The city of Mysore is often left behind in Karnataka travel lists. But the history and royal aristocracy are mixed in this city sleeping peacefully at the foot of Chamundi hill. Once a staunch feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire, Mysore has, over time, become one of the greatest jewels of the Deccan. For tourists, this city means the glittering royal palaces like Indrapuri, the magical fountains of Vrindavan Gardens or the awakening temple of Mother Chamundeshwari on the hilltop. But avoiding the familiar crowd of tradition, Mysore Dali has come up with a new surprise.

Are you a cat lover? Does the majestic temperament of these four-legged creatures impress you? But pause before planning your next trip. India’s first cat museum – ‘Jean Min Cat World’ – has quietly stepped into this heritage of ancient monuments and architecture. Where not the dust of history, but the sweet nature of cats and a magical world of their unknown life story is waiting for you. This is a modern love story set in traditional Mysore – the story of eternal friendship between cat and man.

Entrepreneur Sharath BS said, there is a sad memory behind the creation of this museum. In 2024, his beloved cat Coco died in a road accident. From that grief, Sharath decided to work on the safety and awareness of cats. He built this fancy courtyard with his own accumulated capital. Located on the Nanjangurh-Ooty road near the Mysore royal palace, this museum is now teeming with tourists.

A framed picture of the bespectacled stubborn calico cat hangs on the wall. Her name is ‘Coco’. A unique world has been created around him. Cats have their own amusement park and museum. India’s first cat museum ‘Jean Min Cat World’ started its journey in Mysore, Karnataka. This new initiative is to teach about the life of cats and how to care for them.

Entrepreneur Sharath BS said, there is a sad memory behind the creation of this museum. In 2024, his beloved cat Coco died in a road accident. From that grief, Sharath decided to work on the safety and awareness of cats. He built this fancy courtyard with his own accumulated capital. Located on the Nanjangurh-Ooty road near the Mysore royal palace, this museum is now teeming with tourists.

The interior of the museum is decorated in various ways. On one side are the ancient cat statues of Egypt, on the other are popular animated characters like Tom and Jerry or Doraemon. There are many works of art to cats. But not just entertainment, there’s a wealth of information here to get to know cats. How a cat’s eyesight is, how to understand their ‘body language’, when it is necessary to take them to the vet – all are beautifully explained on large boards. Sharath feels that the general public is not well informed about the different species of cats. Although there are about 40-50 species of cats in the world, we know almost nothing about them. This is an attempt to make common people aware about cats. Although this museum of his is not for promoting any particular species.

There are strict rules about touching cats, even if the museum has access. Their own privacy or ‘privacy’ is emphasized. For a nominal entry fee, young and old alike can come and witness the lives of cats here. While there are museums of this type in Istanbul or Japan, this is the first in India. Gene Min Cat World now aims to spread the love of margaritas among the people by exploiting the tourism of Mysore.

Currently there are about 20 cats. All are adopted. These include exotic ragdolls or Bengal cats as well as domestic cats. A huge enclosure of 1000 square feet has been prepared for their accommodation. Sharath has created a special ‘catio’ or cat porch by looking at foreign styles on the internet. Cats can easily move from one room to another with the mesh tunnel. They will also get close to nature without being deprived of any security.

There are strict rules about touching cats, even if the museum has access. Their own privacy or ‘privacy’ is emphasized. For a nominal entry fee, young and old alike can come and witness the lives of cats here. While there are museums of this type in Istanbul or Japan, this is the first in India. Gene Min Cat World now aims to spread the love of margaritas among the people by exploiting the tourism of Mysore.