Cats have inspired artists for thousands of years. From the reverent bronze figurines of ancient Egypt to Théophile Steinlen's iconic Parisian street scenes, from the delicate woodblock prints of Utagawa Kuniyoshi to contemporary illustrators building dedicated followings on the strength of their feline subjects — the cat has proved an enduring and remarkably adaptable muse. That tradition continues today in the form of the cat art print, a gift that speaks directly to owners and admirers of one of Britain's most beloved animals.
Cats in Britain: A Nation of Owners
Britain is a nation that takes its relationship with cats seriously. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association, approximately 11 million cats are owned in the UK, making them the country's second most popular pet after dogs. That figure represents millions of households in which a cat is not merely a pet but a presence — a creature with a personality, habits, preferences, and a distinct way of occupying space that any owner will recognise instantly.
This is relevant to art in a way that distinguishes cats from many other subjects. When a cat owner sees a painting or print that captures a particular posture, expression, or character trait, the recognition can be startlingly personal. That half-closed gaze of a cat in the sun. The precise arrangement of a cat tucked around itself in sleep. The focused intensity of a cat watching something only it can detect. Good cat art does not merely depict cats — it observes them, and cat owners feel that observation in a visceral way.
The Long History of Cats in Art
The ancient Egyptians elevated the cat to sacred status, worshipping Bastet, the cat goddess, and mummifying cats in their thousands. This reverence produced an art of formal elegance — cats rendered in bronze and gold with extraordinary accuracy of anatomy and posture.
European cat art took longer to develop its own tradition. Medieval manuscripts often depicted cats in marginal illustrations — usually chasing mice, occasionally being chased. It was not until the nineteenth century that cats became serious subjects for Western fine art. Henriette Ronner-Knip, a Dutch-Belgian artist, built an entire career on meticulous, tender depictions of domestic cats and kittens. Her work, exhibited widely in London and Paris, helped establish cats as worthy subjects for serious artistic attention.
Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen created the most famous cat image of the Belle Époque in his 1896 poster for the Le Chat Noir cabaret — a black cat rendered with bold graphic confidence that remains immediately recognisable more than a century later. Gustav Klimt was an obsessive cat lover whose pets appear in photographs and whose influence on the decorative treatment of animal subjects can be traced through generations of subsequent artists.
The twentieth century brought a proliferation of styles and approaches: Art Deco cat figurines, Pop Art cat prints, the gentler tradition of illustrated children's books that produced iconic cats from Orlando to Mog. Today, contemporary illustrators — many working digitally — have found in cats a subject that rewards both technical precision and expressive freedom.
Cat Breeds in Art: Finding the Right Print
One of the particular pleasures of shopping for cat art is the range of breed-specific options available. Different breeds carry different visual characters, and the best cat art captures that specificity rather than settling for a generic feline shape.
The tabby cat — in all its variations of striped, mackerel, and classic — is perhaps the most commonly depicted, partly because it is the most commonly owned, and partly because its markings give artists rich texture to work with. A well-observed tabby portrait captures not just the pattern but the weight of the fur, the density of the tail, the particular way the markings frame the face.
Ginger cats carry their own iconic status in British culture: marmalade-coloured, often depicted with a broad, slightly imperious bearing. Black cats have a long artistic history of their own, their graphic simplicity — that pure dark shape against any background — lending itself to bold, confident compositions.
The Siamese, with its distinctive colour points and angular elegance, is a natural subject for more stylised or Art Deco-influenced approaches. The Maine Coon's extraordinary fur and tufted ears invite a more painterly treatment that can showcase an artist's technical range. Persian cats, with their flat faces and spectacular coats, appear frequently in more formal portrait styles.
If you are buying for a cat owner with a specific breed, a print that captures their cat's type makes the gift feel genuinely personal — a piece of art that reflects their animal rather than cats in general.
Browse our full cat art collection to find the range of breeds and styles available.
How Cat Art Works in Different Rooms
Cat art is genuinely versatile in interior design terms, which is part of its enduring appeal. Unlike some statement subjects that work only in specific contexts, a well-chosen cat print can find a home in almost any room.
In a living room, a larger framed cat portrait becomes a focal point that speaks to the character of the household. Cat-owning households tend towards comfortable, lived-in interiors — good textiles, interesting objects, accumulated books — and cat art sits naturally in that context. It adds warmth without sentimentality.
