Exposition Miaou!

From 16 June 2026 to 03 January 2027, the Muséum de Bordeaux presents Miaou!, a participatory exhibition dedicated to an animal as familiar as it is elusive: the cat.

Cats, between science, culture and imagination

A familiar yet elusive pet, the cat holds a unique place in our societies. Both a domestic companion, a formidable predator and an essential figure in popular culture, it has sparked fascination and curiosity for centuries. Through Miaou!, the Muséum de Bordeaux invites visitors to explore the many facets of the cat. The exhibition approaches the cat from a scientific perspective in particular: its behaviour, sensory abilities, evolution and relationship with humans. The tour also looks at the place of the cat in cultural representations and collective imaginations. Worsened, feared, celebrated or staged in the arts and popular culture, the cat crosses through eras and societies in multiple forms. By combining scientific, cultural and sensitive approaches, Miaou! offers a lively and accessible discovery of this animal we think we know so well.

A participatory exhibition imagined with the public

With Miaou!, the Muséum de Bordeaux presents its new participatory exhibition. For seven months, around fifteen participants, blending the general public and members of the Museum team, collaborated on the design of the exhibition. Together, they imagined the themes, chose the contents and thought about the displays presented along the tour. For the most part non-specialists in museum design, the participants brought their personal experiences, memories, questions and imaginations surrounding the cat. This collective approach gives rise to an original exhibition, built from a diversity of perspectives and sensibilities. By involving the public in the creation of the project, the Museum is exploring a new way of designing a scientific exhibition: more collaborative, more open and closer to everyone's experiences. Miaou! ref