The Feline Symbol of Riga

If you have ever visited Riga then you will have seen the notorious Rigan black cat everywhere. This symbol is on buildings, posters, t-shirts, magnets, and more. But what is the story behind this feline symbol of Riga? How has it become synonymous with the Latvian capital? And will its popularity continue? This article will look at the history behind the black cat of Riga, and where it appears today.

The Cat House

In the center of the old town in Riga, stands the source of the feline symbol. It’s name is Дом с кошками, or The House with the Cats. This building was designed by the architect Friedrich Schefel and built in 1909. The house was built in the style of a medieval castle and was given an eccentric yellow colour. A wealthy Latvian trader owned the building, and he thought up the final touch. He supposedly put the cat figures on the two turrets of the house out of resentment that he was not admitted into the Great Guild. The tales of the expressive cats face the building which houses the Great Guild, thus showing his annoyance. 

It was these cats on the roof of the house which solidified the symbol of Riga. Today there is no one living in the building. Instead, you can enjoy it buy snapping a photo or having a coffee in the restaurant on the ground floor. 

Souvenirs

The House with the Cats started the trend, and the souvenirs continued it. In almost every tourist shop, there is the opportunity to buy something with a black cat on it, to remember your time in Riga. In my stay here, I have seen t-shirts, magnets, postcards, snow globes, baubles, hoodies, hats, and more! There is even an entire shop called ‘Black Cat Souvenirs’, where you can find all these items. These shops are proof that the feline symbol of Riga is not only a part of its history, but also very much a part of its present too!

Flow

The black cat of Riga is certainly not a symbol that will fade soon. The 2024 film ‘Flow’ confirms this fact.  The film is an animated adventure film, directed by the Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis. It has no dialogue, and just follows a dark grey cat trying to survive with other animals in a dystopian world. The film was hugely popular, becoming the most viewed theatrical film in Latvian history. Furthermore, it is the first Latvian production to win both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. The magazine Indiewire even placed in 26 on its list “The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far). In the year the film came out, Zilbalodis was honored as “Riga Citizen of the Year”. The symbol of the cat is close to Riga’s heart, and they have commemorated the film with a monument of the cat sitting on a sign for Riga, placed at the edge of the old town. The cat from this world famous film will certainly ensure that the symbol of Riga lives on for a long time. 

So, if you are walking around Riga and spot a black cat, then know you know its past, present, and future as an iconic and memorable symbol of the Latvian capital.