Katten Kabinet has modern cats, classical cats; cats in every guise from snuff bottles, pipes, and figurines, and in materials from ivory to stone, bronze, textile and ceramic. A life-size female figure wears the costume of Grizabella from the musical, "Cats". My vote for "most cat-astrophic" goes to the cat skin reposing in a glass case. This feline had obviously come to the end of all his nine lives. Nearby a live cat snoozed in a sunny spot on the sofa. I pointed out the unhappy end one of his predecessors had met. With a feline’s usual disdain he ignored me and went back to catnapping.

The building housing this sometimes-kitschy cat collection is a lovely old place on the Herengracht, which dates from 1620. Visitors can buy postcards, posters and other souvenirs in forms feline at the small gift shop/gallery. For more information, check out the website, www.kattenkabinet.nl. To get to the Katten Kabinet, take tram 16, 24 or 25; get off at the Keizersgracht stop.

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-2pm; Sat and Sun 1-5pm.
Telephone: +31 (0)20 626 5378
Fax:+31 (0)20 626 6764

The museum is devoted to cats and there are paintings, statues, posters, drawings, cartoons, etc. that all feature this beloved feline. There are even sketches by Picasso and Rembrandt and the carpeting on the stairs has a cat motif. I did notice one resident feline but otherwise, the only visitors to the museum were of the human kind. The front desk has some items for sale - art cards and calendars - with cat themes, of course.

If you're not a cat fan, stop in anyway because the museum takes up part of the main and second floors of a large, elegant canal house that was built in the mid-1600s and has antique furniture throughout. Take a peek into the back garden and you'll see an abundance of greenery and colourful plants that cover most of the yard. Ask to use the washroom and you'll be shown to a water closet, a tiny room tiled with rich dark wood and brass fittings.

Admission is f10. (approx. $4.00 US). You may want to phone first (020) 626 53 78 since operating hours vary.