The American Museum of the House Cat

The American Museum of the House Cat, located at 5063 US Highway 441 South, Sylva, North Carolina, is a unique institution dedicated to celebrating domestic cats. The museum showcases an extensive collection amassed over more than 30 years by its founder, Dr. Harold Sims. Exhibits include fine art dating back to the late 1800s, modern and folk art, rare advertising pieces, cat posters, and exquisite art glass from renowned glassmakers. Notable artifacts feature a genuine Egyptian cat mummy from 300–30 B.C. and a petrified cat discovered in the chimney of a medieval English home. The museum operates as an art gallery, tracing the history of the house cat in America, and is open to visitors from April through December. Admission fees are $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 6–12, $7.50 for teens aged 13–17, $8.50 for university students, and free for children under 5. All profits support the Catman2 Shelter, a cage-free, no-kill cat adoption center.