Why is Yoshkar-Ola called the "city of Yoshka cats"?
The euphemism "Yoshkin cat" has long been used in Russian, and Yoshkar-Ola is home to a Yoshkin cat. Moreover, there's also a Yoshkin cat there, and, accordingly, Yoshkin kittens. What kind of animals are these?
Sculpture of Yoshkin the Cat appeared At the main entrance to Mari State University on June 27, 2011. The figure is cast in bronze and weighs 150 kilograms. The cat is lounging on a bench, with the newspaper "Golos Pravda" underneath it, and a fish skeleton nearby. Yoshkin's cat likely just had a hearty meal. The cat was created by Yoshkar-Ola sculptors. Anatoly Shirnin и Sergey YandubaevThe bronze cat quickly became a favorite among locals and tourists alike, and people make wishes near it. It's said that you should either rub the cat's nose, hold its hind paw, or whisper your secret wish in its ear. Some do all three—just to be on the safe side.
The etymology of the cat's name stems from the euphemism "Yoshkin Kot," where the letter "Yo" is replaced by "Yo," which is consonant with the name of the city of Yoshkar-Ola (colloquially known as "Yoshka"). So there's no mistake in his name, and the sculpture was created as a city landmark to attract tourists.
Soon, a couple of blocks from the cat appeared Yoshkina's cat is glamorous, wearing a short dress, beads, and a flirtatious smile. The sculpture was installed in 2013 next to a café in Arkhangelskaya Sloboda. The sculptor is Edgar Filippov. But this Yoshkina cat isn't the cat on the bench's friend; she has her own cat. He lies devotedly beside her, placing a gift of a mouse at her paws. Many wonder: where did the other cat come from if the main one is already waiting for her on the bench? This happens, and not only with Yoshkina's cats.
For the 440th anniversary of Yoshkar-Ola in 2024, throughout the city появились Bronze kittens. This is a kitten. Barsik, a kitten who fishes on the embankment Murzik, who plays the guitar, a cat Veiled Vista The cat meets guests at the station Bead - ballerina, cat Toffee A kitten enjoying ice cream in Central Park Basil - a tourist with a camera, and a kitten Charles carries a coin to Sberbank. There are seven Yoshka kittens in total.
Other cats "live" in the city, too. For example, a plump cat with a cheburek, a trim athletic cat, or an elegant cat perched on a suitcase. All of them are from the large Yoshkin family of cats.
