# Gacek

Gacek (Polish:) is a male domestic cat with tuxedo fur, which since 2020 has become a prominent tourist attraction in Szczecin, Poland.
For years, the feline maintained a five-star rating on Google Maps, amassing over 2,500 reviews.
The cat has been dubbed the "King of Kaszubska Street" and is considered by the Polska Press [pl] to be the most famous cat in Poland.

## Popularity

He was born around 2013 according to reports by local residents who claimed to have started seeing him since then.
This animal's fame began when a German tourist uploaded a video showcasing Gacek's story on YouTube which went viral and reached over 4.5 million views. Gacek is a feral cat, but he was most often found resting in a wooden booth built specially for him on Kaszubska Street, in downtown Szczecin. The cat attracted the attention of tourists, including foreigners, such as a Norway resident who flew to Poland for the sole purpose of meeting the cat. Although he was ignored by the feline, he expressed satisfaction from the trip and stated his intention to visit again.
In 2023, Reuters called Gacek the "Kim Kardashian of the cat world", because of the many Gacek-themed souvenirs for sale along Kaszubska Street. International media has written about Gacek, including The Washington Post, The Independent, The Guardian, Euronews, Business Insider, The Telegraph, India Times, and The New Zealand Herald.
On March 20, 2023, an attempted kidnapping of Gacek took place. The attempt failed as Gacek hid under a nearby car. The kidnapper fled.
In April 2023, Gacek was admitted to the Polish Institute for Animal Care (Towarzystwo Opieki nad Zwierzętami w Polsce – TOZ) and was temporarily unavailable. Gacek was forced to be treated at TOZ due to his obesity. His weight reached 10 kg, far above the weight of a normal cat, which ranges from 5–6 kg. The cat also suffered from several other health problems, such as gingivitis and arthritis. He was monitored by a professional veterinarian for slimming therapy and couldn't be found roaming freely on Kaszubska Street.
Due to Gacek's fame, the city government of Szczecin proposed a project to commemorate him through a monument and information boards, as well as the neutering of 500 stray cats in early 2024. The cost of this project is estimated at 180,000 Złoty.
In September 2023, it was announced that Gacek found a new permanent home on Kaszubska Street and lost weight after following a diet. The following month, an online fundraising campaign named "Gacek buys food for the homeless" raised funds to feed homeless animals. Within three months, Over PLN 9,500 of the PLN 9,000 target sum were raised.
In November 2024, Google Maps "inexplicably" removed Gacek's over 2,500 reviews, most of which contained a 5-star rating. The same year, The Straits Times reported on Gacek's possible controversies, including allegations that he had scratched someone's forearm and "stolen a sausage".

### Foundation and café

In 2024, a cat café was established in honor of Gacek, although Gacek would be housed elsewhere. Named the Kawiarnia Fundacji Kota Gacka (lit. 'The Cat Gacek Foundation Café'), the café opened on December 13, 2024 and houses over 8 cats, all of which are up for adoption. The owners have stated their intention to host seminars, workshops, and volunteer information sessions, likely regarding cat care.