Arty cats and dogs have their day on Twitter

Introducing Rakewell, Apollo’s wandering eye on the art world. Look out for regular posts taking a rakish perspective on art and museum stories.

Twitter is positively purring with posts marking International Cat Day, and the world’s art institutions have been quick to get on board…

'With Cats, some say, one rule is true: Don’t speak till you are spoken to.'

Purrfect for #InternationalCatDay: https://t.co/f6tRI7TO5k pic.twitter.com/0xXlkWuOak

— The British Library (@britishlibrary) August 8, 2017

Happy #InternationalCatDay! This is a 1657 engraving by Cornelis Visscher of a large snoozing cat (and a cheeky little mouse!) pic.twitter.com/tbcxl3STTm

— Ashmolean Museum (@AshmoleanMuseum) August 8, 2017

For #InternationalCatDay we’ve picked four feline friends from the collection. Which is your favourite?🐱🐈 pic.twitter.com/JL5nY8ZRgQ

— British Museum (@britishmuseum) August 8, 2017

But Cat Day, established in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, has a (familiar) rival. Yes, today also marks Dogs in Paintings Day. The Museum of Gloucester, the Courtauld, and Art UK were among those who tweeted (or should that be barked?) their support for man’s best friend…

#DogsinPaintings Spa Grounds, Gloucester – Edward Smith (1820 – 1893) – Museum of Gloucester pic.twitter.com/jZP6M0UBcj

— Museum of Gloucester (@MuseumOfGlos) August 8, 2017

Happy #DogsinPaintings day. On display in the Gallery is a portrait of Queen Charlotte by William Beechey, carrying a small Maltese dog. pic.twitter.com/fuVBBwnfDR

— Courtauld Gallery (@CourtauldGall) August 8, 2017

We're kick starting #dogsinpaintings from the UK's public art collection with this painting from @The_Herbert https://t.co/E48lenSPA7 pic.twitter.com/2J0WJEZLOh

— Art UK (@artukdotorg) August 8, 2017

It was all starting to look a bit like Alexandre François Desportes’s A Cat and a Dog Fighting in the Kitchen…

Who would emerge victorious? The Rake, a neutral observer in such matters, was not inclined to make such an important call. Thankfully, the art and Twitter powerhouse that is Tate eventually weighed in.