Katinka faced a tough decision: martini or milk? The hesitant feline ultimately chose the latter, as the caption for this 1955 New York Times photo informs us that “The drink at the right was too dry.” Katinka and other show cats were attending a “banquet” organized by their owners, members of the Empire Cat Club.

The goal was to raise awareness for the adoption of stray cats. “Not all of New York’s transient cats would be rescued,” the club’s president conceded, yet she remained optimistic. “We sometimes receive calls from people who find cats and want them to have a good home. And we also have a small list of others who are looking for a cat.”