These two intrepid felines have spent the last two years trying to enter an art museum – and the internet has become fascinated by their escapades.
The Onomichi Museum in western Japan first started documenting the efforts of their furry visitors back in 2016 when a black cat, who they later named Ken-chan, spotted a cat photography exhibit that was on display beyond the automatic doors.
Though some people might scoff that a cat would have an interest in feline photography (everybody knows that cats prefer oil pawstels anyway), Ken-chan started regularly trying to get into the museum.
“I’m guessing that Ken-chan spotted some of the exhibits through the glass, and since the photos included those of black cats, he must have thought he had found a new friend,” the museum’s curator, Shinji Umebayashi, told the Guardian. “And then he just kept coming back.”
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Soon, Ken-chan picked up a partner in crime: a ginger cat that the museum named Go-chan.
Over the course of the last two years, Ken-chan and Go-chan have made dozens of valiant attempts to get into the gallery. Though they have developed a sweet rapport with the security guard, he has always dutifully sent them away – after giving them a quick pat on the head, of course.
『ごめんナァ。sorry 』（H301109）スタッフ撮影の美術館周辺の猫スナップをご紹介。（spin off 2018、不定期配信） #尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #猫 #黒猫 #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/SgSoiNtUIt
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) November 12, 2018
にらみ合いー突撃ー防御ー再突破ー捕獲ーお見送り。本日も近所の黒猫と警備の方の攻防がありました。特別展「招き猫亭コレクションー猫まみれ」なので入館を許可したいところですが、作品保全のため、丁重にお帰りいただきました。展覧会ＨＰはコチラ：https://t.co/LJMNYF9Vog pic.twitter.com/11m7mWVr3I
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) March 22, 2017
『よし、死角だニャ。OK, blind spot (meow). 』（H301109）スタッフ撮影の美術館周辺の猫スナップをご紹介。（spin off 2018、不定期配信） #尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #猫 #黒猫 #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/7CXam7YCC6
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) November 16, 2018
Since the museum started posting pictures and videos of their little patrons to their official Twitter page, social media users have implored the staffers to let the cats inside for a visit.
Despite the internet pleas, we’re sure that the museum staffers would agree with Indiana Jones in saying that cats do not belong in a museum.
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They have not excluded the dynamic duo from their museum entirely, however; the staffers have started selling Ken-chan and Go-chan merch in their gift shop, although they have had trouble keeping up with demand since their cat photos started being shared by news outlets around the world.
the museum made the black cat into a tote bag in their gift shop lol pic.twitter.com/Vmtej83Zlg
— main line mom (@snickidoodlee) November 14, 2018
『甘えてる⁈ spoiled cat 』（H301109）スタッフ撮影の美術館周辺の猫スナップをご紹介。（spin off 2018、不定期配信） #尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #猫 #黒猫 #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/qDyt0n9vkQ
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) November 11, 2018
『鉄壁 solid defence 』（H301031）スタッフ撮影の美術館周辺の猫スナップをご紹介。（spin off 2018、不定期配信） #尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #猫 #茶トラ #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/ZxrDdhQQNY
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) November 1, 2018
『珍客 a rare guest visitor 』（H301026）スタッフ撮影の美術館周辺の猫スナップをご紹介。（spin off 2018、不定期配信） #尾道 #千光寺公園 #尾道市立美術館 #猫 #茶トラ #cat #onomichi pic.twitter.com/EXIpjIesIp
— 尾道市立美術館 (@bijutsu1) October 27, 2018
Perhaps Ken-chan and Go-chan are long lost cousins of the Pink Panther and they’re simply staking the joint before their heist; or maybe they just have an appreciation for the finer things in life.
Regardless of their intentions, we’re waiting for the museum to hire an illustrator who can turn this story into the purrrrfect children’s book.
(WATCH the video below) – Photos by Onomichi Museum
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