A cat lamp is any lamp built around a cat: the cat can be the base, the whole body of the lamp, or a motif set into the shade. The three kinds give very different light, so it helps to know which one you are looking for before you search.
Three kinds of cat lamp
| Type | What it is | Light |
|---|---|---|
| Figurine lamp | A ceramic, resin or metal cat forms the base, under a classic shade | A normal table lamp light, through the shade |
| Night light | A small soft cat that glows as a whole | Very low, for a child's room |
| Stained glass cat lamp | A cat drawn in pieces of coloured glass inside the shade | The shade glows and the cat lights up in colour |
What makes a stained glass cat lamp different
In a stained glass lamp the picture is not printed. The cat is assembled from separate pieces of glass, joined by dark soldered lines. When the lamp is off, the cat reads as a drawing in dark outline. When it is on, the glass glows from inside, the cat design lights up clearly and the lead lines stay dark. The lamp works as a decorative object in both states.
For how these shades are made, see our stained glass lamp buying guide. To check that a shade is real glass and not printed plastic, see how to tell if a Tiffany lamp is real.
The Tiffany Cat Table Lamp in numbers
The Tiffany Cat Table Lamp is a small stained glass dome with a cat at its heart, on a slim dark bronze-finish base.
- Size: shade 20 cm wide (8 in), height 36.5 cm (14.4 in), base 11.5 cm (4.5 in)
- Cord: 155 cm (61 in)
- Materials: stained glass shade, resin base
- Voltage: 110 to 240 V
- Not dimmable
The three designs
- Cream shade with a black cat face and green leaves.
- Blue shade with a ginger and pink cat face.
- Yellow shade with a black cat.
The colour of the shade is also the colour of the light it gives: the cream and yellow shades glow warm, the blue shade cooler.
Where to put a cat lamp
- Bedside table: at 36.5 cm high with a 20 cm shade, it fits a small nightstand and gives a soft night light.
- Desk: a warm pool of light falls on the table around the base.
- Kids' room: as a small accent lamp on a shelf or chest of drawers, out of reach of small hands, since the shade is glass.
- Hallway console or bookshelf: as a decorative light that stays on in the evening.
Using it by the bed for reading? Our guide to bedside lamp height and reading lights shows how much a 36.5 cm lamp needs to be raised to light a book.
For a full plan of a child's room, with a ceiling light, a night light and a story-time lamp, see our guide to kids' room and nursery lighting.
A cat lamp as a gift
A cat lamp is a common gift for a cat owner. Two details are worth checking before ordering one for someone else: the plug type for their country, listed on the product page, and the size of the surface it will stand on. A 20 cm shade needs a little clear space around it.
To compare the cat lamp with our other stained, opal and cobalt glass table lamps, see glass table lamps.
Using the cat lamp on a desk? Our guide to desk lamps shows how much space it leaves next to bankers, dome and cordless designs. The cat lamp also features among our vintage lamps and pendant lights.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cat printed on the shade?
No. On a stained glass cat lamp the cat is made of separate pieces of coloured glass joined by soldered lines.
How big is the Tiffany Cat Table Lamp?
The shade is 20 cm wide and the lamp is 36.5 cm high, with a 155 cm cord.
Is it suitable as a night light?
It makes a soft bedside night light. It is not dimmable.
See all models in our stained glass lamps collection.
