“If man could be crossed with the cat, it would
improve man but deteriorate the cat.”
Mark Twain
Courtesy of TED-Ed:
As I love all animals, perhaps with the exception of poisonous snakes and poisonous spiders, I will write today about the glory of cats. Cats are one of our oldest companions. The ancient Egyptians worshipped cats, often represented by the goddess Basted.
During the time of the Old Kingdom, they referred to the sun deity Ra as ‘the Great Cat’. The goddess Basted was worshipped as she protected women and the home, and she was also the goddess of love, fertility, and joy. A whole city Bubastis was dedicated to her, and the people there, 70,000 of them, held annual festivities in her honour, during which a vast amount of grape wine was imbibed. In her temple, there lived many cats that were looked after by specially designated priests. There was also a cemetery exclusively for cats. As a mark of respect and a token of mourning, the owners of a cat that died would shave their eyebrows. The cat’s body would be embalmed at the temple before the burial. To ensure that the cat was not hungry during his journey to the afterlife, embalmed mice were buried with it. The killing of a cat was punishable by death but the killing of a slave required only paying the slave’s worth to the owner.
It was thought that the first domesticated cats were in Nubia, over 5,000 years ago. Recently, archaeologists found on Cyprus a burial ground of a human and a cat. This is the oldest known pet cat, that is 9,500 years old. The domestication of cats started with humans looking for an animal that would protect their crops from mice. ‘A cat’s dreams teem with mice’, says a Lebanese proverb.
In ancient Greece, cats were portrayed on the amphoras of the wealthy. They were smuggled from Egypt in jugs, having previously been given a drink made of poppies to make them sleep. If caught, the smuggler would be executed, and the cat returned to Egypt.
In Japan, cats guarded the nation’s staple food, rice, from greedy mice. In Edo, there is a temple devoted to cats and they have their own cemetery, just like in Egypt. It was built by a samurai who was fleeing from his enemies. He was close to being murdered as there was only a dead-end in front when he spotted a paw beckoning him from the side of a building. The samurai followed it and the cat led him through a secret passage to freedom. In profound gratitude, he built a temple on this very spot.
In Iran, cats are respected as creatures chosen by the Prophet Mohammad himself to have a place in paradise. According to a popular belief, it was the Prophet who taught the cats to fall on all four feet. This is the reason that in the Muslim world he is sometimes spoken of as ‘the Father of Cats’.
According to the chronicled dates, cats arrived in Russia in the 13th century. It is probable that they were brought from the Greek colonies on the Black Sea. They were very much praised and the theft of a cat was punishable by a fine four times greater than that for a cow. Cats are often evident in Russian folk tales. I have a 19th-century book of fables, bought by my great-grandfather, and on the cover, there is the Wise Cat that is tied up with a golden chain under an oak tree, on the seashore, at the entrance to the magic land. Alexander Pushkin who wrote a poem about this cat says: ‘When he turns to the right he sings a song; when he turns to the left, he tells a tale. Krylov wrote about the naughty cat in his fables. My post about Krylov and his fables, ‘The Tale of the Monkey and her Spectacles’, is one of the most popular ones, read from Malaysia to Nigeria. The fable about the cat has profound meaning, especially today.
Catherine the Great, the longest-ruling empress in Russian history, brought enlightenment to Russia, among many reforms. She also founded the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. This exquisitely beautiful palace contains famous works of art, among them many portraits of cats.
