Happy World Cat Day! Also called International Cat Day, the holiday was first established by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2002. However, national holidays celebrating our feline friends have observed in countries around the world for decades. To celebrate, the IDHH spotlights items from Illinois State University’s collections.
First, behold the artwork of talented youngsters who loved their cats enough to immortalize them in pencil and watercolors. The paintings below are from the International Collection of Child Art and were created by children ages 8 through 13 from Colombia, Wales, and the U.S. The children’s attention to detail show how dear their furry friends were.
Cat. 1969. Illinois State University. International Collection of Child Art. Permission to display was given by Illinois State University Milner Library.
Caption: Observation Drawing of a Cat. 1980. Illinois State University. International Collection of Child Art. Permission to display was given by Illinois State University Milner Library.
My Cat and Kitten. 1960. Illinois State University. International Collection of Child Art. Permission to display was given by Illinois State University Milner Library.
Next, here are toys from Japan featured from the Ethnology Teaching Collection, including a papier-mâché cat in a basket and the famous good luck charm of the waving cat, or ‘Maneki-Neko’. These figurines were placed in shop windows, inviting customers in and waving good-bye on their way out.
Paper Cat in Basket. No date. Illinois State University. Ethnology Teaching Collection. Permission to display was given by Illinois State University Milner Library.
Paper Cat with Toy. No date. Illinois State University. Ethnology Teaching Collection. Permission to display was given by Illinois State University Milner Library.
Maneki-Neko Cat. No date. Illinois State University. Ethnology Teaching Collection. Permission to display was given by Illinois State University Milner Library.