to viewing as a nonprofit, with the entrance fee going to cat shelters and rescue groups. You’ll need to schedule an appointment 24 hours in advance except for the third Sunday of the month, when they have open houses.

From Redner’s Instagram Page

On their website, Sphere says: “We have come a long way since the beginning. We have traveled thousands of miles, have met a lot of wonderful people, and made many memories collecting the things you will find here at the museum. This place has grown into much more than simple cat figurines. It has become a place of hope, joy, happiness and giving. I only mention the part about my drinking because honestly, if I had never become an alcoholic, I do not think any of this ever would have happened. I am still sober today. Life has a funny way of working things out.”

The Hemingway House & Museum

And finally, infamous for cat care and adoration for generations, The Hemingway House & Museum is home to the mitten-toed descendants of renown author Hemingway’s beloved white, six-toed cat Snow White. The museum is currently working on live web cams for viewing their feline occupants. Whether you are a fan of Hemingway’s writing or not, the 60 polydactyl (six-toed) cats on the grounds are sure to make you smile. I mean, look at those paws!