When I researched for this post, I was pleased to find how many writers, poets. painters, composers, and statesmen have loved cats and looked at them as cherished family members. The writers wrote about them, the painters painted them, poets extolled their beauty and wisdom, composers wrote music, while statesmen praised their civilizing influence on humanity. Here are some examples:
Among many writers who loved cats and always had their company was Charles Dickens – “What greater gift than the love of a cat?” He adopted a deaf kitten and the cat loved him so much that he wrote a story of the title above about Bob the cat. For the rest of Bob’s life they were inseparable. George Bernard Shaw observed: “Man is civilised to the degree that he understands the cat.” Jules Verne goes further: “I believe cats to be spirits come to earth; a cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through.” Jerome K. Jerome pointed to the truth about the cat’s philosophy: “A cat’s got her own opinion of human beings, she don’t say much, but you can tell enough to make you anxious not to hear the whole of it.” Patricia Highsmith extolled the poetry in motion of a cat: “A cat makes a home a home; a writer is not alone with a cat, yet is enough alone to work. More than this, a cat is a walking, sleeping, everchanging work of art.” Saki appreciated his cat in these words: “He seems the incarnation of everything soft and silky and velvety…. a dreamer whose philosophy is sleep and let sleep.” Sir Walter Scott suggested: “Cats are mysterious kind of folk. There is more passing in their minds than we are aware of.” Ernest Hemingway‘s interesting view was: “Cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.”
Poets were also enchanted by cats; Baudelaire wrote in his poem:
“Come splendid cat,
Lay on my amorous heart;
keep your claws back in your paws,
And let me gaze into
your beautiful eyes,
An alloy metal and agate.”
Pablo Neruda wrote in his “Ode to the Cat”:
“The cat wants nothing more than to be a cat,
and every cat is pure cat, from its whiskers to its tail…
Nothing hangs together quite like a cat.”
Painters of all ages, from prehistoric to contemporary, painted cats in various situations. From Frederico Barocci‘s Annunciation to Andy Warhol and Hockney. Painter Douanier Rousseau produced this picture of Loti in 1891. And here is a comment showing an understanding of the cat’s personality:
Painting of Loti by Douanier Rouseau in 1891
“Cats have skittish little souls, tiny souls full of affection, of pride and whimsy, not easily fathomed, which reveal themselves only to certain, special people, and which are put off by the least insult, sometimes even by the mildest disappointment.”
Renoir painted cats several times, and Matisse painted in his cat’s company even when bedridden. Above and below are Renoir‘s two paintings of ‘Girl with a cat’. Leonardo da Vinci loved cats too, and wrote: “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.”
Alberto Giacometti proclaimed: “In a burning building I would save a cat before a Rembrandt.”
Composers also included cats in their work; Andrew Lloyd-Webber even produced a worldwide smash-hit musical “Cats”.
Cartoonists have entertained us for decades with the crazy antics of Tweety and Sylvester and Tom and Jerry, and lately, Garfield. Puss in Boots, a folk hero, was evident in many countries, always fighting for the poor and oppressed.
I have to mention also the famous Isle of Man cat, the Manx cat without a tail.
Another famous cat is a Maneki Neko cat in Japan. According to a legend, this ‘beckoning cat’ portrayed in the souvenir figurines, is always waving his paw as a symbol of happiness. A long, long time ago, the cat saved a samurai by beckoning him over which saved the man’s life, as the place where he had been standing was struck by lightning. In gratitude, the samurai built a temple in that place. Those who are devotees of Zen after years of practice at spiritual perfection, they may even hope to themselves become a cat.
Courtesy of The New Yorker:
As a storyteller I work every day in my study on my computer, writing; by my side, there is my companion and inspiration, a cat. We often have a silent discussion about my blog. Happiness is a happy cat.
naturetails 
Awesome post.
Will read.
Must be very interesting 😀
A new kind of taste 😄
Great 👍
Best wishes 🙏
Arun
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Your photos are very nice 👍
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Thank you. Arun, I hope you will like my post.
Joanna
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i love your “cats” post❤️thank you so much🙏🏼❤️
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Surely I will like this
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A worthy ode to cats. I loved the pictures, history, and famous writers and their cats/
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Thank you, Pat, for your kind comments! Now you know who Felicity, the wonderful, super intelligent cat is, and why she employ me as her housekeeper! I am the one busy each morning laundering her blankets and washing her dishes. Happy days!
