Spread the love

Say what you will, but one thing’s certain: everyone’s Twitter (or should we now call it ‘X’?) feed has been chaotic lately. Whatever alterations the current platform CEO implemented in the algorithm seem to favor posts from verified random accounts and brands that hardly align with our interests. However, amid this whole mess, one account consistently graces my timeline – Cats of Yore.

The account delivers precisely what it promises: snapshots of cats from bygone days. These cats could be in history paintings or accompanying a child in early 20th century New York City. They can play with a ball of string or wear a top hat. They may be napping, hissing, or hanging out with their owners. Still, one thing our whiskered friends all have in common is extreme cuteness! And well, if you like cats, that’s more than enough of a reason to check out some photos from Cats of Yore (click here for part one).

More info: twitter.com | Instagram

Discover more in 50 Fascinating Historical Photos That Might Change Your Perspective On Cats, As Shared By This Twitter Page (New Pics)

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

Miss Ann Twynam and Smoky. 1943.

Bored Panda reached out to Molly Hodgdon, the owner of “Cats of Yore” on Twitter and Instagram, a platform dedicated to showcasing vintage cat photos. A passionate lover of cats, Molly gave us a glimpse into her personal journey with these feline companions and her initiatives to support animal shelters.

When asked about a specific moment from her childhood that solidified her bond with cats, Molly recalled, “When I was a baby, my parents had a cat named Harry who was very attached to me. Even though I’m sure I was grabby like every other child, he was constantly by my side. My parents would actually try to shoo him away from me because they were afraid I would hurt him, but he’d come right back! I imagine some kind of imprinting probably took place – this feline face and presence were a constant source of comfort, joy, and tactile enjoyment for my developing brain. I still get a rush of positive feelings every time I see any cat.”

#2

Notice which person is smiling.

#3

Time for eepy. 1940.

Addressing the idea of curating an exhibition around vintage cat photos, Molly shared, “That would be wonderful but I’m not sure how I would do it! I live in Vermont so we don’t really have a super high concentration of galleries and museums here that might be interested in hosting such a thing, nor the crowds to support it. If anyone reading this has a connection, please get in touch! Our shared history with cats is woven through so many historical subjects – agriculture, epidemiology, religion, art, sea travel, colonization, photography, etc. It would be really fun to create an exhibit viewing human history through that lens.”

#4

Photo by Anneke Hilhorst, 1973

#5

This would have made a much better Sistine Chapel. Ca. 1960.

Impressed by her fundraising success for animal shelters, Molly was proud to mention, “Last Christmas was wonderful. I was raising money for our local animal shelter with a goal of $2,000 and ended up with over $10,000! Over the past few years, I’ve been able to give about $45,000 to animal shelters, low-cost veterinary and spay/neuter clinics, and farm sanctuaries. Most of that has been through Twitter, though. I’m currently working hard to build community on other platforms since the future of that site seems uncertain.”

#6

“A cat peers over the top of a Kodak Supermatic camera. ” Ca. 1930.

#7

“Three kittens cuddle in front of a giant fish tank, eyeing a very large grouper” 1952.

Regarding any cultural practices or beliefs related to cats she discovered through her research, Molly highlighted, “Japan has a very long history of truly incredible, beautiful, complex lore relating to cats. There are whole shrines dedicated to cat legends, like Nekogami Jinja and Ōmatsu Daigongen. I read a book a few months ago that collects many interesting cat legends called Kaibyō: The Supernatural Cats of Japan by Zack Davisson. I would highly recommend that to anyone interested in learning more about Japanese cat lore, plus it is richly illustrated with period pieces of art.”

#8

Smoosh. 1937.

#9

Please sir, my apéritifs. 1975.

#10

“Whisky the cat was ‘babysitting’ for young Jaqueline Hewitt’s doll, but found it so comfortable in the pram that he fell asleep on the job.” 1954.

#11

Gladys (Simmons) Van Kleeck and her cat Patsy. 1910.

#12

Business networking. 1946.

#13

A cat being lowered in a basket. 1933. People used to do this to let cats outside when they lived in apartment buildings. Maybe some people still do? I hope not. It’s cute but doesn’t seem safe.