UCLA’s Powell Cat

Have you met UCLA’s honorary mas-cat, Powell Cat?  This larger-than-life black & white feline showed up at Powell Library in 2015 and has won over many UCLA students, faculty, and staff with their charming purrsonality and easy-going manner. Powell Cat has an Instagram Account, @thepowellcatofficial, with over 10,000 followers!  They’ve also appeared on Facebook, Reddit, TikTok and Twitter.  And Powell Cat was recently listed as the top cat on KCET’s list of Internet famous cats in Los Angeles.

A network of volunteers makes sure Powell Cat is well fed and healthy.  In fact, a vet visit for a feral cat checkup confirmed Powell Cat was spayed/neutered but their gender couldn’t be determined. So, everyone uses they/them pronouns for the kitty.

Contrary to the rumor that black cats bring bad luck, those in the know claim seeing or interacting with Powell Cat brings good fortune, especially during finals week. So, if you want to meet this lucky kitty, Powell Cat can currently be found hanging around Kaufman Hall.

In early 2023, the annual UCLA student t-shirt design contest was held on campus and third-year English student Linsey Montgomery had the winning design. Powell Cat is featured on the shirt atop a stack of books.