Journalist Shares 40 Vintage Photos Of Cats Posing With Popular People From Decades Ago
Cats have been stealing the spotlight for generations, long before social media turned them into a daily obsession. This vintage photo collection proves that even when famous people were in the frame, the cats still found a way to dominate the scene.
A Brazilian journalist built an account around old photographs of cats posing with notable figures from the past, and the result is a charming mix of celebrity history and feline attitude. What started with one 19th-century image turned into a deep search through archives, magazines, and online collections.
The photos below are a reminder that cats have always known how to pose for the camera. Read on.
1. American Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter, and Bandleader Frank Zappa, 1970

2. American Actor and Martial Artist Brandon Lee, 1992

3. American Actress Jean Harlow, 1935

4. Finnish Documentary Photographer Ismo Hölttö, 1967

5. American Actor Steve McQueen, 1963

6. American Actress and Comedian Betty White and American Television Personality, Actor, and Singer Allen Ludden, 1973

7. American Actor and Producer Robert Downey Jr. and American Actress and Television Producer Sarah Jessica Parker, 1983

8. Swedish Model and Actress Paulina Porizkova, 1985

9. American Photographer Edward Weston, 1947

10. American Jazz Saxophonist Stan Getz, 1967

11. British Film, Television, and Stage Actress Sheila White, 1966

12. French Poet Paul Fort, 1950

13. American Singer, Actress, Comedian, Dancer, and Activist Eartha Kitt, 1952

14. American Actress, Singer, and Nightclub Entertainer Jayne Mansfield, 1955

15. French Film Critic and Film Theorist André Bazin, 1940

16. Scottish Actress Karin Fernald, 1974

For more pro-level cat chaos, check out the catographer’s adorable pictures.
17. American Artists' Model, Chorus Girl, and Actress Evelyn Nesbit, 1902

18. French Photographer Raymond Voinquel, 1938

19. American Actress Susan Dey, 1972

20. Swedish Actress Ewa Aulin, 1968

21. Italian Actor Nino Manfredi, 1975

22. Italian Singer Riccardo Fogli, 1974

23. American Film and Stage Actress Julia Meade, 1960

24. British Artist Erica McDonald, 1947

25. American Contralto Marian Anderson, 1950

26. American Actress Anne Bancroft, 1960

27. British-American Actress Joan Fontaine, 1966

28. American Composer and Lyricist Jerry Herman, 1974

29. English Stage Actor, Theatre Producer, and Theatre Manager Sir George Alexander, 1906-1907

30. English Museum Curator and Collector Sydney Cockerell, 1930

31. English Photojournalist Joseph McKeown, 1956

32. Italian Film Actor, Comedian, and Television Host Raimondo Vianello and Italian Actress, Singer, and Television and Radio Presenter Sandra Mondaini, 1967

33. Ninth Monarch of Thailand from the Chakri Dynasty Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Consort of King Bhumibol Adulyadej Sirikit Kitiyakara, 1950

34. American Playwright Edward Albee, 1961

35. South African Dancer Nadia Nerina, 1964

36. American Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur, and Author Victoria Principal, 1970

37. American Film, Television, and Radio Actress Barbra Fuller, 1955

38. Burmese-Born British Actor Abraham Sofaer and Makeup Artist Gerald Fairbank, 1932

39. Professor Mr. Andrew Hsueh-Kwei Tu and His Wife, English Social Activist Elsie Tu, 1988

40. Australian Actor Ray Barrett, 1967

Paula has always had a passion for animals and history, particularly old photos. The journalist examines historical collections, archives, image banks, and international magazines on the internet to find all of these pictures.
Truth be told, there’s a lot to make you go crazy over cats. For many web users, their adorable little faces, tiny paws, and fluffy fur act as a soothing balm.
Before you judge cats, see these “strange and unpredictable” close-ups in 50 funny close-up photos of purrfectly cute cats.