Mosser Cat History

The #101 Mosser Sitting Cat first graced the pages of the Mosser Glass catalog in 1976. It was manufactured from 1976 until 2007, when it was retired 32 years later. The image below shows one of the first prototypes made in 1975 before it was available in the catalog. In 2023, Mosser graciously brought them back out of retirement due to a huge demand for them. These special runs were only made for glass dealers or businesses. They were not offered through Mosser's website. Please read below to learn about their unique history.

Earliest Known Photo of Mosser Cat Dated November 1975.

Mosser glass was established in 1971. Our curious feline friend made his first debut in a 1976 Rainbow Review Glass journal article. The photo included was dated November 1975. Although the black and white image was dark, there was no mistaking that familiar silhouette. The article written by Jabe Tarter, excitedly described the following: "The cat is so perfect that every hair seems to be in place. He is sitting on his haunches, looking up expectantly as though he is waiting for his dinner - - could he be dubbed "Morris"? The colors are blue, green, clear and amber. They come frosted [satin finish] and unfrosted [regular finish]. And whether one's taste runs to the velvety frosted or the gleaming clear crystals, they are bound to please most anyone." I wonder if Jabe knew that almost 50 years later these cats would have countless dedicated collectors worldwide. With around 230 different colors and finishes, there does indeed seem to be a color that could please just about anyone.

Mosser Glass Catalog Dated January 1976.

In January 1976, the # 101 Mosser sitting cat made its first appearance in the official Mosser Glass catalog. It was available in the following colors: Amber, Blue, Crystal, Green, Amethyst, and Cobalt. Cats with a regular finish were priced at $1.50 each; cats with a satin finish were $1.73. If only they were still priced like that now! As the years progressed, Mosser Glass expanded their colors substantially. However, the colorful slag cats with some of the more wild patterns were simply listed as "slag of the day" on their price list. If you would like to look through the vintage Mosser Glass catalogs please click the link: Visit Catalog Archives

Original Mosser Color Records - Undated.

Mosser Glass kindly provided the images above. This is the unofficial list of their color records. Everything was either typed or handwritten on simple notebook pages during a time when the pace of life was uncomplicated by technology. Mosser Glass admits that this is an incomplete list. Some colors are easily identifiable, while a few have been lost in time and remain unknown. Their original list consists of 106 different colors and finishes. Fortunately, with extensive research, we have been able to locate close to 230 different colors and finishes. If you would like to visit our Color Reference Guide, please click the link: Visit Color Reference Guide

The "Tom Cat" Located in an Early 1900s Lancaster Glass Company Catalog.

In 2023, a cat that looked very similar to the Mosser cat was discovered. It had the same pose, with its face curiously looking up, the same whisker bumps, a tail curled up on the left side, and even the mould seams from being pressed glass were in the same location. The Mosser cat had jewel-shaped eyes that were part of the design in the pressed glass; the cat in question had hollowed-out indentations where real jewels should have been. Both cats had patterned fur and even had similar faces. The mysterious cat was brought to Mosser Glass to determine if it was some kind of Mosser cat or perhaps a predecessor. Mosser Glass concluded that it didn't make this cat; it appeared to be an older version. Thanks to the thorough research of a dedicated collector, it was determined that the cat in question was made by the Lancaster Glass Company. They manufactured glass from 1908 to 1937. We suspect this cat was the original inspiration for the Mosser cat long ago.

In the past, glass companies would often create very similar pieces to each other. Especially if it was a popular item. They would take a popular piece and slightly alter it before selling it themselves. Mimicry was the best form of flattery. A good example is the Lancaster owl, pictured at the bottom of the page. This design was used as inspiration and went on to create the Westmoreland Owl, which looks very similar except for the base. The Westmoreland owl design was then used by Degenhart, with very subtle differences. The maker's mark was changed, and the new owl's right eye was slightly lower than the left eye.

Side by Side Comparison of Mosser Glass Cat (pictured left) and Lancaster Glass cat (pictured right).

It wasn't long before a few more Lancaster Glass cats were discovered. They were eagerly shared in our Facebook group, "Mosser Cat Central." Up to date, around five have been found by group members. Sometimes the jewel eyes would be missing, leaving empty eye sockets in their place. The group affectionately nicknamed these cats with the missing eyes "Soulless Sam." It's hopeful that more will appear in the future. Given their age, there may only be so many out there that have survived.

We were fortunate to find our very own "Soulless Sam." This cat has orange jewel eyes. We compared him to an older Twilight Pink cat so you could see the similarities. He does have a slightly longer nose bridge, but even his nose is upturned on the end, just like the Mosser cats. This cat was originally crystal clear, but after many years of exposure to sunlight, he has turned a stunning shade of purple. This is due to manganese being present in the glass. It is a photochemical phenomenon that is not yet perfectly understood.

