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Medieval Feline Fascination

A new exhibit reveals how medieval cats left their mark on manuscripts, religion, and daily life—as pets, pest hunters, and symbols.
Medieval Feline Fascination
The Walters Art Museum’s Paws on Parchment exhibition examines how cats appeared in medieval manuscripts and the many roles they played in medieval society. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
Walker Larson
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The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore has presented a unique exhibit called “Paws on Parchment” that examines and celebrates the depiction of cats in medieval manuscripts.
“’Paws on Parchment' explores how medieval people thought about, engaged with, and admired cats through the animals’ presence in manuscripts from the period,” the exhibit’s webpage states. The exhibition runs through Feb. 22, 2026, and it highlights cats’ roles in medieval society, from beloved pets to eliminators of disease-carrying vermin to manuscript vandals. 
Walker Larson
Walker Larson
Author
Before becoming a freelance journalist and culture writer, Walker Larson taught literature and history at a private academy in Wisconsin, where he resides with his wife and daughter. He holds a master’s in English literature and language, and his writing has appeared in The Hemingway Review, Intellectual Takeout, and his Substack, The Hazelnut. He is also the author of two novels, “Hologram” and “Song of Spheres.”