Feeding tourists and locals alike for years, a Polish cat has become a must-see in Szczecin, Poland. It has even become one of the top rated tourist landmarks in the city on Google Maps.
If you are staying in Szczecin, Poland, going to the Duke of Szczecin Castle or the Waly Chrobrego promenade first is out of the question. The tourist attraction of the German border town is completely different: a black and white cat.
Gacek (which means “long ears” in Polish) has thus achieved the perfect 5-star rating on Google Maps with over 2600 reviews and has become one of the must-see places in the Polish city.
“As agreed, he did not charge me”
And Google reviews are full of praise for the cat, whose home has become a middle-of-the-road crossing point. “I am very happy to have come and to have met this gentle and noble being. I recommend everyone to come to His Excellency and share this experience that I will cherish for many years to come,” exclaims one netizen.
Obese Polish cat becomes 5-star tourist attraction on Google Maps – Screenshot/Google Maps
“I came from Oslo to see Gacek. As agreed he didn’t charge me which made the experience really amazing. I recommend!” laughs another Google Maps user.
Obese Polish cat becomes 5-star tourist attraction on Google Maps – Screenshot/Google Maps
This notoriety has lasted for several years. If Gacek has been living on the streets for almost a decade, his popularity rating has increased significantly, according to a report prepared by City Hall and broadcast on YouTube in 2020.
However, the cat will not leave. Fed by many locals and tourists, Gacek has gained significant weight since it was installed nearly 10 years ago. As Polish media reports Notes from Poland, the owners of the shop even had to put up a sign next to the cat’s house, asking passers-by to stop feeding him directly and leave the treats in boxes. Rewards gradually awarded to the King of Szczecin.
However, on February 19, the cat’s Instagram account announced the disappearance of the Google Maps POI dedicated to her, apparently due to too many fictional clues released after its media coverage.