10 Cats for International Cat Day

To mark International Cat Day on 8th August, NIVAL’s Clare Lymer has prowled through the archives and collections to uncover ten charming and curious cat-related finds. From sketchbooks and personal photographs to design and art works, these feline features reveal the importance of cats in the lives and work of artists and designers. Cats have long been muses as quiet companions or characters of mischief and mystery, and this selection highlights some of the many ways they’ve sauntered into NIVAL’s collections. Whether curled into a corner of a sketchbook, elegantly posed or leaping boldly across a page, these cats have been lovingly captured, cartooned, and commemorated. We might have even uncovered the original sender of a cat meme, not by social media or email, but by fax machine in the 1990s. Here are 10* Cats from the NIVAL collections worth celebrating today, or any day.

*Disclaimer – If you have 10 cats, whats a few more cats? Bonus cats have been included.

Sketchbook pages with two separate ink drawings of cats in seated positions. The left page shows a cat hunched forward in a grooming pose, while the right page depicts a cat standing with head turned. Both are drawn with economy of line and gentle shading along the spine.

Two-page spread from a sketchbook. On the left page are light pencil sketches of a cat curled in sleep and another just visible in outline. The right page contains a vibrant coloured pencil drawing of a potted calathea plant, with lush patterned leaves in green, orange, and red tones.

10. Feline studies in Janet Mullarney’s Sketchbooks

These expressive drawings from the Janet Mullarney Archive offer a glimpse into the artist’s quiet observation of cats. Mullarney (1952-2020) known for incorporating religious iconography into her practice with large-scale works such as ‘Domestic Gods’, here turned her attention to smaller, furrier types of domestic deities.

9. Cat Collage by Cor Klaasen

In this hypnotic handmade collage, graphic designer Cor Klaasen (1926-1989) created a layered optical marvel using cut strips from magazine pages. Klaasen meticulously sliced and reassembled the images into a mirrored and distorted design. Though best known for his impact on commercial graphic design in Ireland, this type of personal work made in his spare time reveals Klaasen’s playful use of found images in creating new, experimental design work. Similar works, along with Klaasen’s commercial designs can be found in the Cor Klaasen Archive.

Artwork by Cor Klaasen showing a mirrored image of a tabby cat’s face, reconstructed from vertical strips of printed paper. The cat’s intense gaze is duplicated left and right, creating a symmetrical, slightly abstract composition with hints of green foliage and digital glitch-like textures.

Close-up of the artwork by Klaasen from an angle, revealing the layered and tactile surface created by pasting thin vertical paper strips. The image shows parts of a cat’s face and green background, with lines and ridges from the collage technique enhancing the distortion.

Frontal view of the complete artwork showing a central mirrored cat’s face flanked by distorted cat faces on each side. The striped collage pattern creates a symmetrical, almost kaleidoscopic visual effect, blending feline features with textured, abstracted background elements.

Angled detail of the central cat’s face from the collage by Klaasen. The fine cutting and reassembly process create a rippling effect, with the cat’s eyes and fur slightly fragmented, adding a sense of movement and tension to the otherwise static portrait.

Painting of a black and white cat sitting on a counter top beside a tall vase with red flowers.

Painting by Joan Scanlon showing a white cat curled up asleep on a windowsill inside a home, with a black and white dog visible outside through a four-pane window. Colourful clothes hang on a line in the background, and yellow curtains frame the scene. Sea and hillside are visible through the window.

Naïve-style painting depicting a rural clothesline scene. A woman hangs laundry beside a whitewashed cottage while chickens roam at her feet. A border collie sits to her side, and a white cat watches from a distance,

Interior domestic scene by Joan Scanlon. A woman in red sits at a blue-checked table beside a black and white dog seated upright on a dining chair. Out the window, a black cat looks in from grassy dunes, with waves and cliffs visible in the distance.

Interior domestic scene by Joan Scanlon. A woman in red stands beside a table set with tea and cake, She is looking out the window towards a church in the distance. A white cat hides under the table, a black and white dog sits to the side.

Interior domestic scene by Joan Scanlon. A woman in red sits at a table beside a black and white dog seated upright on a dining chair. Out the window, a white cat looks in from grassy dunes, with a beach and cliffs visible in the distance.

Naïve-style painting depicting a row of 3 green houses in a rural setting with red doors and windows. A thatched cottage is visible in the background. A woman is carrying a bucket into one of the houses. Outside a dog is lying on the ground near a group of chickens that are on the grass. A black and white cat sits on the stone wall at the front of the houses.

Painting of a black and white springer dog sitting beside a black and white cat on a large blue circular object.

8. Cats (and dogs) by Joan Scanlon

Self-taught artist Joan Scanlon (b.1934) often filled her paintings with rural life, household scenes, and the animals that shared them. Documented as part of the HIBERNIA Archive by Peter Haining, these works show cats ever-present but quiet, nestled in windows, perched on walls, and posed with dog pals. Scanlon’s intuitive style blends memory, imagination, and routine. In these affectionate snapshots of domesticity, her cats and dogs act as visual companions to daily rituals of hanging out washing, sitting down to dinner, or waiting patiently by the window.

