York's Cat Trail - 4 miles approx

A walk not done since 2022.

A catty treat as we head off in search of York’s cat sculptures, which are located on the sides of walls, balconies, roofs and elsewhere. Some are more difficult to spot than others! As we tick off each cat siting, stories will be told as to how they came to be where they are.

Start location: outside The Cat Gallery store at no.45 Low Petergate, York, YO1 7HT (see photo).

The Cat Gallery is well worth a visit for cat-lovers with lots of things to tempt you and is also an ideal store to visit if looking for a gift or present for someone who is a cat lover.

Park & Ride schemes: if travelling into York, free parking is available at any of the six p&r sites.

Our start location is a five minute walk from the Theatre Royal/Art Gallery, also a short walk from the Minster, depending from which direction you’re coming.

Walk fee: £2. No dogs please. As this is a walk around the streets of York, no walking gear as such is required, just sensible footwear and suitable clothing for the weather. Please be ready to start walking at the advertised time.
After-walk refreshment at The Earl Grey Tearooms on The Shambles, one of my favourites !

WALK BACKGROUND NOTES:
The history of the ‘current’ cats in York is believed to date back to 1920, when Sir Stephen Aitcheson placed two on a building he owned in Low Ousegate, so presumably they were added following the demise of the previous cats on the building (which will be alluded to on the walk). Some say he put them there to scare away rats and mice, he probably thought they looked attractive and would bring good luck. Alternatively, it was a way of grabbing people’s attention to encourage them to come into his shop! Anyhow, others followed his lead and the odd cat or two began to appear around the city.
Fast forward to 1979 and a local architect named Tom Adams (who had drawn black cats as his signature since the 50s) decided to resurrect the tradition by placing cats on buildings he had designed or worked on in some way. York-based sculptor Jonathan Newdick was then commissioned to bring them to life.
Tom passed away in 2006 but his inspiration lives on through new cat commissions and indeed a number of the newer cats were also sculptured by Jonathan Newdick.
Tom once said: “there should be fun in architecture and that is why the cats are here”.

I have no formal walk leader or first-aid qualifications and the Group does not have insurance. When you RSVP for any walk, you accept that you remain responsible for your own safety at all times. You are required to respect the walk leader and be mindful of the safety of others. Please keep to the pace of the group and don’t go off ahead even if you think you know the route.