The 50 Most Fabulous (and Famous) Cat Ladies of All Time
The special kinship between cats and their lady owners goes deep into the annals of history — back to the days when oil paintings documented life, or even deeper, to the ancient days when sacred felines prowled about Egypt. The Metropolitan Museum of Art unveiled a new exhibition today titled “Balthus: Cats and Girls — Paintings and Provocations,” which further explores the theme, focusing specifically on the French artist’s fixation on the blurry period of life in which a girl blossoms from childhood to adolescence, and on his use of cats in many portraits.
To join in on the fun, we decided to compile a list of 50 fabulous ladies in entertainment — from animal activists to cat owners — who’ve fallen prey to felines over the decades. Click through the slideshow to see vintage photos of everyone from a young Grace Kelly to an ecstatic Mia Farrow to a big-haired Dolly Parton, all looking blissful while petting (or posing with) kittens. Also included: a shot of a blonde Zooey Deschanel, before she fulfilled her role as queen of “adorkable,” cradling a tiny kitten, and that one time Demi Moore befriended a stray kitten when she had a few too many Red Bulls.
Grace Kelly In 1948, the Hollywood actress was photographed clutching a kitten while working as a part-time model, some eight years before she wo...
Grace Kelly In 1948, the Hollywood actress was photographed clutching a kitten while working as a part-time model, some eight years before she would become the Princess of Monaco.
Photo: Corbis
Betty Grable The actress wore her pet cat Whitney around her neck like a fur scarf in 1935. The cat then sniffed her hair.
Photo: Courtesy Evere...
Betty Grable The actress wore her pet cat Whitney around her neck like a fur scarf in 1935. The cat then sniffed her hair.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
Gina Gershon Here's Gina Gershon, who's called herself a "crazy cat lady," being photographed with her cat Cleo. Later, she released a ...
Gina Gershon Here's Gina Gershon, who's called herself a "crazy cat lady," being photographed with her cat Cleo. Later, she released a book about her journey to find the feline, titled In Search of Cleo: How I Lost My Pussy and Found My Mind.
Photo: DeborahAnderson/Gotham/Splash
Elizabeth Taylor
While returning to Paris from a trip to Russia in 1961, Taylor proved herself capable of simultaneously signing an autograph...
Elizabeth Taylor
While returning to Paris from a trip to Russia in 1961, Taylor proved herself capable of simultaneously signing an autograph and stroking the nape of a mysterious cat.
Photo: Henri Bureau/Corbis
Demi Moore In late 2012, the actress attended a dinner and auction hosted by Chanel at the Soho Beach House in Miami Beach, Florida. While report...
Demi Moore In late 2012, the actress attended a dinner and auction hosted by Chanel at the Soho Beach House in Miami Beach, Florida. While reportedly drunk on Red Bulls, she befriended a stray cat that was later christened "Soho" by the Hilton sisters. Nicky Hilton later decided to adopt Soho for good.
Photo: David X Prutting/BFAnyc.com/Getty Images
Eartha Kitt In February, 1953, the singer and actress (who would later play Catwoman on television in 1967) was photographed checking her makeup ...
Eartha Kitt In February, 1953, the singer and actress (who would later play Catwoman on television in 1967) was photographed checking her makeup with her cat, Jinx, lounging on her vanity table. It's reported that Jinx preferred to stick around Eartha's dressing room even while she was performing onstage.
Photo: Corbis
Mia Farrow On September 12, 1965, Mia Farrow was photographed with her cat companion Ref.
Photo: Starstock/Photoshot/Everett Collection
Brooke Shields On October 27, 1992, Brooke Shields attended an event called "Whiskas Salutes Cats As the Purr-fect Art Form" at the Gra...
Brooke Shields On October 27, 1992, Brooke Shields attended an event called "Whiskas Salutes Cats As the Purr-fect Art Form" at the Grand Central Station Gallery. She then proceeded to stroke a cheetah's throat.
Photo: Ron Galella/Getty Images
Brigitte Bardot The French actress-singer turned animal-rights activist cuddled with a tiger on a trip to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, in 1976. ...
Brigitte Bardot The French actress-singer turned animal-rights activist cuddled with a tiger on a trip to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, in 1976.
Photo: Miroslav Brozek/Corbis
Kay Kendall One can only guess why the Siamese in the actress's arm was named Pyewacket, a reference to a witch's spirit. But the name is actuall...