7. Kilkenny Cats

Among the many creative outputs of the Kilkenny Design Workshops (KDW), this sleek and stylised cat motif stands out as a striking example of design across numerous product concepts. The ‘Kilkenny Cat Symbol‘, designed by Maija Ketola in 1967 was used on a trophy for a Kilkenny cat show, on linen glass cloths and in metal/jewellery designs.

Printed sheet showing two versions of the Kilkenny Cat symbol — one black, one grey — with sharp eyes, curled tail, and angular ears. The cat designs are positioned as if mirrored vertically, one above the other.

Linen cloth on a yellow check background showing two versions of the Kilkenny Cat symbol one black, one grey with sharp eyes, curled tail, and angular ears. The cat designs are positioned as if mirrored vertically, one above the other.

Black and white photograph of a workbench at the Kilkenny Design Workshops showing tools, spools, and several flat cat-shaped metal cut-outs. A small coping saw, awl, and pot of brushes are also visible, highlighting the handcrafted nature of the design process.

Black and white contact sheet featuring twelve photographs of a female model wearing a tailored dark dress with white trim, holding a white cat. Each frame captures a different pose, some with the cat nestled in her arms, others with it perched higher on her chest. The images are evenly spaced and taken against a plain white background, evoking a fashion editorial with a feline twist.

6. The Catwalk with Richard Lewis

This contact sheet from the Richard Lewis Archive captures a moment where couture meets cat. Fashion designer Lewis (1945-2018) created era-defining collections and was known as Ireland’s ‘King of Cling’ for his use of jersey and silk fabrics. Lewis himself appears in a number of photoshoots with his models in playful poses however it was still a surprise to see an elegant but fluffy white cat with a poised model. Let’s hope they had a good lint roller on set.

5. Cat companion in the Oliver Sheppard family photo album

These softly faded turn-of-the-century photographs from the Oliver Sheppard Collection offer a rare glimpse into the personal life of one of Ireland’s most significant sculptors. Sheppard (1865-1941) wholeheartedly supported the Irish nationalist movement, and, through his work, created some of the most enduring icons of the Irish struggle for national independence over the centuries. He is most famous for his 1911 bronze statue ‘The Death of Cúchulainn’. The photographs show different generations of the Sheppard family taking turns to tenderly pose with their cat. In the Victorian era of formal portraiture, the inclusion of their cat speaks to a softness and affection that counters the solemnity of their setting and dress.

Sepia-toned photograph of a man in a dark suit holding a tabby cat while standing beside an older woman in formal Victorian dress with a white lace bonnet. They pose in front of dense ferns and a plant-covered conservatory wall, evoking a lush indoor garden.

Vintage photograph showing two women in Victorian dress standing among ferns in a conservatory or greenhouse. One woman holds a cat close to her chest while the other smiles, hands clasped. Decorative hanging orbs and plants frame the scene in rich texture.

Frontal view of the same sculpture showing the woman seated with serene posture, one hand resting on the back of the cat on her lap. The style is simplified and stylised, with flowing drapery and no sharp edges, evoking a sense of calm intimacy between human and animal.

Photograph of a clay sculpture showing a seated female figure with an arched backrest or halo-like surround. A cat sits upright on her lap, leaning gently against her body. The sculpture is placed on a round plinth and has a warm, smooth texture.

4. Woman with Cat by Ellen Pollen

The only reference to this work in the Ellen Pollen (Nell Murphy) Archive materials are these two photographs. Written on the back of one it says “Woman with Cat, USA”. The seated figure, created in soft organic curves, cradles a cat on her lap, the cat looking lovingly back up to her. The work resonates with the religious works created by Pollen (1927-2011) throughout her career, with maternal tenderness and spiritual calm. Whether intended as devotional, domestic, or symbolic, the sculpture captures the quiet companionship between a person and their cat.

3. Cats in print: Artists Books and Zines

From shadowy silhouettes to bold comic panels and scribbled philosophy, the Artists Books and Zines Collection is a treasure trove of cats rendered in every imaginable style. This selection spans the quiet elegance of minimal ink drawings by Laura Little, to surreal zine humour with goblin-esque cats by Elida Maiques. In Sam Gallagher’s zine, two ‘Flat Lads’ lounge in the vegetable patch, and in Carl Doran’s cat tale, Mathilda plots revenge on a belligerent blackbird. A mix of abstract and figurative, affectionate and mischief-makers, each cat is a character in a much bigger story within the pages of contemporary book art.

Cover of “Cats I’ve Seen Outside My House During Quarantine” by Sam Gallagher, accompanied by cat-themed stickers, thank-you notes, and promotional cards, all illustrated in a playful cartoon style.

Spread from a zine showing a rural landscape sketch with the word “Cat?” and humorous stats below, suggesting it may not actually be a cat. The facing page features two cartoon-style black cats with green eyes labelled “The Flat Lads,” described as “just bros, being pancakes.”

