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York Cat Trail

York Cat Trail

Free Fun in York York Lucky Cats

Find out about the history and significance of the Cat Statues in York with our fabulous York Cat Trail. You can pick up a leaflet from our shop on the Shambles York.

York Cat Trail Downloads & Printables

The Lucky Cat Trail York Downloads:

Download the PDF Leaflet

York Cat Trail on Trip Advisor 5/5

Just some of our reviews :-)

York Cat Trail “Brilliant!”

Reviewed 29 December 2011

Brilliant walk whether you're a cat lover or not! You can either download the walk on the internet or just pick up a leaflet from the shop.

Didn't do the whole walk, but fitted most of it in whilst doing our walking tour of York. Liked the history behind it and it did take you to some parts of the city you wouldn't perhaps have bothered to visit.

The shop itself is also worth a visit as they have some lovely unusual glassware which would make ideal gifts.

A very novel and interesting way to tour a city!

York Cat Trail "excellent day out”

Reviewed 13 December 2011

did the lucky cat tour, plus 2 pubs, had an excellent day out

York Lucky Cat Trail “Great Fun”

Reviewed 15 November 2011

As cat lovers we had great fun trying to find all 17 cats mentioned in the leaflet we’d picked up from York Glass in the Shambles. We gave up on Cat 2 initially, but went back when we’d found all the others and eventually found it. An excellent way of seeing parts of York that we hadn’t come across previously.

“A great way to see some of the lesser known areas of York city centre.”

Reviewed 9 November 2011

i have lived in York for 38 years and have known about some of the cat statues/ figures that adorn some of the buildings. I was amazed to disvover 17 of them (I knew of 7!). I did the Trail with my 6 year old grandaughter who loved following the map and hunting for the cats. You need comfy shoes as you do walk a fair distance on the circular tour. The Trail is available from The Glass Shop in The Shambles and is free. It has clear directions and a map, also some hints as to where the cats actually are in the street! A very enjoyable hour or so.

“York Cat Trail -- Lots of fun”

Reviewed 19 May 2011

We're not children (senior citizens, in fact) and we walked the cat trail when we were in York earlier this month. We had fun tracking down the cats, standing on sidewalks looking up and around. The trail took us to parts of the inner city we might not have found otherwise and helped us explore. We have photos of all 16! Thanks for putting this together -- great for all ages! We mentioned it to a friend who is in the travel business and she's going to try it out next time she's in York.

York Cat Trail “What a trip!!!!”

Reviewed 27 April 2011

Fabulous time spent in York, great to see family and old friends again. Thank you for the fun trail and wonderful glass cats. Well worth a visit. The Shambles is a place to wander through night and day. Many thanks York Lucky Cats.

Cat Trail “Brilliant free day out with the kids!”

Reviewed 27 April 2011

Fun free day out. Great for kids young and old. Kept us all entertained for the day. The trail takes you on a walk around the city to spot the cat statues. The kids loved looking out for the cats.
It starts at the York Glass shop on the historic Shambles. Recommended.

The York Cat Story

Cats have played a part in York’s history and luck has been linked with them since records began. Cats always land on their feet and having nine lives is a piece of luck that we can all relate to. York Glass is the home of York Lucky Cats where we celebrate the York Cat story. Statues of Cats have been placed on buildings in York for around two Centuries, although statues since removed or rotted are thought to date from medieval times. The original Cat Statues were placed on buildings to frighten away rats and mice which can carry plague and illness’. They were also thought to ward off wandering evil spirits and generally to bestow good luck and good health on citizens who needed feline friends to ensure a good nights sleep in old and temptingly chewy timber framed buildings!

York Lucky Cats are small hand-made glass cats which are available in twelve jewel-like colours that match the gem stones considered lucky for each month of the year. The design is in response to the famous and appealing cat statues to be found on many of the historic buildings of York. York Lucky Cats are handmade and original. There is something special about watching glass being melted and shaped. Visit our shop and you may well be lucky enough to fi nd one of our glass formers at work. Our Lucky Cats have been adopted and loved by many people. They have travelled the world and are coveted as good luck charms. Many of the more recent cat sculptures have been produced by Jonathan Newdick who in turn was originally commissioned by the late Tom Adams. If you are interested in purchasing your own original cat sculpture visit www.newdicksculpture.co.uk For guided and bespoke tours relating to The York Cat Trail and for other personalised group tours contact www.sortyork.com or telephone 07855 097338.