Kay Kendall One can only guess why the Siamese in the actress's arm was named Pyewacket, a reference to a witch's spirit. But the name is actually popular for the Siamese variety, thanks to the film Bell, Book, and Candle released in 1958, which featured a feline of the same name.
Photo: REX USA/Associated Newspapers/Rex
Whoopi Goldberg On an episode of ABC's The View on July 7, 2011, Whoopi Goldberg cuddled with a five-month-old abandoned kitten named Verrazano. ...
Whoopi Goldberg On an episode of ABC's The View on July 7, 2011, Whoopi Goldberg cuddled with a five-month-old abandoned kitten named Verrazano. He's from New York.
Photo: Lou Rocco/Getty Images
Dolly Parton A shoot from the seventies titled "Dolly Parton and Friend."
Photo: REX USA/CSU Archv/Everett
Zooey Deschanel Before Zooey rose to prominence as a blunt-banged, doe-eyed manic pixie dream girl, she was a blonde, bang-less, kitten cuddler. ...
Zooey Deschanel Before Zooey rose to prominence as a blunt-banged, doe-eyed manic pixie dream girl, she was a blonde, bang-less, kitten cuddler. The photo was published in the July 2001 issue of Vanity Fair.
Photo: Anders Overgaard/Corbis
Lana Wood In 1966, former Bond girl Lana Wood casually walked a leopard on a chain leash in the American suburbs, remembering her blowout but app...
Lana Wood In 1966, former Bond girl Lana Wood casually walked a leopard on a chain leash in the American suburbs, remembering her blowout but apparently forgetting pants.
Photo: Mondadori/Getty Images
Ewa Aulin Tiny cat! The Swedish actress posed with a minuscule feline named Hurricane in July 1968.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
Sir Elton John In 1974, the honorary lady posed for acclaimed photographer Terry O'Neill at Caribou Ranch in Colorado, where he was recording his...
Sir Elton John In 1974, the honorary lady posed for acclaimed photographer Terry O'Neill at Caribou Ranch in Colorado, where he was recording his tenth album, Rock of the Westies.
Photo: Terry O’Neill/Getty Images
Zsa Zsa Gabor In this photo from 1969, it's unclear who looks more distressed, the socialite or that cat.
Photo: REX USA/Everett Collection
Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac The sisters, in their matching stripes, smothered a feline with kisses in an outdoor portra...
Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac The sisters, in their matching stripes, smothered a feline with kisses in an outdoor portrait series from 1960.
Photo: Globe Photo
Vivien Leigh The actress, a noted cat lover, carried one over her shoulder in June, 1960. Observe the studded collar.
Photo: Mirrorpix/Courtesy ...
Vivien Leigh The actress, a noted cat lover, carried one over her shoulder in June, 1960. Observe the studded collar.
Photo: Mirrorpix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Ann-Margret In 1964, Swedish actress Ann-Margret framed her face with a Siamese kitten to promote her upcoming film, Kitten With a Whip. Note: Th...
Ann-Margret In 1964, Swedish actress Ann-Margret framed her face with a Siamese kitten to promote her upcoming film, Kitten With a Whip. Note: The film was a crime drama and did not have anything to do with actual kittens.
Photo: Universal Pictures/Everett Collection
Hilary Swank In October, 2009, the two-time Academy Award–winning actress (and former ambassador for Iams cat food) snuggled next to a cat at New...
Hilary Swank In October, 2009, the two-time Academy Award–winning actress (and former ambassador for Iams cat food) snuggled next to a cat at New York's Bideawee Animal Center to help raise awareness for a pet-adoption drive.
Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Josephine Griffin The English actress having a milk-off alongside a cat.
Photo: Rights Managed/Getty Images
Françoise Arnoul Around 1954, the French actress who gained fame for starring in sex melodramas, posed for yet another sultry photo. This ...
Françoise Arnoul Around 1954, the French actress who gained fame for starring in sex melodramas, posed for yet another sultry photo. This time, with a startled-looking white Persian in tow.
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Mary Philbin The silent film star posing in 1935.
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Sophie Marceau In 1991, the French actress campaigned against the abandonment of cats and dogs. Here, she's visiting the Society for the Protecti...
Sophie Marceau In 1991, the French actress campaigned against the abandonment of cats and dogs. Here, she's visiting the Society for the Protection of Animals shelter in Genevilliers, France.
Photo: Bernard Bisson/Corbis
Alexandra, Princess of Wales In a portrait from 1870, Alexandra, Princess of Wales, holds her pet cat close to her bosom. The princess was a belo...