It is suspected that the ultraviolet light initiates an electron exchange between the manganese and iron ions. This changes the manganese compound into a form that causes the glass to turn purple. We believe his orange jewel eyes are original, but it's hard to be 100% certain.

Image from a Mosser Glass Catalog Dated 2007

Mosser Glass continued to make stunning colors of cats each year from 1975 until 2007. The picture above (taken from the 2007 catalog) shows the final colors that were available before retirement: Milk, Jadeite, Hunter Green Carnival, Green Opal, Hunter Green regular, Crystal regular, Crystal Carnival, Rose, Red, Cranberry Ice, Vaseline, and Cobalt.

Customers also received a note slipped into their catalog (pictured below) explaining Mosser's plans to phase out both the #101 Sitting Cat and the #193 Collie. It was a sad day for collectors. The final colors available were on a first-come, first-serve basis. The colors that weren't already listed in the 1999 catalog were the following: Lime, Crystal Opal, Lavender Ice, Peachblo, Opal Luster, Vaseline Opal, Amethyst and Aqua Opal Carnival.

Glass companies retire moulds for various reasons. There could be a decline in interest, or perhaps a different version of the mould is being offered. Mosser did release a different version of the cat called the #123 Fluffy Kitten in 2009. The sitting cat mould was officially retired in 2007 and placed in the mould storage warehouse to never be used again. Little did Mosser Glass know that after quietly sitting in storage for 16 years, the mould would be making a reappearance in 2023 due to some pretty unique circumstances.

Image below generously provided by Elaine Evensen Sturkol.

The Viral Post That Started a Movement. Dated January 12, 2023.

On January 12, 2023, something completely unexpected happened. A long-time Mosser cat collecter decided to share a Facebook post of her colorful cat collection illuminated by sunlight in a window. The public group it was shared in had 3.1 Million members. Her post unexpectedly went viral. It was shared 2.2K times with thousands of people suddenly taking an interest in these rainbow-hued cats overnight. All Mosser cats on eBay suddenly sold out in the blink of an eye. Other selling platforms sold out equally fast. Questions poured in from curious new collectors as they wanted to learn everything possible about these charming cats. A month later, the excitement was still there. She decided to start a Facebook group where everyone could connect over these colorful felines. "Mosser Cat Cental" was born. What happened next was even more amazing.

The Reappearance of a Legend. April 2023

"Mosser Cat Cental" became a place for many collectors to connect. Both long-time collectors and newcomers shared stories, shared collections, asked questions, and showed kindness in a world that is often bitter at times. The group became a safe haven for many, providing a bright spot of happiness. It wasn't long before some wonderful friendships were formed. Many glass dealers also joined the group. Then it happened: a great business named Farmhouse Vintage Treasures reached out to the group to ask how they would feel about requesting if Mosser Glass could bring the vintage #101 Sitting Cat out of retirement. The overwhelming response was a resounding YES!

With the green light given, FVT reached out to Mosser Glass to see if a miracle could happen. To everyone's surprise, Mosser Glass kindly agreed to bring the Mosser cat out of retirement. Mosser worked closely with the group to ensure that the new release would have a new maker's mark, a letter "M" inside of an outline of the state of Ohio. This was imperative for long-time collectors, as it would allow them to differentiate between the vintage and the new. After what seemed like an eternity, the Mosser cats were finally brought out of retirement. The very first run was made in April 2023 and offered exclusively to the group. The demand was so great that they sold out in 10 seconds, the quickest sell-out that FVT had ever seen.

A New Beginning and a Hopeful Future.

Since the return of the Mosser cats, there have been a handful of glass dealers and private businesses that have placed orders for runs through Mosser Glass. Many are offered through our Facebook group Mosser Cat Central. Some cats are advertised through our group if the business prefers to use their website or eBay. Pictured above are all the cats that have been made since coming out of retirement in 2023. This picture was taken at the end of January 2024. These cats were made from 2023 up to the beginning of 2024.

The group has been immensely thankful for each run made and looks forward to more colors in the future. Mosser Glass currently only makes Mosser cats as a custom order for glass dealers or certain businesses. Colors are very limited. Mosser Glass only makes so many colors per year. They are limited by what color they are running for other glass pieces, such as tableware, etc. Once a business has placed an order for a certain color, that color remains with the business for life. For example, if they order "Red," Mosser Glass will only make that color for the same business in the future; no one else. A four-hour run of cats can produce around 300 to 350 cats, depending on breakages. If you would like to learn how they are made, please visit here: "How It's Made"

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse