See The Giant Cat That Slept For a Thousand Years in Yorkshire

Ever seen a cat the size of a small bus? Probably not. But this spring, something truly special is padding its way into Wakefield. Imagine a colossal, ten-metre-long feline, curled up and fast asleep. This isn't just any statue, though. This is a living, breathing piece of art called The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years. From Saturday 21 March to Sunday 12 April, this magical giant cat is making Wakefield Exchange its temporary home, and it’s an event that promises to be unlike anything visitors have seen before. The best part? It's completely free for everyone to enjoy, a fantastic bit of news shared by Wakefield Council. This isn't just about looking; it’s about interacting. This gentle giant snores, purrs, and even moves in its sleep, all in response to the people around it.

What exactly is The Cat That Slept For a Thousand Years?

So, what’s the deal with this massive moggy? The Cat That Slept For a Thousand Years is a huge, inflatable, robotic sculpture. But calling it just a sculpture doesn’t quite do it justice. It's an experience. As it dozes, it seems to dream, and its dreams are influenced by the world around it. Visitors are encouraged to get close, to show it some affection, and watch what happens. Here’s what you can expect the giant cat to do:

• Snores: Listen out for its deep, rumbling snores as it sleeps peacefully.
• Purrs: If it feels content, you might hear it let out a massive, gentle purr.
• Twitches: Like any snoozing pet, its ear might twitch now and then.
• Swishes: Watch its long tail give a little swish in its slumber.

What makes this installation so special is how it reacts. The more people that gather around, the more restless the cat becomes in its sleep. A small, quiet group might find the cat sleeping soundly, but a bigger, bustling crowd will see it stir more frequently. It’s a clever piece of art that makes the audience part of the show. This whole magical exhibition is designed to spark a sense of wonder in people of all ages, bringing a unique piece of culture to the city.

Meet the creators: Air Giants and their robotic magic

Bringing a ten-metre sleeping cat to life is no easy feat. The creative minds behind this marvel are Air Giants, a company known for its pioneering work in soft robotic technology. Now, when someone says ‘robotic’, you might picture hard, clunky metal. But this is different. Air Giants uses inflatable structures, making their creations soft, gentle, and safe to interact with. This technology allows the giant cat to move in a really natural, lifelike way. It breathes, it shifts, it reacts.

Cllr Hannah Appleyard, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, captured the excitement perfectly. She said:

“We’re excited for The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years to bring a touch of magic to Wakefield Exchange next spring. Blending artistic imagination and family fun, the free exhibition invites you into a world inhabited by the giant, inflatable, robotic cat. As it peacefully naps, it moves in response to the activity around it.”

“So, we’re encouraging visitors of all ages to come along and get up close to the cat, get to know it better, give it a stroke or just peacefully sit and watch. It promises to be an unforgettable experience.”

This is a chance to see cutting-edge technology and art come together in a way that feels warm and friendly. It's not every day you get to give a robotic cat a gentle stroke or a cuddle.

More than just a cat: thinking about the future

While a massive, purring cat is amazing on its own, there’s a deeper idea behind this particular exhibition. It’s designed to make people think. The creators, Air Giants, hope the installation will get visitors pondering our long-term future in a playful and accessible way. It gently touches on some big themes like care, responsibility, and empathy.

A spokesperson for Air Giants explained the thinking:

“The cat will sleep for a long time, as the title of the work suggests! It is an encouragement to think about the long-term future in a playful way, touching on themes of care, responsibility, humans’ capacity for empathy and climate change. We’re excited to see how Wakefield Exchange becomes temporarily transformed and how visitors encounter the cat during its time there.”

Think about it: a giant, peaceful creature is resting in our care. How people treat it, how they interact with it, mirrors how humanity looks after the world. The cat’s restless sleep could be seen as a reflection of an unsettled planet. It’s a clever, gentle nudge to consider our impact and the importance of empathy, all while enjoying a truly magical piece of art. It’s a powerful message about climate change, delivered not with a lecture, but with a purr.

What else is on at the Wakefield Exchange exhibition?

Seeing the giant cat is the main event, but there’s more to discover at Wakefield Exchange during its stay. To go along with the sleeping feline, there will be an immersive exhibition that explores the legend and story of this ancient creature. Originally commissioned by Manchester Museum, the installation is bringing some extra history with it. The main exhibition will be supported by a special display of feline-themed artifacts, straight from the museum’s collection. This means visitors can see real historical objects connected to cats, adding another layer to the experience. It connects this futuristic robotic creation with centuries of human fascination with our feline friends.