Nataliya Koshivaya received a small cat figurine as a gift 15 years ago, and began collecting tiny cats in all forms. The collection grew to over a thousand pieces of cat kitsch from all over the world! When the war got too close to their home in Ukraine, the couple fled to Krakow, Poland, bringing their cat collection with them. In June of last year, they opened The Cat Museum to share their many cats with the public. The 15-square-meter museum is stacked tight with cats, and has proven to be quite popular.
Of these assorted curios, many serve ulterior purposes to act as teapots, pepper shakers, soap dispensers, snow globes, paperweights or saucers – still more, however, are for decorative use only and it is these that are arguably the most kitsch of all.
Complimented by a range of other feline related items like the cheerful blue cats painted by Belarussian artist Rina Zeniuk, as well as a motherlode of other pussy paraphernalia such as cat-embossed cushions and bags, it’s a feast for the eyes that asks many questions: is it tacky or eccentric? The truth, perhaps, lies somewhere in between.
Guarded by a very real, trick-performing, four-legged princess by the name of Geisha (“the real owner,” laughs Nataliya), the cat count could well be extended in the near future should the couple realise their ambition to open another chamber to house living creatures.
-via Mental Floss