Entry No. 2 — the Denver file — filed under: public art
Cat Alley (Alley Cats by Kelly Monico)
Wander into the right unmarked alley off Larimer between 14th and 15th and you'll start noticing them — cats. Hundreds of them. Roughly 300 cast and figurine cats by local artist Kelly Monico perch on windowsills, gutters, streetlights and rooftops, more than 25 breeds, some customized. Get to the middle of the block and hidden speakers kick in with cat sounds, so the whole alley quietly comes alive around you. It's free, it's never advertised, and you only find it by stumbling in.
The move: Treat it as a scavenger hunt — see who can spot the most cats and the weirdest customized one before the hidden speakers start meowing at you mid-alley.
📍 Before you go The alley has no sign, so set your sights on the 14th-and-Larimer corner and walk west toward 15th — the cats run the block behind the storefronts, roughly between Larimer and Market. Come in daylight: half the fun is spotting figurines tucked on sills, gutters and fire escapes, which is near-impossible after dark. It's a free public alley with no reservation or admission, but it's a working downtown passage, so keep clear of doorways and dumpsters. City alley art does get rotated, so check it's still up before a long trip. You're steps from Larimer Square's restaurants and the 16th Street Mall — easy to fold into a longer wander.
- 📍 LoDo / Larimer Square
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Alley between 14th and 15th Streets off Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202 (unmarked — near Larimer Square, the 16th Street Mall alleyways)
Hours: Outdoor public alley, accessible anytime; best in daylight when you can actually spot the cats. It's a city alley installation, so worth a quick check it's still up if visiting much later.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: 9news.com · Official site · blackcube.art · urbnexplorer.com
last checked: 2026-06-07