Cat House Cats - Riga, Latvia - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

The cats are made of black cast iron. They both have their backs arched and their tails raised. The sculptor who created the felines is unknown. Statue website: (visit link)

"The Cat House (Latvian: Kaku nams) is a building situated at 10 Meistaru iela in the old town of Riga, the capital of Latvia. It was built in 1909 according to the blueprint of architect Friedrich Scheffel. The building is styled as medieval architecture with some elements of Art Nouveau. It is known for the two cat sculptures, with arched backs and raised tails, on its roof. It is said that the owner of the house wanted the cats to be placed with their tails turned towards the house of the Great Guild, which is nearby, as he held a grudge against its members. It was later ordered that the cats should be turned so as to face the guildhouse.

Legend of the cats

The legend known by most Rigans, which is also told to tourists, comes in at least two versions. One version of the legend has it that the wealthy tradesman who commissioned the building was refused membership of the Riga Tradesmen's Guild, mostly just called the Great Guild. The central element of both versions is the anecdote that seeking retribution the tradesman had two copper statues of angry-looking cats with arched backs and raised tails placed on the turret rooftops with their tails turned towards the house of the Great Guild, situated across the street.

The other and perhaps older version of the cat legend has it that the wealthy tradesman placed the two statues of angry-looking cats on the building turret rooftops with their tails towards the Riga Town Hall, following a dispute with Riga City Council, after which he encouraged the erection of the building. The Riga Town Hall at the time was in the same direction as the Great Guild, but it burned down during World War II, was demolished in 1954 and only rebuilt in the very same place between 2000—01."

--Wikipedia (visit link)

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Cat House Cats Figure Type: Animal Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Unknown Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1910 Materials used: Cast iron Location: Cat House towers

Visit Instructions:
Please upload at least one photo you have personally taken of the sculpture and tell us a little about your impressions of the piece. Additional photos are always appreciated.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   09/04/2023 InGodsHands visited it 08/12/2021 castorka visited it 11/07/2018 Lucka Black visited it 10/08/2017 Ringeck visited it 08/12/2017 PNW_Navigator visited it 08/11/2014 makisf visited it

View all visits/logs