Mysuru man honours his late pet cat by opening a one-of-a-kind museum
Sharath B.S. lost his pet cat Coco in a road accident about a year and a half ago, and the loss hit him hard. Coco wasn’t just a pet - she was family. In the middle of that grief, Sharath found himself looking for ways to understand cats better, and that search slowly led him to build something meaningful in her memory: Jin Min Cat World, India’s first amusement park and museum just for cats.
What began as heartbreak has turned into something quietly beautiful for cat lovers in Mysuru. Sharath B.S. lost his pet cat Coco in a road accident about a year and a half ago, and the loss hit him hard. Coco wasn’t just a pet - she was family. In the middle of that grief, Sharath found himself looking for ways to understand cats better, and that search slowly led him to build something meaningful in her memory: Jin Min Cat World, India’s first amusement park and museum just for cats. (Photo credit: Instagram)
After Coco’s passing, Sharath went down a rabbit hole of research - what cats need to stay healthy, what they should eat, how to keep them safe at home, and how to read their behaviour. What started as a personal journey soon turned into an idea: why not create a place where other cat lovers could learn, connect, and feel a little less lost too? That idea became real just two weeks ago, when the cat museum opened its doors in Mysuru.
With Jin Min Cat World, Mysuru now joins cities known for their love for cats, like Istanbul and parts of Japan. In Istanbul, locals live side by side with street cats, putting out food and water for them without thinking twice. The city even has a statue of its most famous feline, Tombili - forever frozen in that iconic pose of lounging on a bench, watching the world go by.
But this space isn’t just about cute moments and photo ops. Sharath wanted the museum to be useful. Visitors learn the basics of caring for cats - from feeding and clean drinking water to vaccinations, playtime, and regular health check-ups. It’s meant to clear up myths and help people become better, more responsible pet parents.
“Cats can live up to 18 years if you take care of them properly,” Sharath shared, adding that with the right environment and a little patience, they can be loving companions for life.
To make this dream happen, Sharath took a big leap of faith and quit his corporate job to work on the project full-time. His wife, Shilpa, stood by him through it all, helping turn the idea into something real. The museum’s design came together through hours of research and inspiration from online sources, built piece by piece with care.
Right now, around 20 cats call the museum home. They’re looked after by trained staff, and vets regularly check on their health. The space is designed to be interactive - not just something you walk through and leave, but a place where you can pause, observe, and actually learn.
“The museum isn’t only about seeing cats,” Sharath says. “It’s about understanding them.” Visitors often share their own experiences with cats too, turning each visit into a small exchange of stories and lessons.
Open from 10 am to 8 pm, the museum has already started drawing in curious visitors. Rakshitha, who visited recently, said she loved the experience, while Nishika, who came from Bengaluru, called it a fun and engaging space for anyone who loves cats.