This page might contain affiliate links – this means I may earn some coffee money if you purchase using these links. There is no extra cost to you.
Mosser Glass (pronounced MOSS-urr – rhymes with “saucer”), located in Cambridge Ohio, has been producing high quality hand-pressed glass for over 40 years. One of the few great American glass makers still in existence, they have produced cat figurines in 4 different styles:
Sitting Cat (retired – 1976 – 2007) #101
Standing just 3″ tall, the sitting cat was produced from 1976-2007. The mould was made by Mosser Glass – the figurine has prominent eyes and is seated, looking up and to its left, with its tail curled on its left side. There is a lot of detail in the fur and in the whiskers. The sitting cat was made in numerous colors and in satin and iridized finishes. Early ones can be found in many beautiful and unique slag glass combinations. Some later ones were handpainted, similar to the Fenton cats.
The jewel-like eyes on the #101 cat are reminiscent of the rhinestone-eyed animal figurines that were popular in the early to mid 20th century. Making the eyes part of the figurine ensured that they would never fall out – a fate that frequently befell the figurines where the eyes were actual rhinestones! The three pictured below all have their original eyes. (L-R: Czech “cracker” charm cat, Westmoreland Owl, Dog figurine – believed to be Daum.)
The Mosser “M” can be found on the back of the cat at the base of the tail. It can be hard to see amidst the pattern of the fur. Cats from the mid-80’s or earlier may have an additional “M” on the bottom of the piece. This was hand-stamped and not always present. A few early cats are unmarked – the “M” wasn’t added to the mould until after the first several production runs
Some cats have a little notch or bubble of extra glass in the right ear. This occurred during production. Unless it is a very common color, this shouldn’t be considered a dealbreaker. The feet on these cats are delicate and very prone to breakage – when buying, check for chipped, broken or missing feet, or signs of repair.
Recent prices have been unpredictable. There has been a surge in interest in these cats in early 2023 and prices have been running much higher than before – it’s definitely a seller’s market, with even common colors commanding 3 figure prices! As of 2024 prices are moderating a bit for the more popular colors – cobalt, crystal and milk can usually be found for less than $100.
Previously, I had seen lots of 3 including at least one hard to find or very desirable color go for around $100, only to have a larger lot with the same color go for less than half of that just a few months later. Prior to 2023 prices for single cats used to range from $20-$40, but due to unusually high demand, prices increased to around $75 to over $300! They are retired, so if you like these figurines, anything vintage you can find for under $100 is a bargain!
The #101 cats were reissued in a number of limited special orders, starting in 2023. The reissued cats have the newer Mosser logo – an “M” in the state of Ohio – slightly to the right in the back. These cats are selling for considerably less than the vintage cats.
Resources:
- Mosser Glass Sitting Cats – Collectors’ and Buyers’ Guide
- Mosser Sitting Cat Colors
- UV Reactivity in Mosser Cats
- Mosser Cat Mini Plates
Fluffy Cat / “Kitty” (2009-present) – #123
The Fluffy Cat, aka Kitty, was first released in 2009 and is still being manufactured by Mosser Glass today. It is a big larger than the sitting cat, measuring about 3.5″ high and 3″ by 1.75″ on the base. It has been produced in a number of solid clear and opaque colors, including frosted and carnival glass variations. They are also sold hand painted, like the former Fenton cats. Prices for new fluffy cats usually run in the range of $15-$35, hard-to-find colors like marigold can fetch a higher price.
Fluffy kitten / cat color list
Laying Down or Reclining Cat (retired 2004) – #194
Another “retired” Mosser figurine, the reclining cat is slightly larger than the other Mosser cats – 4.25″ long and 1.75″ high. It was only made in a few colors – solid and opaque, some iridized, satin, opalescent or handpainted. The reclining cat has the Mosser “M” stamp on the bottom of the cat.
See the full list of Mosser reclining cat colors
Mini Kitten on a Basket Salt (current) – #235
Also sometimes called the “mini kitten on a nest”, this salt dip or small trinket box is just 2.75″ long and 2.5″ high and features a cat lying down on a basket or nest. The Mosser “M” is stamped in the center of the lower half of the box. It is still being sold by Mosser, though in a very limited range of colors. Prices (reseller) are usually in the range of $30 and up, with vaseline and slags commanding the highest prices.
Mini kitten on basket color list
The Sitting Cat and Reclining cat are retired, the Fluffy Cat / Kitty and Cat on a Nest are still being produced. Additionally, Mosser is now producing Fenton glass cats for sale by Fenton’s gift shop, using the Fenton moulds and decorated at Fenton.
Identification
Mosser cats can be identified by a paper label or the letter “M” stamped on the cat. Older Sitting Cat figurines also have an “M” on the plunger mark on the bottom of the figure – either a large capital “M” or a smaller capital “M” which may appear to be circled. The Fluffy Cat (and other “new” glass, like the re-run #101 Sitting Cats) has an M in the shape of the state of Ohio (looks like a shield) on it’s right side, between the front and back leg.
Where to find the mark on Mosser cats takes a detailed look at where to find the marks and what they look like.
Some of the Mosser cats were handpainted by Mosser Glass. Cats painted by Mosser are signed by “Shell”, “Goldie” or “B. Newton.”
For color identification, see our Mosser Sitting Cat color list, or our color lists for the Reclining Cat and Fluffy Kitty.