The York Cat Trail® is a self-guided city walk and it is a  Free fun for everyone! Pick up a FREE map trail leaflet in store, download HERE or order a paper copy HERE and pay just for postage. Let's find the cat statues on our self-guided tour within the city walls. The trail starts at York Lucky Cats shop on Coney Street and takes around 2 hours. The history of the cats in York dates back to 1920, when Sir Stephen Aitcheson placed two on a building that he owned in Low Ousegate. Others business and house owners followed his idea and the cats appeared around the city to bring luck! In 1979  a local architect called Tom Adams  decided to resurrect the idea by placing them on buildings he designed. York based sculptors were then commissioned by local businesses to bring them to life.