Cat museum stretches its legs: As visitation grows, museum plans for larger location

Now well into its second year of operation, things are purring along at the American Museum of the House Cat in Sylva, so much so that director Harold Sims is hatching a plan to build a new, bigger home for the cat-honoring attraction. 

‘Purrfect’ harmony: The American Museum of The House Cat

It took over 30 years, but Harold Sims can now show the world.

“It’s been very rewarding,” he said. “I wanted to have a cat shelter, I made that come true. I wanted to have a cat museum, and I made that come true. It’s like the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ — ‘if you build it, they will come.’”

The Catman of Jackson County: Sims reflects on decades of dedication to the feline population

pets catmanHarold “Catman” Sims grew up in a household full of dogs.

Benefit dinner planned for Catman2 shelter

The Balsam Mountain Inn will have a special dinner at 6 and 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24 to provide donations to the Catman2 Spay and Neuter program.

All proceeds from the dinner will defray costs for the shelter and pay for the spay and neuter program for low-income cat owners.

Dinner is $10 if purchased in advance and $15 at the door. Entertainment and cash bar open at 5 p.m. A new video telling the story of the Catman@ shelter will be shown.

For information contact Balsam Mountain Inn at 800.224.9498 or the shelter at 828.293.0892 or visit www.catman2.org.

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