In a typical 17th-century mansion located on the banks of the Goedendag Canal in Amsterdam, there is the KattenKabinet museum, which attracts visitors due to its complete specialization in cats. This organization was founded by banker Bob Mayer in 1990 in memory of his kitten named John Pierpont, who passed away several years earlier.
The orange cat John died in 1983, and his image is immortalized in some exhibits at the KattenKabinet museum, whose name literally means 'Cat Cabinet.' However, the museum space is not limited to the portrait of the founder's beloved pet; it features a collection of artworks demonstrating the presence of cats in art throughout the centuries. The collection mainly consists of drawings, paintings, and sculptures by famous artists for whom cats are a central theme.
In addition to the artworks, the museum displays historical items. The main among them is a mummified cat, estimated to be around 1500 BCE. Among the creators of the works in the collection are Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Chris van der Hoeven. The architecture of the building itself also deserves attention: its ceiling is painted and decorated in the 18th-century style.
Cat lovers will have a complete experience, as cats are present throughout the building—both in the paintings on the walls and freely moving through the common areas of the museum. There are real live kittens living in the museum that can be seen moving between halls.
Het Kattenkabinet is located in Amsterdam on the bank of one of the city's main canals. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. Tickets can be purchased on the official website: the cost is 12.50 euros for adults, 7.50 euros for seniors and students, and free for children.
For those who wish to learn more about the artworks and artists (and their connection to feline friends), an English tour is available for groups of 2 to 8 people. These tours take place on Tuesdays at 11:00, before the museum opens to the general public. The cost of the group tour is 25 euros per person and requires advance booking via the website.