30+ Vintage Pictures Of Cats With Celebrities

Pictures of cats aren't just an internet phenomenon.

Kylin

• Published in Animals
• December 19, 2021

It’s easy to believe that the booming popularity of cat pictures started with the iconic “I can has cheezburger?” meme. There was even an entire website under that name dedicated to funny cat pictures.

While it makes sense when you actually think about it, it’s still a bit surprising that cats have been a favorite photography subject for as long as the invention of cameras. And honestly, who can blame folks?

Cats hit all the marks for prime photography material. They’re inherently adorable, and cats can also be elegant, or even silly and outright hilarious.

Not to mention, cats are some of the oldest known pets. Scientists have discovered that a cat was being kept as a pet in Cyprus more than 9,500 years ago.

People who love cats, really love their cats. So, it makes sense that we have been capturing them on film as soon as we were able.

Thanks to the invention and ease of sharing via the internet, we are blessed with a never-ending supply of cat pictures and videos. But does the oversaturation of cat media negatively affect how we’re able to appreciate them?

With more enjoyable images of our favorite felines being shared every second, it’s easy for them to become forgettable within a moment’s time. Luckily, there are people determined to keep a good cat picture from being forgotten and collect vintage photos which can still be relevant today.

Paula Leite Moreira, a Brazilian journalist, has taken up the duty of preserving the interesting history of cats in photography. She’s managed to collect thousands of photos ranging as far back as the 1900s and shares them on her specialized Instagram account.

All Vintage Cats allows us to see how many famous artists, celebrities, and everyday people from the past enjoyed their special pets. Some cutesy and cuddling, others engaged in silly photoshoots, and much more.

Basically, it’s like the now-times, where cats are in the spotlight and at the center of everyone’s attention. History meets the present day with these vintage photos shared on Instagram. 

1. Deanna Durbin, Canadian Actress and Singer

2. Kurt Cobain, Nirvana

3. George Harrison, The Beatles

"Take a look at these portraits of George Harrison accompanied by his Persian cat named Korky. High dose of cuteness, right? Surrey, United Kingdom, 1965."

4. Herbert Tobias, a German photographer with his cat

Moreira shared about herself: “I'm a journalist, I work with content production and I've always wanted to create a project where I could exercise my research and writing skills. At the beginning of the quarantine, still in 2020, after having seen a photo from the 19th century on the internet, I found myself interested in looking for more old records of cats. I loved delving into it and decided to share what I found, resulting in the realization of this project."

Needless to say, some of the photos she’s found are incredible and truly unique. And Moreira was kind enough to share how she finds these gems.

"I search through the internet in historical collections, archives, image banks, and international magazines. When I find a random photo without a lot of reliable information, I look elsewhere until I get enough information about each photo."

5. Una Stubbs, British Actress

6. Photograph by French photographer Pierre Jamet

7. Albert Schweitzer, German theologian, organist, musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician.

8. Audrey Hepburn with her husband, Mel Ferrer

"British actress Audrey Hepburn was shot with her husband, American actor and director Mel Ferrer, and their kitten, on their farm in Rome, Italy. 1955."

9. Photograph by American photographer Harold M. Lambert

10. Henri Cartier-Bresson, French Photographer

11. French Solider

"Photo of a French soldier, who took some time to feed a small baby."

12. Clint Eastwood

"A real treat for our eyes, American actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood was portrayed at home, with his kitty, by photographer Larry Barbier, around 1960. Los Angeles, California. The United States."

13. Janis Joplin

Ever humble, Moreira gives credit for the success of her project to cats. "Cats are the kings of the internet, right? So I'm not surprised at the amount of fans they have."

The general consensus from those familiar with her Instagram is that her account isn't as popular as it should be. "Many people tell me that the profile should have more followers."

And honestly? It is such a special treat that you’d only be doing yourself a favor by giving her a follow. 

Her hobby of collecting cat pictures lends to a pretty safe assumption that Moreira may have a cat or two herself. And she does, "I have an old kitten named Sofia. In January, she turns 18 years old, all of them she lived by my side. I am completely in love with her and am so grateful to keep her company for so many years."

