You probably think we’re all obsessed with dogs over here at Vogue—and in a way, you’re right! But I’m here to report that cats have always had a place in our pages as well: They featured in the very first issue of the magazine in 1892(!) and have inspired countless covers, photo shoots, and stories in the years since.
The latest kitties to captivate us? The stars of Mad Realities’ Shop Cats. In each episode, host Michelladonna stops by a bodega, mom-and-pop store, or small business where she’s heard there’s a cat inside—and the result is pure feline fantasia. “People always think New Yorkers have a grumpy face,” Michelladonna says. “But when I start asking a shopkeeper about their cat, they just melt.”
On Shop Cats, Michelladonna likes to play hunter or gatherer with their subjects: Will they chase after a feathered cat wand, climbing piles of paper towels to reach their prey (these are the hunters), or lie there on the checkered tile, waiting for the toy to come to them (the gatherers)? It’s a bit like a personality quiz—and one of Michelladonna’s favorite things about cats in general is how perfectly themselves they are.
“They are petty,” she says. “They know their boundaries. Cats will tell you exactly where they want to be pet, for how long, and when it should end. And when they are no longer interested in you, they’ll also let you know. It’s an inspiration.”
On a near-freezing recent day in New York, we at Vogue decided to vary the format a bit and play a version of hunter or gatherer where Michelladonna’s wand was swapped out for swingy, sparkly jewelry from the spring runways. (Please note: No necklaces—or claws—were harmed in the making of this photo shoot.) Our models? Some of New York City’s coolest cats: Willy, Luna, Casper, and Simba.
