Cats are special companions to many people, including Shawn and Hilary Redner. The couple love cats so much they created Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum, where they display thousands of cat-related figurines from around the world. WPR producer — and cat lover — Trina La Susa ventured to Menomonee Falls to check out the collection.
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Hilary and Shawn Redner open a package of cat-themed teapots sent to them from Jan Schray of Hollywood, California.
“Now we’re going to have to make room in Jan’s cabinet,” Shawn said, holding one of the teapots in the shape of “Alice in Wonderland’s” Cheshire Cat.
Inside Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum are thousands cat-related items, including cookie jars. (Trina La Susa/WPR)
Getting packages like this happens regularly, since they transformed their Menomonee Falls home into Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum. They started this as a personal collection back in 2018, and officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2023. They donate all entry fees to cat shelters and rescue groups in Wisconsin.
The couple have cats in their collection from Wisconsin, Iowa, Hawaii, California, Boston, Texas, NC, SC, Nevada, Indiana, Ohio, Philippines, British Columbia and more. (Trina La Susa/WPR)
Inside the museum are thousands of cat statues, cookie jars, plates, pieces of artwork – nearly every cat-related decoration anyone could dream of.
Shawn said most of the cat museum’s items are either bought from second-hand thrift stores or shared by fellow cat enthusiasts. They hope to someday beat the Guinness World Records for the “Largest collection of cat-related items,” which currently stands at 21,321 cats.
“It’s unbelievable the amount of cat stuff that is out there,” said Shawn. “We’re not even close to finding it all.”
After some initial media attention, Shawn said fans started sending their own cat-themed items. Cheryl Peters of Lawai, Hawaii contacted them and was the first to submit a piece to the collection.
“We got on the phone and she’s like, ‘I’m old. My kids don’t want my stuff. I’ve been collecting these since the 1970s. Will you take care of it for me?’” said Shawn.
Donated collections have the original owner’s name and location alongside the display. Some of the donations come with letters, too.
After Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum made national news, Cheryl Peters of Loai, Hawaii contacted the owners. She was the first person to submit a piece to the Redner’s collection. (Trina La Susa/WPR)
Hilary read a letter from Heather Sweeten of Illinois, who donated nearly 100 cat thimbles.
“To the folks of Redner’s rescued Cat Figurine Museum,” wrote Sweeten. “I am thrilled that my cat thimble collection will have a wonderful new home in your museum, on display for others to see. It is with nostalgia that I part with it, but it was just sitting in a box collecting dust. I wanted them to be able to be displayed.”
Shawn said the couples cat collecting started back in 2018 at a St. Vincent de Paul store in Greenfield, when he rescued a framed photo of a cat named “Taffy.”
“It says — right on the back — she lived from 1960 to 1970. That picture was taken in October of 1967,” said Shawn looking at the photo. “So I put it back and (thoguht), ‘This is weird.’ And then I was like, ‘Wait a minute, there is Vietnam and the moon landing. What was happening in this house while this cat was bouncing around? I’m bringing it home!’ And now in our museum, we have a whole wall of other people’s cats.”
Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum is home to nine friendly rescued cats. The cats have not damaged any of the items, according to Hilary Redner. (Trina La Susa/WPR)
The museum also is home to nine friendly rescued cats named Blackjack, Space Panda, Batgirl, Trapper T. Cat, Birdie, ThisOne, Blue, Squeaky and Snookie. Surprisingly, the cats have not damaged any of the items. Hilary said all of the pieces are protected in cabinets or secured to the walls.
“Knock on wood. They have not touched our figurines,” said Hilary. “They may go smell them on the floor, but they have not touched them at all.”
Shawn and Hilary started Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum to help support cats. They donate 100% of visitor donations to feline rescues in Wisconsin. To date, about $3,000 has been raised.
In fair weather, museum goers can join the nine rescue cats on a large outdoor catio enclosure built by Shawn Redner. (Trina La Susa/WPR)
(Editor’s note: PBS Wisconsin produced a story on the Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum on October 16, 2023.)
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MUSIC: “What’s New Pussycat?” by Tom Jones
