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# Shanghai Museum Welcomes Cats for Egyptian Antiquities Show
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/shanghai-museum-welcomes-cats-for-egyptian-antiquities-show/
- Published: 2024-07-17T21:23:25.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T15:41:32.000Z
- Description: A special event will also include a “Cat Temple” where participants will have the opportunity to take photos with their furry companions.
- Author: Maya Pontone
- Tags: News, Ancient Egypt, Antiquities, Cats, China, Shanghai, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 09:36 (2023, 2024, part 2)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2024/07/cats.jpg)

"All hail our overlord..." (edit Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*, photo via Getty Images)

China’s Shanghai Museum is not *kitten* around about Ancient Egypt. 

The public museum situated at the People’s Square announced last week that visitors will be allowed to bring their cats to a special series of events commemorating its forthcoming Egyptian antiquities exhibition, according to multiple [reports](https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202407/09/WS668cda30a31095c51c50d307.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) from [state-controlled news outlets](http://en.people.cn/n3/2024/0709/c90000-20191482.html?ref=hyperallergic.com). 

Opening on July 18, the 13-month exhibition [*On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt*](https://www.shanghaimuseum.net/mu/frontend/pg/article/id/I00004607?ref=hyperallergic.com) will reportedly be one of the largest displays of Ancient Egyptian art in China, with more than 780 cultural artifacts spanning various periods of the once-great empire. Museum officials have told local reporters that the exhibition will be the [first time](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202407/1316143.shtml?ref=hyperallergic.com) a vast majority of the featured antiquities are displayed in Asia. 

To mark the momentous occasion, the Shanghai Museum has organized feline-friendly programming for 10 Saturday evenings beginning July 27 as an homage to the Ancient Egyptians’ [well-documented affinity for their four-legged friends](https://daily.jstor.org/why-ancient-egyptians-loved-cats-so-much/?ref=hyperallergic.com). While there is abundant archaeological evidence that they were fond of [keeping domesticated dogs as pets](https://www.google.com/search?q=pets+in+ancient+egypt&sca%5Fesv=560dbe01d21b77ad&ei=dvKXZuuiI92s5NoPzuyW8AI&ved=0ahUKEwjrtce7wK6HAxVdFlkFHU62BS4Q4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=pets+in+ancient+egypt&gs%5Flp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFXBldHMgaW4gYW5jaWVudCBlZ3lwdDILEAAYgAQYkQIYigUyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB5ItwVQ8ANY8ANwAXgAkAEAmAFgoAGoAaoBATK4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgKgAmrCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcBMqAHpw0&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&ref=hyperallergic.com) and even had [private zoos](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-zoo?ref=hyperallergic.com#:~:text=Not%20only%20can%20Hierakonpolis%20be,with%20pottery%20and%20other%20artifacts.), cats occupied a special place in the hearts of the ancient society, which regarded them as “demi-deities.” Notably, [Bastet](https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-Bastet?ref=hyperallergic.com#:~:text=Bastet%20was%20the%20goddess%20of,and%20the%20mother%20of%20Mihos.), the goddess of protection, pleasure, and good health, was represented with the head of a cat.

The institution plans to [limit attendance for the evening sessions to 2,000 people and 200 cats](https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/news/a-large-chinese-museum-has-decided-to-organize-cat-nights-how-meow-night-works?ref=hyperallergic.com). The exhibition will also include a "Cat Temple" where participants will have the opportunity to take photos with their furry companions, in addition to other exclusive activities.

To avoid any *cat*astrophes, museum officials have said that there will also be licensed cat veterinarians, medical services, and feline-accommodating devices like mood stabilizers and strollers on site. And of course, after each event, the entire building will be thoroughly cleaned and deodorized.

*Hyperallergic* has reached out to the Shanghai Museum for additional information.