Sculpture "Cat Hamlet"

The story of the first cat in Lithuania began in the 13th century in Alytus, and its friendship with man continues forever.

Today, a sculpture of a cat by sculptor Lukas Šiupšinskas was unveiled in Alytus. "Cat Hamlet"
Alytus has the right, the privilege, and the motive for this: the oldest cat skeletons in Lithuania were discovered in the territory of the hillfort.
Did you know that the oldest cat remains in all of Lithuania were found in our city? This is not a legend, but a fact confirmed by historians! The oldest cat skeletons in the country were found in Alytus and date back to the 13th century, while those found in Vilnius and Kernavė date back to a later time.

"The first news about the Alytus archcat reached me in Kernavė, when I was talking to my neighbor, Kernavė researcher and Lithuanian archaeological science legend, Professor Aleksiejus Luchtans. Then, more than one evening was spent talking to him about archaeology. And, seeing his white cat, which often and fiercely fought with the rectory cats, I asked: what about cats - since when and where do they appear on the territory of Lithuania? The professor, who has a phenomenal memory and a huge store of knowledge, immediately answered me - the first one was found in Alytus, on the territory of a castle mound, dating back to around the 13th century AD. It stuck with me and, having such news, I could not keep it to myself, especially after arriving in Alytus, because I want the city to be interesting, to reveal as many of its treasures as possible. Later, while talking to the employees of the Alytus Museum of Local Lore, I heard confirmation that the oldest cat in Lithuania was indeed found in Alytus. jawbone,” said M. Talutis, pastor of St. Louis Parish.

The cheekbone fragment was found during archaeological excavations in 2016. Since the cultural layer (3rd–13th centuries) at the site is heavily mixed, it is very difficult to date it accurately, so the latest cut-off date was chosen – the 13th–14th centuries.

The cheekbone fragment is stored at Vilnius University. It was studied by zooarchaeologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Giedrė Piličiauskienė and mentioned in the publication “Fauna of Vilnius Castles: From Steak to Friend”, Vilnius University Press, 2019.