Alexandra, Princess of Wales In a portrait from 1870, Alexandra, Princess of Wales, holds her pet cat close to her bosom. The princess was a beloved royal family member known not for her feline obsession, but her devotion to charity work.
Photo: Popperfoto
Joan Collins In 1957, British-born actress Joan Collins lounged on a boat that came with its own kitten.
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Princess Bibesco Taken around 1930, the photo shows Princess Elizabeth Bibesco, wife of Prince Antoine Bibesco (a Romanian diplomat), holding a (...
Princess Bibesco Taken around 1930, the photo shows Princess Elizabeth Bibesco, wife of Prince Antoine Bibesco (a Romanian diplomat), holding a (surprised) black cat.
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Jean Parker In 1935, actress Jean Parker posed for this studio portrait.
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Arielle Dombasle The Miami Vice actress, as photographed in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in 1996.
Photo: Micheline Pelletier/Corbis
Anita Ekberg Taken in 1966, the photo shows the Swedish actress-model looking a bit tentative.
Photo: Pierluigi\Mondadori\Everett Collection
Vera Ellen In 1944, the actress and dancer laid out on the beach alongside a black cat. As one does.
Photo: Mondadori/Getty Images
Gabriella Farinon Here, a lesson in picking up a cat with one hand from the seventies-era Italian television presenter and actress.
Photo: MONDA...
Gabriella Farinon Here, a lesson in picking up a cat with one hand from the seventies-era Italian television presenter and actress.
Photo: MONDADORI PORTFOLIO/Mario Notarangelo/Everett Collection
Monica Vitti The Italian actress Monica Vitti also often carried a cat in her arms while shooting the film High Infidelity.
Photo: MONDADORI POR...
Monica Vitti The Italian actress Monica Vitti also often carried a cat in her arms while shooting the film High Infidelity.
Photo: MONDADORI PORTFOLIO/Everett Collection
Ombretta Colli Those Italians have a way with cats. Here, famed forties singer Ombretta Colli with her pet.
Photo: MONDADORI PORTFOLIO/Ang...
Ombretta Colli Those Italians have a way with cats. Here, famed forties singer Ombretta Colli with her pet.
Photo: MONDADORI PORTFOLIO/Angelo Deligio/Everett Collection
Antonella Bottazzi The Italian singer and songwriter posing in Milan. As we said: those Italians.
Photo: Mondadori/Getty Images
Virna Lisi In a photo from 1961, the Italian actress pretended to kiss a kitten. Okay, we'll stop making the same joke.
Photo: Mondadori/Getty I...
Virna Lisi In a photo from 1961, the Italian actress pretended to kiss a kitten. Okay, we'll stop making the same joke.
Photo: Mondadori/Getty Images
Marianne Faithfull In a portrait from a private photo shoot in 1966, the British singer couldn't look happier.
Photo: John Hoppy Hopkins/Getty I...
Marianne Faithfull In a portrait from a private photo shoot in 1966, the British singer couldn't look happier.
Photo: John Hoppy Hopkins/Getty Images
Suzy Kendall The English actress holds a pair of kittens on the set of Up the Junction, directed by Peter Collinson, in 1968.
Photo: Silver Scre...
Suzy Kendall The English actress holds a pair of kittens on the set of Up the Junction, directed by Peter Collinson, in 1968.
Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
Catherine Oxenberg In 1985, the Dynasty actress brought hers to a Los Angles event.
Photo: Donaldson Collection/Getty Images
Gladys George In a photo from 1934, The Maltese Falcon actress hugs her tortoiseshell cat, whom she named Monkie.
Photo: Everett Collection
Lynn Merrick Lynn Merrick and hers hang out in a cornfield in the early forties.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
Valerie Bertinelli Glamour Shot: In 1993, the One Day at a Time actress did a whole shoot with a kitten.
Photo: Calliope Grigorea/Corbis
Lauren Bacall From the forties, the future Mrs. Bogart poses with two black cats.
Photo: REX USA/C.Everett
Helen Chandler The actress was photographed at home with her cat, whom she named Blue Bell, in June 1933.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
Paulina Porizkova The supermodel in 1985, competing to see who can look more feline.
Photo: Neal Preston/Corbis
Sade Another feline-face-on-cat competition, from the nineties singer.
Photo: REX USA/Steve Lyne
Kim Novak In 1959, the Hollywood actress gives her Siamese a hug at home.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
June Lockhart Here, in 1963, the actress was photographed blow-drying George, her cat.
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
Jean Simmons The British actress hangs out on set with a Siamese in 1954.
Photo: Baron/Corbis
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