The metal black cat sculpture of the Bedfordshire roundabout

Nestled in the intersection where the A1 and A421 converge, the Black Cat Roundabout takes its name from a garage and car repair workshop that opened on the site in the 1920s. The roundabout has undergone various reconstructions since 2000, and a third upgrade is currently underway to replace it with a free-flowing, grade-separated junction known as the Black Cat junction.

The roundabout's centerpiece is a metal sculpture of a black cat. Installed in January 2004, it was based on the original Black Cat Garage emblem and produced by local fabricators including Watson & Brookman. The installation was described as a locally driven initiative rather than a formal highways project.

During works on the Great Barford bypass between 2005 and 2006, the original sculpture was removed and replaced by a larger version. This larger sculpture was stolen in June 2007. In April 2009, the stolen sculpture was rediscovered in a ditch near a roundabout in Upper Caldecote following a note indicating its location.

The sculpture has faced repeated damage and vandalism. After being repaired for structural damage in the early 2010s, it was reinstated in January 2015. In May 2019, the sculpture was vandalised with white paint, which created a "grimacing face". Following this incident, two smaller kitten figures were added to the base.

As part of a National Highways improvement scheme, the sculpture was removed in early 2024 and placed into storage. While it is intended to be reinstated at the upgraded junction upon completion of the works in spring 2027, it is currently unclear whether the two smaller kitten figures will also be returned.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons