Cat Statues, Kuching

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Several agencies provide the opportunity of a city tour of Kuching. In the comfort of an air-conditioned bus or mini-van you can see many historical buildings - both the traditional and from colonial times - and learn about Kuching's history from a local guide. Alternatively, you can easily organise a visit to many places of interest on public transport. Consider seeing the Cat Museum, Sarawak Museum, Chinatown, the Astana Village, the Colonial Law court and te local government offices. Half day tours cost around $US 25.

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As Kuching mean cat in Malay, there are a few cat statutes in Kuching as a tribute to the feline (there is also a Cat Museum here!). However my favourite is this lone waving cat statute at the city boundary of Kuching North and Kuching South.

Nick named "The Great Cat of Kuching", the cat statute will be dressed up with traditional attires during major festivals - Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Gawai Dayak and Christmas.

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The spelling of Kuching is in the Old Malay language meaning 'cat'. The official spelling in the modern Malay language has the letter h dropped but still has the same meaning. Nevertheless, the official spelling of the city still remains exclusively as Kuching with an h. To date, there is no substantial evidence to connect the etymology of Kuching to the feline animal, but as the name suggests, the cat literally became the symbol of the city, hence the nickname "Cat City". Several statues of cats can be found in the city.

Kuching (means Cat in Malayl) is probably a place where Cat lovers should come, as where else in the World do you find Cat Statues scattered around a City, and a CAT MUSEUM!

Kuching locals love their cats so much that we found many colorful cat statues around the city. The fishing cats are in the centre square, the beckoning cat is at the crossroads and a there is a smiling cat.

The Cat Museum is believed to be the only one in the World!

The Cat Museum is located in the North City Hall, and has 2000 exhibits/displays on Cats from all over the World.
Plenty of galleries to have a look at on all things feline!

Perhaps for a different souvenir, you may like some feline art and cat souvenirs.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT..... Petra Jaya Transport bus No 2C or 2D.

OPEN 9 - 5 pm daily

ADMISSION is FREE

There is a Camera fee of 4rm

Walking around Kuching you will see several statutes of cats. This particular statute is located on the middle of the road, on a roundabout. It is huge so you cannot miss it and the times we passed it there were always tourists taking photos.

Kuching is divided into Kuching North and Kuching South with two separate Mayors.

In downtown Kuching, you must not miss the beautiful Chinese style gateway and the statues of cats.

Although there are many versions of the origin name of Kuching, it is today associated with "Cats" as the Malay word for "Cats" is Kuching (new spelling is Kucing).

So a must-take photo if you in Kuching City.

A new addition to the collection of cat statues are the Kuching North City Hall Family Cat Statues, situated in the intersection of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Padungan & Jalan Abell, and in the middle of the 3 major shopping malls

Meow! This is the very first cat statue in Sarawak's cat city and was built in the 1990s. It is also known as the Kuching South City Council Cat Statue. It sits right at the entrance to Padungan China Town and every festival, this cat will be dressed accordingly, e.g during Chinese New Year, it will wear a traditional red vest and during the Eid-Fitr, it will wear green.

The Malay name of cat is kuching (kucing in new spelling). But the name of the town is derived from the name of a local fruit called mata kuching (cat's eyes).

Anyway, there are many symbols and statues of cats and kittens in riverine Kuching, the capital of Sarawk.

On top of the hill at Kuching North City Hall is the now famous Cat Museum. There is a collection of all kinds of feline memorabilia, collector items and statues of cats all over the world. There is even a mummified Eyptian cat on display.

If you are a cat lover, a Cat woman fan or just want to know more about cats, this is a must visit.

Open daily 9am-5pm except Mondays.

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The Sarawak river and the whole town known as Sarawak before and nobody know in exact how this capital came to be called Kuching.

'Kuching' name is synonymous with the CAT word in Malay language. This vibrant town of Kuching got this name in 1876 but the earlier version started in 1839 by James Brooke (first White Rajah of Sarawak) referred to the town as 'Kuchin' similarly referred to Cochin or Port as in India.

It is also believed that this town got its name because of there are lots of cats along the Sarawak river banks, thus the name 'Kuching'. Previously, this river fondly known by locals as 'Kuching River' which used to flow near the city center and this name also derived from being the wildcat haunt in the past.

The stream was also in the vicinity of 'Bukit Mata Kuching' - Mata Kuching Hill which was conincidencely with a large growth of a local fruit tree called 'Pokok Mata Kuching' (nepphelium malaiense), a varities of local Lychee fruit.