Bedrooms suit smaller, quieter cat images: a sleeping cat rendered in soft tones, or a minimal ink drawing of a cat curled into itself. These work well on the wall beside a bed or above a dressing table, where something contemplative and gentle is more appropriate than a bold statement piece.
Home offices and studies are increasingly popular spaces for art, and cat prints bring a particular quality here: the slight absurdity of a cat rendered with serious artistic intent, in a space that takes its function seriously, has a quietly comedic quality that many working from home will appreciate. It is also, practically speaking, a reference to why the working day is sometimes interrupted.
Hallways benefit from images with strong silhouettes and clear compositions — a sitting cat in profile, a cat looking directly out of the frame. These make an immediate impression on anyone entering the house and establish the household's character efficiently.
Our framed prints are available from £34.99, with posters from £24.99 — both suitable for any of these contexts.
Cat Art as a Gift: Occasions and Approaches
The cat art print is one of those gift categories that works across a surprisingly wide range of occasions because the appeal is so specific and yet so universal among cat people.
For birthdays, a framed print of the recipient's cat's breed is almost always well received, particularly when it is clear that the gift-giver has paid attention to the specific animal rather than selecting a generic cat image. The fact that it can be personalised in this way — by breed, by colouring, by style — makes it feel considered rather than convenient.
For Christmas, cat prints sit comfortably among the gifts that are decorative and personal rather than functional. A framed print alongside a cat-themed mug — our mugs start at £14.99 — makes a complete gift set that feels thoughtful without requiring the same level of research as a single large purchase.
Housewarming gifts are a natural fit for cat art, particularly for a new home that already has a cat in residence. A print that captures the character of the existing household — including its animal inhabitants — helps to establish the new space as a home rather than merely a house.
For cat lovers who do not currently own a cat — those who live in rented accommodation where pets are prohibited, or who have recently lost a cat and are not yet ready for another — a beautiful print is a way of honouring that affection and keeping it present.
Cat Art Across Different Formats
The same image can work very differently depending on how it is presented, and it is worth considering the format alongside the image itself.
A framed print is the most complete and considered option: it arrives ready to hang, with no additional decisions required from the recipient. The frame itself becomes part of the aesthetic — a dark frame for a bold graphic image, a natural wood frame for a softer, warmer painting, a thin metal frame for something more contemporary.
A poster gives the recipient more control over framing and allows a slightly lower price point, which can be appropriate when the relationship with the recipient is warm but not intimate.
A cat-themed mug brings the subject into daily life in a different way — less an object of contemplation, more a small pleasure repeated every morning. For committed cat owners, a mug featuring their breed of choice often becomes a genuine favourite.
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Q: How do I choose a cat art print that will resonate with the recipient?
The most important factor is specificity. If the recipient owns a ginger tabby, look for artwork that captures that colouring and bearing rather than settling for a generic cat image. If they have always loved black cats, a bold graphic print featuring a black cat silhouette will feel more personal than something more generic. Pay attention to the mood of the image as well: some cat owners respond to humour, others to quiet elegance, others to something that borders on the formally portrait-like. The recipient's broader taste in interior decoration is a useful guide.
Q: What styles of cat art are most popular at the moment?
Contemporary cat art covers an enormous range, but a few styles are particularly well suited to the format of a framed print or poster. Loose, expressive watercolour studies capture the fluid quality of cat movement and behaviour. Bold graphic prints — influenced by mid-century poster art or Japanese woodblock prints — work well in more modern interiors. Photorealistic oil-style portraits appeal to those who want something that reads as serious fine art. And at the lighter end, witty illustrative styles that capture a cat's personality with a few deft lines have a perennial following. Browse the cat art collection to find the style that suits.
Q: Are framed cat prints suitable for a rented home where I cannot hang pictures?
Many framed prints can be displayed using picture-hanging strips rather than wall fixings, making them compatible with rental agreements that prohibit drilling. The strips available from most hardware shops now hold quite substantial weights without damaging plaster. Alternatively, a poster displayed in a clip frame or leaning against the wall on a shelf or mantelpiece is a low-commitment option that still looks considered and deliberate.
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