Monument to the Cat of Kazan
Kazansky Cat is a sculptural composition on Bauman Street in Kazan depicting a well-fed cat resting on a couch. The monument was created by local sculptor Igor Bashmakov and cast on the money of an unknown patron of the arts as a reminder of the mythical cat Alabrysa – the hero of ancient tales and an invariable character of lubok pictures. The aluminum sculpture enjoys increased attention of travelers, and Russian mass media even included it in the list of the most unusual sights of Tatarstan, known far beyond the borders of the republic.
Why the cat
The presence of a monument to a fat cat on one of the oldest streets of the city may surprise anyone, but not a person even slightly familiar with the history of Kazan. The fact is that in the Middle Ages in the capital of Tatarstan was bred a special breed of furry mousetraps, which were very skillful in dealing with any kind of small rodents. Over time, purrs turned into heroes of folk folklore, and their images began to flicker every now and then on the lubok pictures. The cunning cat became a character in the first “comic books” in which he appeared under the name Alabrys.
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In the XVIII century Kazan cats finally interested and Russian Empress Elizabeth. Somehow a rumor reached the tsarina that the local catfairs had completely exterminated mice in Kazan houses. Encouraged, the empress ordered to bring three dozen mousetrappers to the Winter Palace, which at that time suffered from regular rodent invasions. The mustachioed hunters were immediately presented to the court, where they “swore allegiance” and zealously began to serve. As payment for their services, Kazan alabras received a solid food ration, which would be the envy of any average citizen.
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