Starting October 10, 2026 Cult Cat! New Special Exhibition

Predator, cuddly companion, good-luck charm, status symbol, enigma, ruin, and business—the new special exhibition “Cult Cat!” pays tribute to the cat while simultaneously knocking it off its pedestal

Hardly any other animal has fascinated humanity for millennia quite as much as the cat. Revered and feared, mystified and anthropomorphized, wild yet familiar—starting October 10, 2026, the Übersee-Museum Bremen will dedicate a major special exhibition titled “Cat Cult!” to this extraordinary animal.

From Cat Mummies to Cat MemesThe Cat Between Myth, Everyday Life, and Pop Culture

The exhibition spans the cultural and historical significance of majestic big cats—such as lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars—all the way to the cuddly cat as a beloved pet, pop icon, and internet star. Some 300 exhibits spanning four millennia tell stories of power, religion, everyday life, and pop culture—from cat mummies of Ancient Egypt to leopard stools from West Africa, to the Japanese Maneki Neko and modern cat memes.

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A Cultural IconColumbus’s Cat Meets Hello Kitty

Cat mummies from Egypt, cats serving as stationmasters in Japan, and Columbus’s cats on the “Santa Maria” – “Cult Cat!” chronicles the partnership between humans and animals across four millennia – all the way to “Hello Kitty” and today’s billion-dollar business centered on the cuddly cat.

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Souvenirs, mementos, or giftsfor your cat at the museum shop

We’re extending your exhibition experience – exit through the gift shop! Take “Cult Cat!” home with you. We have scratching posts and cat sofas, cat origami, plush tigers, and maneki-neko cats that beckon money and good luck into your home. Always popular: the glittery dish sponge and the world’s most popular souvenir – the refrigerator magnet – available here in our “Cult Cat!” edition.

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