Purr-ty Cat Statues in Catskill are Raising Money for Great Causes

Last updated on August 5, 2024.

If you take a stroll through the village of Catskill on any summer day, you’ll notice that the streets are crawling with cats. No, not literal cats. Although you may see the occasional wanderer. I’m talking about fiberglass cat statues in Catskill that are growing in number every year.

So… Why are there so many cat statues in Catskill?

Well, if there was ever a place to be inundated with cat statues, I can’t think of a better place than a village called Catskill. Can you? But in all seriousness, the cats are there for a great cause. Cat’n Around Catskill was established by the Heart Of Catskill Association in 2006.

Every year, the village creates a group of fiberglass cat statues to be placed around town. Two forms are created – a sitting cat and a standing cat. Local artists design the kitties while local businesses sponsor them as they are placed around Catskill. Often times the sponsors are the businesses that the cats are in front of.

The cats are on display each year from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

See the cats from previous years

If you travel throughout the area around Catskill, you’ll notice some cat statues from previous years on permanent display. For example, the Winter Clove Inn in Round Top has a cat waiting to greet you at the front desk.

I also highly recommend scrolling through the Cat’n Around Catskill Facebook page. They have photos of the hundreds of statues from the last several years. And there are some truly incredible ones worth seeing. Like one covered in hot air balloons. Or styled after Bob Ross.

Here’s a neat trick: Go to Google Maps Street View and you can see some of the cat statures from previous years. In fact, in some spots you can see two DIFFERENT cat statues in the same spot. Check out the “First Class Cat” from 2023 in front of Citiot. Then if you click over to the left, you’ll see the 2019 cat “Abra-Cat-Dabra”.

Cats of all shapes and styles

Out of the several dozen cats created each year, there are always a few trends that stand out. A few cats are punny names of celebrities. Others are designed in the style of famous artists. And even more

Cats designed to emulate celebrities

Who doesn’t love a good pun? Because I sure do – and so do many of these artists. This year features cats emulating Babe Ruth, Liza Minelli, Harry Styles, Metallica, and more.

Cats honoring famous Catskill landmarks and icons

It was incredibly fitting that the very first cat I saw while strolling through Catskill was the one highlighting Kaaterskill Falls. Because my friend and I had just hiked there that morning. Other Catskill landmarks honored this year include the Catskill Game Farm and the elusive Catskill Mountain Lion.

Cats inspired by famous artists

One of the next cats I saw was another one of my favorites, because it showcased the work of one of my all-time favorite artists: Vincent Van Gogh. Browsing the rest of the cats, I noticed a unique design inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s work. But another interesting one that tugged at my heartstrings was the one honoring famous author Edgar Allan Poe.

Cats with other animals

Just because the statues are shaped like cats doesn’t mean they have to be just cats. Right? These cats include both designs and shapes of other animals. Koi fish, giraffes, dogs, porcupines, and more join in on the fun. Including more cats… on cats.

Not all the statues are cats

While the cats have definitely taken over the village, a few other species have snuck in. Like “Jupiter”, the Cairo Bear Ambassador, located in front of the Bank of Greene County. Or “Neon Night Flight”, the vibrantly colored owl in front of Open Studio. And this isn’t the first year these two characters have appeared. The bear and owl get new designs each year just like the cats.

The Cat’s Meow Live Auction

After the season is over, the cats gets auctioned off at the annual Cat’s Meow Auction. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, September 21st. A portion of the auction price for each cat goes to the artist who designed it. The rest of the money supports local charities and community projects. This year’s proceeds will also help fund scholarships in memory of Barry Hopkins, Sandra Lewis Smith, and Regina Wilson Daly.

So what do you think? Do these cats make the village of Catskill purr-tier? 😸