For International Cat Day, here’s a selection of historic photographs from our archive to celebrate all things cats!
Which one is your favourite?
Leaving the rat race
A tabby cat in Lombard Street, City of London, probably 1960s © Historic England Archive | AA077785 If I choose to tear them down, it’s none of your business
A cat on a brick wall in front of a house and a line of washing, 1964 – 1973 © Historic England Archive | AA080027 Someone give her a tablet
Portrait of a young girl cuddling a cat while reading a book, December 1960 © Historic England Archive | AA080123 It’s lockdown and I haven’t seen anyone in days
Cat lying on a country road verge in front of a bridge with a brick parapet, looking towards a cluster of houses in the distance, 1950 – 1952 © Historic England Archive | AA081690 I would’ve asked but there seemed plenty to go around
A cat with a milky tongue beside a pail of milk, 1950s – 1960s © Historic England Archive | AA076241 High five!
Portrait of a ginger cat lying on a chair in a garden, 1955 – 1965 © Historic England Archive | AA086297 Mine’s a nice slice of mice
View looking out through the window of Claire’s cake shop in Padstow, with finished cakes on display in the foreground and a cat resting on the window sill outside, 1956 © Historic England Archive | AA086802 Working from home
A black shorthair cat stands on papers on top of a desk, taken inside an unidentified house on the Isle of Wight, 1960s © Historic England Archive | AA092291 Too many dreamies
A cat sunbathing in the George Inn Yard in front of the 17th century galleried coaching inn from which the yard takes its name, 1960 – 1969 © Historic England Archive | AA099523 The original Grumpy Cat
A cat on an armchair, 1950s © Historic England Archive | AA099577 I like driving in my car, it’s not quite a Jaguar
A British shorthair cat is sitting on the bonnet of a mini parked in Pond square, behind another cat is sitting upon a brick pier in front of a house, 1969 © Historic England Archive | AA084423 Putting the cat before the horse
A horse with a cat sitting on it in the stable courtyard at Minley Manor, October 1903 © Historic England Archive | BL17971/014 Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
Further reading:
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The cat on a horse, definitely.
Too many dreamies – great cat – great building.
The original grumpy cat made me smile
Books, Computers, Tablets, and Phones… The more it changes, the more it stays the same.
‘Working from home’ cat for me! Seems appropriate.
Now living in a retirement flat, I do miss having a cat, so love the photos you have found. Thanks for sharing …
Cat on the horse – brilliant!!
These are great, thank you. ‘Mine’s a nice slice of mice’, because it hints at sustainable food packaging (paper bags just out of shot)
The photo of the city cat in Lombard Street is my favourite – great artistic composition.
And how I wish the the car with the number plate CAR had been CAT!
The cat on the mini is my favourite
Girl, cat, book, comfy chair: Happy me for most of my life.
Cat on the horse’s back is dreamy