Purr-fect Companions: A Look at Cats Through the Lens

Wednesday 22 June 2022 | Stories of Hamilton,

hcl 16770tile

Taking photos of our pets is nothing new. Long before the arrival of smartphones and social media, people were pointing their cameras at their beloved animal companions, capturing their personalities, quirks, and charm.
In our photographic collections, cats make regular appearances, these feline friends have clearly held a special place in the hearts of their humans.
Enjoy this curated selection of cat photographs, featuring felines of all sizes from across the decades. A timeless reminder that while technology may change, our affection for our pets remains just as strong.

A black and white image showing a girl dressed in a long black dress with white collar and straw hat, sitting on a log with a black and white cat next to her.

HCL_06608, Hamilton City Libraries

A black and white image showing a tabby cat sitting on the verandah of a wooden house. The cat is raised on it's hind legs, reaching for something off camera.

HCL_16811, Hamilton City Libraries

A black and white image of a cat sitting amongst trees in a garden

HCL_16812, Hamilton City Libraries

A black and white image showing two cats eating off a dish on the ground.

HCL_16808, Hamilton City Libraries

A black and white image showing a woman dressed in a long dark skirt and checked long sleeve shirt, seated on grass next to a garden, holding a dark fluffy cat on her lap. A second dark fluffy cat sits on her skirt.

HCL_16770, Hamilton City Libraries

A colour image showing a woman in a red and white dress holding a lion cub in her arms. The cub is twisted away from the camera.

HCL_17961, Hamilton City Libraries

A sepia toned imaged showing a woman kneeling in an enclosure with a lion cub standing in front of her, both are facing the camera.

HCL_17967, Hamilton City Libraries

A black and white image showing a woman in long dark skirt with matching jacket standing outside a wooden house. A dog stands to the right of the woman looking up at her, while a cat stands on it's hind legs, reaching for food in her hand. The cats front paws are clawing the woman's skirt.

HCL_16822, Hamilton City Libraries

Explore more images like this via our Heritage Collections Online. 

Posted in Stories of Hamilton,

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