A young girl in 1920s Volendam, Netherlands, poses in traditional dress with a cat in her arms.
A young girl in 1920s Volendam, Netherlands, poses in traditional dress with a cat in her arms.
Cat Day: Nat Geo’s archival pictures of felines
Any day is a good day to celebrate cats.
Although known for their coy, contrarian nature, cats have proved themselves to be the most photogenic of creatures. Cat curiosity is not just a product of the digital age; the photos in this collection show that cats have been popular photographic subjects for decades.
In celebration of International Cat Day, we hope you enjoy these pictures of felines from our archives.
Also check out some of our favorite stories about cats:
- See the lives of street cats around the world
- The fascinating history behind the popular ‘waving lucky cat’
- Vintage photos of pampered cats
- What's the deal with these these bizarre, 16th-century cat drawings?
- Where do cats go when you're not around?
This story was originally published in October 2014. It has since been updated.