LOS ANGELES, CA.- The purrfect exhibition is coming to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) this summer, as Fierce! The Story of Cats will bring an in-depth look at a wide range of felines to the Exposition Park museum from July 13, 2025, to February 18, 2026.

Spanning continents and the ages, Fierce! The Story of Cats includes an array of incredible mounted specimens, interactive displays, and cultural objects inspired by these fascinating creatures. This exciting new exhibition explores the diversity of felines — their behaviors, unique biology, and complex relationship with humans — and offers an up-close-and-personal experience, highlighting their beauty and predatory skills. From ferocious tigers to beloved pets, the exhibition encourages guests to immerse themselves in the captivating world of cats while illuminating the importance of protecting wild species and their habitats.

“Cats have the impressive quality of being at once very familiar and mysterious,” said Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County. “For many of us, cats are cherished members of our households, and for all of us, they are an integral part of the world’s ecosystems. I hope that this fascinating exhibition inspires a sense of care and connection to the amazing felines that roam our planet, particularly here in Southern California.”

The 10,000-square-foot multidisciplinary exhibition features more than 70 mounted specimens, including fossils, photographs, and ephemera representing felines from all over the world and throughout history. In addition, the exhibition includes a special focus on Southern California, including the beloved mountain lion legend, P-22, and the many large cats that roamed the Los Angeles basin in the Ice Age, as found at La Brea Tar Pits.

NHM visitors will be treated to immersive galleries on the diversity and evolution of cats, along with engaging interactives ranging from touchscreen content to experiencing how cats see in the dark to a “Guess Who?” game of global felines. The exhibition will also focus on cat culture and the ever-growing fascination with cats on social media. It will also illuminate the plight of many species of wild cats that are in danger due to habitat loss, in line with NHM’s commitment to showcasing the importance of biodiversity and habitat conservation.

On-site programming for Fierce! The Story of Cats will include a range of options for visitors of all ages, including a Welcome Day, specific “cat cafe” days and a special week of the Adventures in Nature Day Camp called Feline Friends (for rising K-5 students).

This is the West Coast debut of this traveling exhibition, which has been updated and expanded to utilize NHM’s broad collections and expertise, and features elements specific to Southern California. The exhibition originated at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) in France, and was presented at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto and the Field Museum in Chicago.