Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Gacek

Gacek is a male domestic cat with tuxedo fur. Between 2020 and 2023, this homeless cat was a tourist attraction in Szczecin, Poland. In 2020, a video of Gacek was distributed around the world on social media. Tourists came to see Gacek in his usual location on Kaszubska Street. He became over-fed, suffering obesity related conditions. Gacek was rescued by an animal shelter and recovered his health.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Gacek
Gacek in 2023.
SpeciesFelis catus
SexMale
Bornc. 2013
Szczecin
NationalityPolish
Known forSzczecin's tourist attraction

Gacek (Polish: [ˈɡat͡sɛk]; born c. 2013) is a male domestic cat with tuxedo fur. Between 2020 and 2023, this homeless cat was a tourist attraction in Szczecin, Poland. In 2020, a video of Gacek was distributed around the world on social media. Tourists came to see Gacek in his usual location on Kaszubska Street. He became over-fed, suffering obesity related conditions. Gacek was rescued by an animal shelter and recovered his health.1

Popularity

Local residents recall first seeing Gacek on Kaszubska street in the town centre in about 2013.2 A wooden booth was built there to give him shelter.3 In 2020, a German tourist uploaded a video of Gacek to YouTube.4 The video was shared to millions of viewers around the world.5

The international news media reported Gacek's popularity.678 Reuters called Gacek the "Kim Kardashian of the cat world", because many Gacek-themed merchandise appeared for sale on the street.9

On 20 March 2023, someone tried to grab Gacek but the cat escaped and the person fled.10

The Polish Institute for Animal Care (Towarzystwo Opieki nad Zwierzętami w Polsce), TOZ, admitted Gacek for care in April 2023. Gacek was 10 kg, about 4 kg overweight (about twice his expected size).11 He also had gingivitis and arthritis. Gacek was treated under the care of a veterinarian.12 Gacek recovered and was rehomed.13

Controversy arose amongst fans of Gacek when Google Maps removed reviews of the cat's location.14 The Straits Times reported allegations that Gacek had stolen a sausage and scratched a person's forearm.14

Legacy

An online fundraising campaign in 2023 named "Gacek buys food for the homeless" secured over 9,500 Złoty for the care of homeless animals.15 In 2024, the Szczecin government proposed a 180,000 Złoty project to commemorate Gacek which would include a monument, information boards and the neutering of 500 stray cats.16

The Kawiarnia Fundacji Kota Gacka (Gacek the Cat's Foundation Café) opened on 13 December 2024. It aims to educate the public about cat care and rehome stray cats.17 In 2025, a large mural depicting him was installed on Rugiańska Street, Szczecin.18

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Pyka, Agata (2023-11-14). "Street cat who became Polish city's top-rated tourist attraction finds new home". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  2. Igor Szulim (4 April 2023). "Kot Gacek zniknął z ulicy Kaszubskiej. Wiemy, gdzie przebywa futrzak". national-geographic.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. "Fat black and white cat becomes Polish city's hottest tourist attraction". The Independent. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  4. Tilles, Daniel (2023-02-09). "Cat becomes Polish city's top-rated tourist attraction". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  5. Tilles, Daniel (2023-02-09). "Cat becomes Polish city's top-rated tourist attraction". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  6. Free, Cathy (2023-03-11). "This Polish city's top tourist attraction? A stray cat". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  7. Arwa Mahdawi (22 February 2023). "Would you travel thousands of miles to see an obese cat? How about an avian love triangle?". theguardian.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  8. Rebecca Ann Hughes (15 November 2023). "This Polish city's top-rated tourist attraction was a street cat until he was rehomed". euronews.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  9. "'Kim Kardashian of the cat world': Gacek draws tourists to Polish city". Reuters. 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  10. Zając, Julia (2023-03-31). "Próbowała ukraść słynnego szczecińskiego kota Gacka! Na szczęście jej się nie udało". Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  11. "Gacek na ulicę już nie wróci. Słynny kot "emeryturę" spędzi w domu. Ma specjalne zadanie". TOK FM (in Polish). 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  12. "Gacek już nie wróci na ul. Kaszubską". 24kurier.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  13. Jagoda Różycka (14 November 2023). "Kot Gacek, najwyżej oceniana atrakcja Szczecina, znalazł nowy dom. Jest nie do poznania". gazeta.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  14. "Fat cat becomes Polish city's top tourist attraction". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  15. Laura Montoya (17 November 2023). "Street cat who became Szczecin's top-rated tourist attraction wows with stunning new look after losing weight and finding new home". thefirstnews.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  16. "CE/0006 – "Wiecznie żywy kot Gacek- rzeźba kota w rozmiarze rzeczywistym wraz z tablicą informacyjno-edukacyjną oraz kastracja 500 kotów wolnożyjących"". Budżet Obywatelski Szczecin 2024 (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  17. Wójcik, Leszek (2024-12-13). "Poznała go cała Polska. Kawiarnia kota Gacka w Szczecinie już otwarta [ZDJĘCIA]". Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  18. "Poland's most famous cat immortalized in eco-friendly mural". tvpworld.com. Retrieved 2025-12-11.