CAT TOURISM BY SANDY ROBINS
LIFEWITHCATTITUDE
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If you’re an ailurophile like me, chances are that when you travel you’re always on the hunt for cat-centric merchandise to take home for yourself or as gifts for your kitty-loving friends. I’ve put together a
shopping guide of some fun feline souvenirs you can’t leave without.
When in Cairo
The ancient Egyptians were
perhaps history’s greatest cat
lovers, pampering and adorning
felines, honoring them in art,
even treating them as gods. The
Khan el-Khalili market and the
Ashor Bazar in Cairo are both
popular tourist destinations and
great places to shop for statu-
ettes of the goddess Bast (also
known as Bastet). The statuettes
are available in a variety of col-
ors and sizes; materials range
from granite to plastic. If you
buy the right size, they make
great bookends!
When in
New York
If you book the
Friends of Matilda
accommodation
package at New
York’s famous
Algonquin Hotel, not
only will the resident cat afford you
a generous discount on your accom-
modation, she’ll welcome you with
a personalized letter and send you
home with the ultimate souvenir: a
plush toy in her Ragdoll likeness. For
information, visit algonquinhotel.
com/hotel-special-offers.
When in Amsterdam
It’s not only about tulips here! Cats
& Things on Hazenstraat is a feline
emporium that prides itself on having every feline-themed gift idea
imaginable, from a quirky and fun
tea cosy to hats and beautiful artwork. There are gifts for your cats
back home, too. And the store has
resident felines, so you can get a fur
fix while you shop.
When in England
If you have Yorkshire highlighted
on your itinerary, The Cat Gallery
on Lower Petergate in York is
worth a stop to shop. From tabby
Egyptians were
history’s greatest
cat lovers.
When in
New York!