14. John Bevins Moisant, American Pilot

"American pilot John Bevins Moisant had the company of his kitten, Mademoiselle Fifi, in his portraits and even on his flights."

15. Paul Gallico, Writer

16. Wanda Landowska, Polish Musician

17. Paul McCartney, The Beatles

"None other than the star Paul McCartney sitting on the doorstep and enjoying the company of his dog Martha and two kittens that are in his lap. London, United Kingdom,1967."

18. Grace Kelly

"All the beauty of the American actress Grace Kelly, who would later become Princess of Monaco, when posing with a pet, around 1948, for the lenses of photographer George Rinhart."

19. Ava Gardner, American Actress and Singer

20. Dalai Lama XIV

"None other than the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, enjoyed the company of his pet cat at his home in Dharamshala, India, circa 1979."

21. This Kitty turned the tables and took over the camera

22.

23. British Henry Behrens

24. Mary Pickford, Canadian-American Actress and Producer

25. Socks The Cat, Former First Pet Of The United States

"This wide-eyed ragdoll was known as Socks the Cat and was former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary's first pet."

26. James Dean

"Take this wonderful sequence of photos of American actor James Dean with his kitten Marcus, a gift given by actress Elizabeth Taylor at the end of the filming of the Giant, in which they acted together, 1955."

27. Elizabeth Montgomery

"American actress Elizabeth Montgomery playing the character Samantha with the kitten Ling-Ling in the television series Bewitched in 1965."

28. Celia Hammond, British Model

29. Boy with his kitten

"Brian Hudson, a boy of just ten years old, taking care of his kitten Bluey, who had recently been adopted by the family. Sydney, Australia. 1955."

30. Photo captured by owner, Walter Chandoha

"A real leap of the cat immortalized by the lens of its human, Walter Chandoha, in 1951. The cat, known as Loco, was rescued by the photographer from the freezing streets of New York and became his first feline model."

31. Judy Garland

"Scary tales can be very frightening, but nothing that the company of a kitten doesn't solve. In the picture, American actress, singer, and dancer Judy Garland, in 1938."

32. John And Jacqueline Kennedy

"Historical photo of then-Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy accompanied by his wife Jacqueline, daughter Caroline and the family cat. This was the last weekend together before the Democratic candidate began the campaign for the presidency of the United States, circa 1960."

33. Freddie Mercury, Queen

"The eternal muse Freddie Mercury with his dear pet kitten, Tiffany, in 1986. Extraordinary men know how to love the little cats."

34. Elinor Glyn, British Novelist

35. Giuseppe Ungaretti, Italian Poet

36. Jorge Luis Borges, Argentine Writer

37. Wilfrid Hyde-White, British Actor

38. Anthony Perkins, American Actor

39. Mary Austin, Ex-Girlfriend Singer Freddie Mercury

"Portrait of British Mary Austin, ex-girlfriend and one of the greatest loves of Freddie Mercury, posing with a black cat. 1984."

40. Christine Keeler, British Model

41. US Senator Helen Ring Robinson

42. Helen Gurley Brown, American Author

43. Jean-Louis Trintignant, French Actor

44. Local Celebrity, Alice Stacy

"Alice Stacy, a 91-year-old woman, hugs her cat named Mischief while Good Boy, her dog, sits next to her at the Columbia Point housing project in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. The United States. 1988."

45. Joey Ramone, Ramones

46. Nise Da Silveira, Psychiatrist

47. Leonor Fini, Argentine Painter

48. Patricia Highsmith, American Writer and Screenwriter

49. Paolo Ferrari And Laura Tavanti, Italian Actors

50. Long John Baldry, British Blues Musician

Moreira made sure to share a commonly accepted message within the animal-loving community.

"My message is: love and respect the cats. And if possible, adopt. There are many abandoned animals waiting for years for the chance to have a family and a safe home. Knowing you saved a life is the best reward ever."

If you enjoyed this unique collection of photos, be sure to share this article with your friends, family, and fellow cat lovers!

Kylin