Sleeping Cat Figurine

Maker unknown, date unknown

Plastic, polymeric fibers

Dimensions variable

Purchased from Value Village, 2020

Personal Collection

Unlike more contemplative objects, like those associated with faith or prayer, this fuzzy little feline is a collectible that accompanies its owner. These cat figurines range in size and breed and can sometimes feature a breathing feature where its chest lifts and drops. Once popular, these sleeping cats have begun to disappear over the past ten years. Mass produced as an unusual décor item in the early 2000s, they have declined in popularity since then.

This specific artifact was obtained from a secondhand shop and shows signs of past wear with damage to one ear and a breathing feature that no longer works. These companions exist mostly now in personal collections and typically do not circulate beyond the internet. With the growing importance of personal items to support us during this time of isolation, anything collected before this lockdown becomes part of an individual’s support system. While for many collecting is a hobby that holds importance as a passion in life, this indefinite period of distancing prevents us from accessing the world outside of our own environment that might give us the opportunity to expand our experiences. Until things return to normal, the objects that have brought us joy in the past and that we have worked to acquire are now primary.

MacKenzie Anderson