Meowseum, Museum of Cats Art & Craft
Whether you’re a cat person or not, there’s no denying the charms of feline creatures. Endearing and adorable, yet aloof and cool, cats are ideal companions. So, it’s no surprise that they make for elegant subjects in many different channels of art too, evident by cat-themed museums around the world.
While Malaysians may be familiar with Kuching Museum in Sarawak, there’s another cat-themed museum in Penang called Meowseum. This quirky museum in George Town boasts displays of feline artworks and kitty collectibles, as well as a reading space where you can sift through books about cats while sipping on catnip tea.
A museum dedicated to cats
A museum dedicated to cats might sound bizarre to some. But wait till you hear about Meowseum.
Image credit: Google Photos
Opened to the public at the end of 2020, Meowseum – or Museum of Cats Art And Craft – is more than just a museum to educate visitors on the history and breeds of cats. It is a gallery personally curated by its owner Mr Shin Yew Cheong, with a vast collection of eccentric feline paintings and figurines, as well as kitty-related bric-a-brac.
Image credit: @nuraliadn
From miniature sculptures to human-sized statues, there are over a thousand items for visitors to discover, many of which hold a personal story from parts of the owner’s life.
Paintings and artworks fill up the walls of the museum, making it hard to peel your eyes away from it.
Image adapted from: Google Photos & Meowseum Museum of Art & Craft
A highlight is the extraordinary collection of cat-themed art hung on the walls – an envy of cat lovers with a drab wall at home. More impressively, these artworks are part of the owner’s 10-year art collection, which he travelled the world to obtain.
Image credit: @tong.e_
So, take your time to gaze at the various artworks that portray adorable cats as the main character. You may recognise familiar paintings from renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Dali, and Picasso that have been creatively tweaked to include cheeky cat elements. Purrific indeed.
Image credit: Google Photos
Besides the art displays, find more cat-related items tucked carefully away inside glass cabinets – they hold an assortment of quirky cat figurines and collectibles.
Giant Maneki-neko display & cat-related books
Image credit: Google Photos
Feel free to snap photos at the different corners of the gallery. There’s even a giant Maneki-neko – the ubiquitous Japanese cat that beckons with a single paw – inflatable display situated in the middle of a hallway.
Image credit: Meowseum Museum of Art & Craft
After you’ve spent time immersing yourself in cat displays, head over to the reading area where you’ll find a bookshelf packed with various books about cats. Here, you can sip on complimentary catnip tea while flipping through kitty literature, comics, and history books.
If you’re lucky, you might even spot the museum’s cats – Chubby, Yoko, Maru, and Boo – slinking about the place or nuzzling up in a corner. Do give them friendly pats or feed them kitty treats – but avoid disturbing them when they are asleep.
Image credit: Meowseum Museum of Art & Craft
As Meowseum is as dedicated to art as it is to our feline friends, do note that there are some art content that involve nudity, violence, and gore. For this reason, children under the age of 12 are not allowed into Meowseum.
Meowseum Museum in Penang
If scrolling through cat Instagram accounts or squealing over viral cat videos aren’t enough for you, a trip to Meowseum in George Town, Penang, will be the purrfect place for you to indulge in all things cat-related.
For an entrance fee of RM17/pax, you’ll be transported to a world where cats and arts rule.
Address: No. 47, Lebuh Melayu, 10100 George Town, Penang
Opening hours: Wed – Sat 10AM-6PM (Closed on Tuesdays & Sundays)
Telephone: 012-689 1228
Meowseum Penang’s Facebook | Instagram
Read more interesting features of places here:
- Emperor Villa, hiking trail in Penang that leads to a traditional Chinese villa
- Putrajaya Secret Garden, new attraction filled with neon lights
- Perda City Flea Market, largest flea market in Penang
- Ipoh Bali Hotel, Balinese hotel for a romantic staycation
Cover image adapted from: Google Photos, Jessica Teh & Meowseum Museum of Art & Craft