Did you know that there was a cat named “Powell Cat” at the University of California, Los Angeles?
You probably didn’t.
Because not even everyone who attended or visited UCLA knew “Powell Cat.” Only some of the hundreds of thousands of alumni and friends knew. And of those who knew that such a cat had existed, even a fewer number of people had had actual interactions with him.
I was one of the lucky few who got to know Powell Cat. And so, when I had learned back in early March that he had passed away, it hurt. Very much. It felt as if I had lost a friend that I had known from back in college.
In a way, that was what Powell Cat was to me.
Powell Cat’s Life
Powell Cat appeared in my life sometime in 2018, but he was spotted by others long before that. According to Daily Bruin, he had been seen on campus since around 2015. And according to his Instagram account, he was born sometime in 2013. People said that his name was “Powell Cat” because he was spotted first near UCLA’s Powell Library. Sometime later, he moved his permanent residence from the Powell Library to Glorya Kaufman Hall (located down below the Janss Steps), but the name had stuck and he would always be referred to as “Powell Cat.”
A group of student volunteers called, “The Powell Cat Feeder Friends,” started giving food and water routinely to the cat while a campus librarian took care of his vet visits and vaccinations. He received toys and treats from students and enjoyed further popularity with his own Instagram account.
My First Encounter
Powell Cat wasn’t the only cat I had met while studying at UCLA. In fact, I’m pretty sure he wasn’t even the first. The first cat I ever spotted on campus was, I think, a black cat roaming around the Library. Maybe it was the Powell Cat. But there were several cats spotted near the library every once in a while, so I’m not 100% sure.
I don’t remember the exact date, but I met Powell Cat while going to or coming back from a class held on the northern side of campus. Looking back, he was always hanging out in front of the Glorya Kaufman Hall. He would be loafing next to the entrance or chilling by the steps. Wherever he was at the Kaufman Hall, his black and white tuxedo colors would stand out from the earthy, red building behind him.
Sometimes he would be doing his own thing, like licking himself clean or closing his eyes to fully enjoy the warm sunlight.
Other times, he would recognize me and come forward to me for me to pet him. Whatever he was doing, it was such a treat to spot him and spend a few minutes with him. He wouldn’t say a word but his company was enough to brighten my day.
My Memories
I remember this one incidence that made me appreciate Powell Cat even more. It was during our regular meet and greet session. I was stroking his head as well as his back when suddenly the cat startled and bit me. But he put just enough pressure on my hands with his teeth so that I wouldn’t bleed. I was startled, too, at his sudden change in behavior until I saw the reason why: he had a fresh scar on his back (hidden within his black fur) and I had accidentally brushed the area. He was in pain so he was telling me to stop, to not touch the area.
He could surely have bit me as I had hurt him. But he didn’t. It was as if he knew that I didn’t mean to hurt him. I was amazed at Powell Cat’s thoughtfulness. And from that experience, I am, to this day, astounded by how deeply animals can think – specifically at how considerate cats can be.
But my favorite memory of Powell Cat was when I had visited him back in 2021 with a dear friend of mine from Switzerland. Much time had passed since I had last seen my friend and Powell Cat, so it was all the more special to meet them again. My friend hadn’t known about Powell Cat; she had never seen him while studying at UCLA. So I introduced her to him and he was just as sweet and friendly as he had been since the last time I had seen him.
After spending time with Powell Cat with my friend, I tried to visit UCLA multiple times to see the cat again. But every time I went to the steps in front of Kaufman Hall (with a custom-made cat bed for him), he wasn’t there. I only saw his food and water bowls along with some of his toys. There would be traces of him, like scattered bits of cat food or a toy played with a while ago, but he wasn’t there. Each time I missed him, I thought to myself that I would see him the next time I visited.
I didn’t know that my visit back in 2021 would be the last time I would ever see him.
A UCLA Icon
Powell Cat passed away on March 9, 2023, but my memories of him will live on.
He was an important part of my UCLA experience. As a part of my daily walk to and from classes, he brightened my mood even as the small speck of black and white he was from afar. Honestly, he means more to me than the official mascot, the Bruin Bear, that adorns all UCLA swag or the unofficial mascot, the infamous squirrels, that have invaded the entire campus.
He was a true UCLA icon to the lucky students and friends who got to know him.
P.S. The Instagram account of Powell Cat can be found HERE. And here is everyone’s message to him on Kudoboard HERE. It’s incredible how many lives Powell Cat had touched during his lifetime…
P.P.S. There was a memorial ceremony held on campus in front of the Library, as detailed in the Daily Bruin HERE. And there have been petitions to build a statue in his memory. I don’t know how I feel about the statue. Because although Powell Cat was special to me and others who knew him, not everyone knew him. And I think the fund that would go to building a statue can be utilized elsewhere to help students in need.
P.P.P.S. I visited UCLA very recently (December 2023) and spotted these items made in memory of the iconic cat:
It was so nice to see the Powell Cat commemorated in the store! 💙💛