Joanna
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There is a pithy statement that dogs have owners, cats have staff. Felicity has a devoted one, I think. Glad you daily companion brings you both pleasure and purpose.
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Thank you, Pat, good to be needed! Next week Praise of Dogs!
Joanna
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I’ll be looking to see if you are equal handed with both pets. Looking forward to it.
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I hope so, I rescued a few dogs and cats in my life and never regrated the time and resources needed. If there is an animal heaven, I might get there!
Joanna
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🧡
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Thank you, very kind!
Joanna
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“As a mark of respect and a token of mourning, the owners of a cat that died would shave their eyebrows.” Wow, they really cared about them so much! Crazy to see how even a slave’s life was seen as less valuable than a cats. It was also surreal to see so many authors and poets feel passionate about cats too. George Bernard Shaw I was especially surprised about considering he believed in killing Disabled people in order to create a perfect society but it’s clear he didn’t feel that way about cats. I learnt in history that while fighting the Egyptians, their enemies would put cats on the front lines so the Egyptians couldn’t fire at them. Thank you for sharing this fascinating post, I’ve already told my sister everything I’ve learnt from it 😊
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Wonderful post. Joanna! I especially liked learning the origins and historical aspects of cats. Cats are fascinating and loveable creatures. I truly miss having pets, and Robert and I both wish we had a cat again. We have both developed allergies. Now Robert is addicted to cat videos. 🙂
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Thank you, Simone, for your wonderful comments! I do appreciate so much your original thoughts! Regards to your sister.
Next week there will be all about dogs, I hope you will like it!
Joanna
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I never felt cats as special. Dogs I am fond of. Indian people have some superstitions concerning black cats and all. This post was very interesting and illuminating for me. Thanks dear Joanna
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Not that I am superstitious per se. But maybe 🤔 that’s one reason I was never quite fond of them. You have truly written an awesome inspiring post. I hope I change my perspective soon and enjoy the grace and beauty of cat love 😻
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Thank you, Amrita, for your lovely comments! Next week, there will be a post about dogs, I hope you will like it!
I rescued a few dogs and a cat so I have some understanding of their nature.
Thank you, Amrita, again, greatly appreciated!
Joanna x
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Thank you, Amrita, for your wonderful reply! I don’t know
how old are your children, if they are little bit older than toddlers, they will enjoy having a pet.
Joanna
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There’s a very friendly cat named Spencer in my neighborhood. He sort of belongs to several households. He had been missing for several days. Finally he returned. My neighbor/friend across the street, who is one of Spencer’s “owners”, was VERY relieved.
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Thank you, Cheryl, for your kind comments! Shame about your allergy!
Next week there will be interesting post about dogs.
Joanna x
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Thank you for your lovely comments! Greatly appreciated!
Joanna x
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Thank you, Neil, for your kind comment! I am glad that Spencer, the cat is back but tell your friend that nobody owns a cat, it is us that belong to the cats.
Joanna
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Coincidentally, my next post on Saturday is also going to be about dogs! I pre-wrote it a few weeks ago so it’s funny how our posting topics just happened to align 😁
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Could you, please send it to me?!
Joanna
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Well of course you know how I feel about cats! Your little buddy is lovely. My first cat was black with a white bib and feet. He belonged to my friend Tim. When Tim moved I took over his apartment and as it turned out the cat as well because he did not take to the new home. Or possibly the new kitten, Caesar. Named by me because he looked like a man in a Roman toga. Tim named his cat ( that became mine) after a man he had met in Yemen who chewed khat. He told him if he ever got a cat he would call him Mohammed, after that man. I never mentioned my (as he became) cat’s name in case it would offend anyone but I can see from your piece that it was more likely to be a compliment. It was certainly intended that way. Mohammed was wonderful and I adored him. Tim had allowed him to go out as he thought it was safe in a fairly quiet neighbourhood. I wasn’t so sure but Mohammed would not be deprived so I had to let him have his way and one day he did not come back. I never learned what happened and it tortured me. Still does, really over 45 years later. I enjoyed your piece. Of course!
