Cat Museum, Petra Jaya, Sarawak.

Have you ever been to a city where cats are considered the main residents? Welcome to Kuching — the capital of Sarawak state, whose name literally translates from Malay as "Cat City." It is here, in the wonderful country of Malaysia, that you will find the one-of-a-kind Cat Museum, located within the futuristic city administration building.

Cat Museum. Иллюстрация. Источник: Kupi.com AI

This museum is not just an exhibition of cute trinkets, but a deep exploration of the connection between humans and cats throughout millennia. Spanning spacious halls, it represents a unique combination of an ethnographic archive, an art gallery, and a cultural center. Here, cats are not only celebrated as faithful companions but also studied as significant figures in world folklore, art, and even advertising.

For tourists, this place has become a must-visit thanks to its unusual atmosphere and its status as the world's largest collection of feline-related artifacts. A visit to the museum helps you understand the soul of a city where the love for these animals has been elevated to the rank of official ideology.

For more details before your visit, you can use the official contact information of the institution.

Once inside, you will find yourself in a real labyrinth of more than 4,000 exhibits. The exploration begins with four themed galleries featuring everything from serious historical artifacts to fun items of modern pop culture. One of the most valuable objects is a genuine mummified cat from Ancient Egypt, which is thousands of years old.

Biology enthusiasts will find the section dedicated to the five species of wild cats of Borneo fascinating, while fans of mass culture will surely enjoy the displays featuring Garfield, Hello Kitty, and the album covers of the famous Cat Stevens. You can learn amazing stories about real-life heroes, such as Unsinkable Sam — a ship's cat that survived three shipwrecks during World War II.

Beyond the visual displays, the museum offers an interactive experience: here you can learn why cats purr and how they became a symbol of luck in various countries. Don't forget to stop by the gallery of famous cat lovers, including Victor Hugo and Abraham Lincoln, and be sure to visit the gift shop at the end of your visit. There, you can purchase unique figurines and designer T-shirts that will serve as great reminders of your trip to the most "cat-friendly" city in the world.

This feline treasure trove is located in the northern part of the city, within the North Kuching City Commission (DBKU) building. It is an impressive futuristic structure on Bukit Siol hill, which is an architectural landmark of the Petra Jaya district in its own right.

The easiest way to get here from the center is by taxi or via the Grab mobile app — the most popular and affordable way to get around the city. The trip from the waterfront takes about 10–15 minutes. If you prefer public transport, check the bus routes heading towards Petra Jaya, but keep in mind that it may require a short uphill walk from the stop to the building itself.

For those traveling by rental car, there is ample parking available at the DBKU building. Simply enter the address Jalan Semariang into your navigator to find the turn-off quickly.

This unusual place owes its existence to the initiative of the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud, and his wife, Laila Taib, who in 1995 decided to bring to life a project celebrating the region's furry inhabitants. The museum became a natural addition to the city's image, as its history is closely intertwined with the "cat" theme.

A beautiful legend says that Kuching was named after the wild cats that lived on the banks of the Sarawak River back in the days of James Brooke, the first "White Rajah." When the Englishman asked the locals for the name of the settlement, they misunderstood his gesture pointing at a passing animal and replied "Kuching" (which means "cat" in Malay). Since then, the image of the graceful predator has been the official symbol of the capital.

Today, the city's commitment to this cult is visible everywhere: from bronze sculptures on the waterfront to huge stone obelisks at intersections. The museum in the City Hall building crowns this long-standing reverence, gathering under its roof not just exhibits, but the cultural code of an entire people for whom the cat is a symbol of luck and domestic comfort.

To leisurely explore all four galleries and carefully examine the most unusual exhibits, most visitors need 2 to 3 hours. This is plenty of time for a thoughtful immersion into the history and culture, as well as for taking fun photos with the numerous cat figures.

If you are an avid cat lover or a collector, set aside extra time to visit the museum's gift shop — the selection of souvenirs here is truly impressive. For a standard introductory visit as part of a city tour, an hour and a half should be sufficient.

The museum welcomes guests on a very convenient and consistent schedule. Its doors are open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Regardless of whether you plan your visit on a weekday or decide to stop by on the weekend, the opening hours remain the same (Monday to Sunday). This makes it easy to fit a visit to the museum into any city sightseeing itinerary.

After exploring the world of feline friends, it’s worth spending time at other interesting locations nearby. Exploring the northern part of the city and its surroundings will allow you to better understand the daily life and interests of Sarawak's capital residents.