Traveling the world is always fascinating, and shopping for souvenirs is often a major part of the fun, regardless of whether you’re looking for things for yourself or gifts for a cat lover you know. While most destinations have plenty of great gifts, some have more fun cat-themed items.
Countries such as Turkey and Egypt are known around the world for their long, loving, historic relationships with cats and are great places to find gorgeous cat-themed souvenirs, but the world is full of wonderful destinations where there are plenty of other fantastic choices. Keep reading for more on nine cat souvenirs to buy when traveling the world.
The 9 Cat Souvenirs to Buy When Traveling the World
1. Picture Frames — Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s cats may well be the city’s most famous residents, which makes it easy to find wonderful cat-themed mementos to bring home. Some of the most popular souvenirs from Turkey include tiles, painted ceramics, carpets, lamps, and jewelry.
Cat-themed bags and decorative objects are generally easy to find. Framed pictures of the city’s cats going about their business make beautiful gifts, so why not take a few snapshots and buy a gorgeous frame to give your creative work the proper presentation?
2. Matilda: The Algonquin Cat and Hamlet: The Algonquin Cat by Leslie Martini — New York City, United States of America
The Algonquin Hotel is a luxury property in downtown Manhattan that’s had a resident cat for more than 40 years. It still welcomes guests if you’re interested in making a reservation and staying for a night or two. For those searching for a literary souvenir, there’s always Matilda: The Algonquin Cat, which tells the story of the very first cat who graced the halls of the hotel, or Hamlet: The Algonquin Cat, which follows a cat who comes to live among the glitterati at the property.
3. Maneki-Neko Cat Statues — Tokyo, Japan
Visitors to Japan are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding cat-related souvenirs, but one option really stands out: adorable Maneki-Neko statues. They’re thought to bring good luck.
Cats, in general, are popular in Japan, and they are featured in several souvenirs, from beautiful stationery to fun bento boxes, making the country an excellent cat souvenir shopping destination.
4. P-22 Gear — Los Angeles, United States of America
A framed picture of P-22, the wild cougar who roamed the expanses of Los Angeles’ Griffith Park until he died in 2022, might be the perfect gift for any cat-loving photography fan.
Steve Winter’s iconic photo of the magnificent cat prowling at night with the Hollywood sign shining in the background is pure magic. LA’s Natural History Museum has a nice collection of P-22-inspired tote bags, mugs, and apparel.
5. ABBA Cat Merchandise — Stockholm, Sweden
The ABBA Museum in Stockholm lets you sing along to the Swedish supergroup’s greatest hits and learn about the members’ lives and the quartet’s rise to fame.
The museum sells a variety of merchandise, including dresses, tote bags, t-shirts, key chains, and socks bearing the famous cat images drawn by Owe Sandström in the 1970s that appeared on a few ABBA costumes.
6. Delft Blue Ceramic Cat Statues — Amsterdam, the Netherlands
While the Netherlands may be best known for its windmills, canals, great cheese, and bicycles, the country also offers a few cute cat-related gifts. Ceramic cats in the traditional blue and white Delft Blue style combine the Dutch love of all things feline with a bit of history.
Delft Blue ceramics have been produced in the Netherlands since the 1600s and played a significant role in European material culture during the following centuries.
7. Dutch Lion Merchandise — Amsterdam, the Netherlands
If you’re into lions and the color orange, you’re in luck; you won’t need to head far in Amsterdam to score something related to these symbols of the Netherlands. Stuffed orange lions are cute, fun gift options, but it’s also possible to find all sorts of renditions of the lion on ties and T-shirts.
8. Germain the Lynx Stuffed Toys and Panther Jewelry — Paris, France
Paris St. Germain, the famous soccer team, has a mascot named Germain, a lynx who often appears pitchside before games. Stuffed Germains make wonderful gifts for young soccer lovers.
If you’re looking for something more high-end, why not invest in jewelry? Cartier produces a stunning range of cat-themed jewelry, which makes sense as the house’s mascot is technically a panther—just be sure to bring lots of cash!
9. Papyrus and Cat Statues — Cairo, Egypt
From modern papyrus scrolls to cat statues, it’s possible to find all manner of beautiful and fun cat souvenirs in Egypt, particularly if you’re interested in something that riffs on themes drawn from antiquity or features images of ancient cat gods.
You can always purchase a Sphynx statue or figurine if you’re looking for something immediately recognizable.
Conclusion
There are several destinations around the world where you can score gorgeous cat-themed souvenirs. Finding the perfect mementos can be one of the most enjoyable parts of traveling, particularly when your shopping endeavors involve looking for cat-themed gifts that also have a special meaning.
Thankfully, choices abound, from stuffed animals to books and statues, all of which will warm any cat-lover’s heart.
See also:
- Favorite Cat Kitchen Accessories – Reviews & Top Picks
- 5 Cat Themed Purses That Lets The Cat Out Of The Bag!
Featured Image Credit: Nejron Photo, Shutterstock
Contents
- The 9 Cat Souvenirs to Buy When Traveling the World
- 1. Picture Frames — Istanbul, Turkey
- 2. Matilda: The Algonquin Cat and Hamlet: The Algonquin Cat by Leslie Martini — New York City, United States of America
- 3. Maneki-Neko Cat Statues — Tokyo, Japan
- 4. P-22 Gear — Los Angeles, United States of America
- 5. ABBA Cat Merchandise — Stockholm, Sweden
- 6. Delft Blue Ceramic Cat Statues — Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- 7. Dutch Lion Merchandise — Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- 8. Germain the Lynx Stuffed Toys and Panther Jewelry — Paris, France
- 9. Papyrus and Cat Statues — Cairo, Egypt
- Conclusion