Cover of the artist book “Every Inch a Cat” by Elida Maiques, featuring a yellow crayon-textured background and a black cat playing with a flower-filled skull.

Bright and playful comic panels using black, white, and yellow inks. A bird interacts with a curious black cat, with expressive faces and dramatic action scenes, including an explosion and a bird escape. The style is energetic and stylised.

Cover of a minimalist book titled "Cats", featuring a stylised tree with grey leaves and a black cat sitting at the base, gazing upward.

Photograph of an artist book with clean, minimalist design. One page shows a small black dot, the other a black silhouette of a seated cat with an elegant tail and alert ears. The background is plain white paper.

Cover of Carl Doran's zine "Mathilda & the Belligerent Blackbird", featuring a hand-drawn blackbird and a cat on a bright orange background with bold white text.

Spread from a narrative zine. On the left, text reads: “Still others said Mathilda had finally caught up with the Bold Blackbird.” On the right, a painterly ink wash shows a striped cat with a bird in its mouth, rendered in expressive black strokes.

Two zines by Bridgeen Gillespie: the green-covered “Mr Maximo & Rabbit Collected Edition” and “These City Walls”, both featuring cartoon-style cat and rabbit characters.

Comic-style zine page illustrated in black ink. It includes a mix of art history notes and whimsical rabbit characters knitting, painting, and referencing Renaissance and modernist art. A sketch mimicking da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man shows a cat instead of a human.

Sepia portrait of Patrick Scott gazing out a window while holding Miss Mouse, a calico cat. Both appear contemplative, looking toward the light.

Sepia-toned photograph of a black and white cat walking directly toward the camera on a patterned rug. Another cat is visible in the background to the right.

Painting of a calico cat playfully emerging from behind a black door. The cat is stepping forward with one paw lifted, and a small white ball lies in the foreground. The background is stark black, highlighting the cat’s expressive face and markings.

Graphic design page showing a black and saffron colour scheme for CIE locomotives and rolling stock. Includes a diagram of a train carriage and an inset black and white photograph of a train on a curved track. Text explains the functional and visual rationale behind the livery design by Patrick Scott.

Vintage colour photograph of Patrick Scott smiling while holding a fluffy black cat in his arms. He stands in a garden with yellow flowers and a soft-focus fence in the background.

Photograph of Patrick Scott seated at a white table, wearing a rainbow-striped jumper. He faces a black cat sitting on the opposite side of the table, both focused on a pencil in Scott’s hand. Light streams in from arched windows in the background.

2. Patrick Scott & Miss Mouse

Patrick Scott (1921-2014), one of Ireland’s most significant artists, famously lived with many cats throughout his life. His beloved cat, Miss Mouse, inspired several of his works, including his 1956 painting ‘Miss Mouse Playing Ball’. Her calico coat colours inspired his design for the iconic black, white and saffron livery for CIÉ trains. Photographs in the Patrick Scott Archive show Scott with his cats at home and in the studio, highlighting their quiet influence on his work and daily life.

1. Patrick Scott’s Cat Faxes

In the late 1990s, Patrick Scott was sending whimsical cat-themed faxes to friends and family. Scott kept cartoons found in print and copied them to create fax templates with specific themes, there are also some hand-drawn cartoons and reproductions of cat photos. Recipients often replied with their own drawings or addressed messages directly to his cats. In an early fax dated 9.9.99 – “a good date to send a fax”, Scott says “I must try and get into the habit of using my fax machine. I like the idea that you can receive an instantaneous greeting.” A true pioneer in a charming, early form of cat meme culture!

A selection of hand-drawn and copied faxes featuring cats by Patrick Scott and friends. The faxes include illustrated cats in humorous scenes, handwritten messages, and playful doodles arranged in a collage.

A cartoon drawing of an artist painting a woman with a cat on her lap, while a real cat sits on his knee. The handwritten message underneath is dated 9.9.99 and expresses delight at receiving a fax.

A cartoon of a cat flying a small aeroplane, with the plane’s trail forming the cat’s tail. The handwritten message below includes travel details and a note signed "P."

A group of hand-drawn cats standing closely together, with the date 9.9.99 written underneath. Below is a handwritten message wishing someone a happy ‘four nines day’ and a bon voyage to Mexico.

A drawing of a circle of ten cats sitting in a corner facing a wall outlet, as if in a meeting. Below is a handwritten message explaining a long silence due to an injury and “faxer’s bloc.”

A sketch of two anthropomorphic cats sitting in a cinema with drinks and popcorn. The handwritten message above is a request to pencil in a cinema appointment for Mr. Scott at 6.15 pm.

A cat wearing trainers walks proudly across the page. A handwritten message below thanks a friend for a fax and jokes about needing a new pair of sneakers, signed “love, GAZ.”

NIVAL collections are open to everyone. All of the materials featured here, and many more, are available to explore online and in person. Researchers are always welcome to visit our Reading Room, link below. Visitors are especially encouraged to bring pictures of their cats, we promise to admire them appropriately.