Spectacular giant cat set to visit Wakefield Exchange
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
A magical 10-metre-long sleeping cat that snores, purrs, twitches its ear and swishes its tail is set to visit Wakefield Exchange (WX) next spring.
The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years is coming to Wakefield from Saturday 21 March to Sunday 12 April.
“We’re excited for The Cat That Slept For A Thousand Years to bring a touch of magic to Wakefield Exchange next spring.
“Blending artistic imagination and family fun, the free exhibition invites you into a world inhabited by the giant, inflatable, robotic cat. As it peacefully naps, it moves in response to the activity around it.
“So, we’re encouraging visitors of all ages to come along and get up close to the cat, get to know it better, give it a stroke or just peacefully sit and watch. It promises to be an unforgettable experience.”
Cllr Hannah Appleyard
Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport
Brought to life by Air Giants’ pioneering robotic technology, the cat invites all ages to immerse themselves in her unique movements.
A spokesperson for Air Giants said: “The cat will sleep for a long time, as the title of the work suggests! It is an encouragement to think about the long-term future in a playful way, touching on themes of care, responsibility, humans’ capacity for empathy and climate change. We’re excited to see how Wakefield Exchange becomes temporarily transformed and how visitors encounter the cat during its time there.”
Originally commissioned by Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester, the cat is now heading to Wakefield where visitors can show their affection by giving it a stroke or a cuddle. The more people there are, the more restless it is.
Wakefield Exchange will also feature an immersive exhibition delving into the fascinating story of the legendary cat, complemented by a curated display of feline-themed artifacts from the museum’s collection.
Families can look forward to a variety of engaging, cat-inspired activities designed to entertain and spark creativity for all ages.
Find out more at https://www.wxwakefield.co.uk/Whats-On/Details?event=the-cat-that-slept-for-a-thousand-years