Kuching Cat Statue

About the Cat Statue

Kuching is the capital of Sarawak on Malaysian Borneo, famous for its playful cat statues scattered throughout the city. The name 'Kuching' means 'cat' in Malay, and the city has embraced this feline identity with numerous cat monuments, including the iconic Great Cat of Kuching. The city also hosts a Cat Museum, making it a unique destination for cat lovers and a celebration of this beloved animal in Malaysian culture.

Kuching's white cat statue stands on a traffic island at the eastern end of Jalan Padungan, beside the Chinatown ceremonial gate, and was put up by the Kuching South City Council in 1988 to mark the town's elevation to city status on 1 August that year. It links the city to its nickname "Cat City," which rests on the resemblance between "Kuching" and the Malay word "kucing." That etymology is disputed rather than settled: competing explanations point to the fruit mata kucing, the trading-port term Cochin, or a stream called Sungai Kuching, and the tale of James Brooke misunderstanding a guide is a legend. The council regularly dresses the figure for Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Gawai and Christmas, and it remains a standard stop on city tours.