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What a fascinating post! Thank you. I love this sort of history.
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Thank you, Morag, for your kind comment. Next week there will be my post about dogs, I think you will like it.
Joanna
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Thank you, Carolyn, for your kind comments! I hope you will like next week post about dogs!
Remember, Kipling’s story about a cat who walked alone…
At least your cats are happy and safe.
Joanna
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Not a big fan of cats, but I love Garfield! All my notebooks when I was young are Garfield-themed. 😊 Even my diary used to be Garfield notebooks.
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Thank you, Adele, for your interesting comments. Next week there will be a post about dogs, I hope you will like it.
Joanna
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Don’t worry, it’s about dogs being afraid of wheelchairs so they will probably be quite different. Do you still want me to send it to you?
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Yes, please! Thank you!
Joanna x
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Cool, just give me your email address then.
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It is on the top of my post, and it is naturetailsuk@gmail.com naturetailsuk@gmail.com
Joanna
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I’ve sent it 😊 I’m not sure why you wanted to see it though.
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Do you think I copied you? I pre-write my posts weeks ahead apart from the intros.
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Goodness, Simone, I thought you would have noticed by now that I am nice person, and such a nasty ideas would not occur to me. I want to read it because I know that many disabled people are helped by dogs and wheelchairs are not a problem. Although, those dogs are specially trained so perhaps this is the reason. I will read your post later because in the early morning I do all my chores such as the laundry of cat’s blankets and general cleaning. I explain all this because I don’t want you to think that I ignore you on porpoise.
Joanna
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I am sure I will 👏👏🙋♀️
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Thank you!
Joanna
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You are welcome.
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I’m so sorry I instantly assumed the worst! I was just confused about why you’d want to. Of course I don’t think you’re a bad person. Sometimes it’s hard to convey tone through just typing and messaging. I’m really, really sorry ❤️ But, yes, dogs do help a lot of Disabled people but they do become frightened the first time they see a wheelchair. That’s what the post is about
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I understand, Simone, no harm was done, and it is already water under the bridge!
I will read your post a little later as I am still getting ready, my hair is very long past my waist and needs lots of combing to keep it on shape.
Joanna x
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Yes, all the poets and novelists and painters are right – a cat is a marvellous creature. But you said it best, Joanna! “Happiness is a happy cat.”
A poem I can never forget is Pangur Ban, written by a 9th century Irish monk. Here is a translation in case you are not familiar with the poem: https://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/personal/pangur-ban.html
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Thank you, Harini, for your wonderful comments! I cannot thank you enough for the beautiful poem which I didn’t know! Your knowledge humbles me, and I will copy the verses of the talented Irish monk to read it several times more!
Joanna x
PS. Next week there will be praise of dogs, and your assistant Topshe might like it.
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Thank you, Cheryl, for your lovely comments! Shame about your allergy
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I can tell how much cats mean to you Joanna after reading this thoroughly enjoyable post. Although we don’t have a cat at the moment, I’ve enjoyed a cat’s company for over 30 years of my life, and so I understand where you’re coming from. It seems we aren’t alone either with so many people singing their praises. It should be difficult for me to pick out the best bit of this post, but it’s not – and you know why don’t you? It’s the guest appearance of the Queen herself – Felicity 😊
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Thank you, Malc, for your delightful comments! I love almost all animals but as I rescued a few cats and dogs in my life, I understand their personalities, and most people live or lived with either a cat or a dog, if not with both. I adore donkeys but most people, including me, have no space for at least two, and so In Praise of Donkeys, wouldn’t be very popular. Next week will be all about dogs, and it will be interesting too. Thank you, Malc, again!
Joanna
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I look forward to that as I’ve had dogs too
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