Louis Wain ⁽²⁾

Louis Wain, the original Cat Daddy of the art world, was a British artist whose obsession with felines transformed them from mere mousers into cultural icons. Born in 1860, Wain didn’t start his career intending to be the king of cat art—he was a run-of-the-mill illustrator. But one day, he sketched his family cat, Peter, wearing a little bow tie and possibly planning world domination, and the rest is history.

Wain’s early works feature cats doing adorably human things: playing poker, drinking tea, or leading meetings that probably involved fishy snacks. These anthropomorphic felines were a hit, making Wain a Victorian sensation. His art wasn’t just fun; it rebranded cats, shifting public perception of them from spooky alley-dwellers to beloved pets. You might say he was the 19th-century influencer who made "cat culture" a thing.

But Wain’s life wasn’t all whiskers and cream. He faced financial struggles and eventually battled mental health issues, possibly linked to schizophrenia. Despite his hardships, Wain’s legacy is monumental. His whimsical, quirky, and occasionally trippy cats have inspired countless artists and continue to charm audiences. Louis Wain proved that cats aren't just companions—they’re muses, therapists, and a touch of madness wrapped in fur.