17/06/2026
Andy Warhol once lived with 25 cats, all named Sam?
Before becoming one of the defining figures of Pop Art, Warhol lived with his mother, Julia, in New York during the 1950s. In their apartment on East 57th Street, they first had a cat named Hester, who was said to be lonely.
To keep her company, Warhol and Julia began adding more cats to the household, eventually creating a colony of 25 cats, all famously named Sam.
This unusual feline family inspired one of Warhol’s earliest self-published books, ‘25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy’, created in 1954. Tender, playful and deeply personal, the project offers a glimpse into Warhol’s life before fame, while already revealing his fascination with repetition, seriality and everyday subjects.
📸©️Andy Warhol with CatPhotography by Andy Warhol
✅ Learn more and discover our selection of available works by Andy Warhol via the link below:
https://www.operagallery.com/artist/andy-warhol