Kuching Cat Statues

The basics

Erected in the 1990s, the first and best-known statue is the Great Cat of Kuching, which reigns supreme over the city center and even gets dressed up during major festivals, donning a Santa hat come Christmas. Another popular cat-tue sits near the Kuching Waterfront and features a family of cats lazing luxuriously. There’s also the Cat Column, a Rafflesia flower-topped pillar flanked by four white cats. Thanks to their great cultural significance and grand stature, nearly all Kuching city tours stop at some of the cat statues.

Things to know before you go

• Some of the cat statues are near busy highways, so take caution when crossing the road.

• Flat surfaces leading up to each cat statue mean they’re easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

• Across the road from the cat statue closest to Kuching’s waterfront, plenty of vendors sell street food and drinks.

How to get there

The two main cat statues are at the Jalan Padungan roundabout on Jalan Padungan and near the beginning of Jalan Tunku Abdul Raman, which runs parallel to Kuching’s riverside promenade. On foot, it only takes 10 minutes to walk between the two sculptures.

When to get there

All of the cat statues are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week—the best time to visit Kuching, generally, is between April and October when the tropical climate is at its hottest and driest. During the December holiday season, some cat statues are dressed up.

Kuching’s obsession with cats

If you’ve not had enough of a feline fix, head into Kuching’s Cat Museum, which is full of cat-themed artifacts and explores the significant role that our furry friends have played in history and culture. It’ll also come as no surprise that Kuching is home to several cat cafes, where you can enjoy a hot drink while petting the resident cats.