Cat Literature

Cat Literature:

Cats with their irresistible charm and mystery have enchanted famous writers. What makes a cat very attractive to writers is because unlike dogs, a cat never interrupts the creative flow with disruptive barking or loud noise.

The first cat to appear in a leading role in Western literature was Puss in Boots (Le Chat Botte). Who made his debut in a children's story first in 1697 by the French writer Charles Perrault.

Traditional Tales

Perrault was also the original author, or at any rate collector, of the stories of Red Riding Hood. Bluebeard and Sleeping Beauty. All these stories were quickly translated into English and other European languages, and found a place in the continent's nurseries. About 150 years after Puss and Boots was first published, it became one of the basic stories used year after year in the British Christmas pantomime tradition.

The Cheshire Cat, In 1865 the published the story of Alice in Wonderland, featuring the famous Cheshire Cat whose smile showed a number of sharp teeth. By 1871 when he published Alice Through the looking Glass, the mother cat Dinha and her two kittens Snowdrop and Kitty, were far more lovable creatures. After 1871, when compulsory primary education was introduce for all children in Britain, there was suddenly a high demand for reading primers.

To this day most children know C is for cat. In cat literature, cats have also appeared as lovable cuddly creatures in nursery rhymes, which were, in the 19th century, was the main first reading for the child. And from the mid-nineteenth century that such rhymes as "Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?" and Pussy cat, Pussy cat, wilt thou be mine?" can be dated. Earlier children's books showed dogs and farm animals, but not cats.

One of the Stories revived for use of nineteenth century schools (and also pantomime) was that of Dick Whittington and his cat, which had first appeared as a play of cat literature, now lost in 1605. It was very loosely based on the true story of Richard Whittington, who was three times Lord Mayor of London in the fifteenth century.

In fact the, the real Dick Whittington came from a wealthy country family which had made its money in the wool trade. The story presents him as a poor boy who walks to London with his cat to seek his fortune. After many adventures in which his cat brings him good luck. He marries his master's daughter and lives happily and prosperously ever after. Unfortunately, the cat was in real life not an animal but a coal ship sailing between Newcastle and London.

In Britain,in cat literatur, the story is now as familiar through children's books re-tellings and pantomime versions that its London setting and the reality ok Dick's cat cannot be denied.

Celebration of the Cat

What does a Kitten Dream of...? Bright, nodding flowers; Gay butterflies? Sweet-scented grass; Blue summer skies? Cool woodland path And dancing leaves?

The dreams of a kitten Are too precious to say, And the fey mists of time, They must melt away…

Anthology of the Verse, Joan Moore, 1979

I like little pussy, her coat is so warm; And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm. So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away, But pussy and I very gentle will play. She shall sit by my side, and I'll give her some food; And she'll love me because I am gentle and good.

I'll pat pretty pussy, and then she will purr; And thus show her thanks for my kindness to her. But I'll not pinch her ears, nor thread on her paw, Lest I should provoke her to use her sharp claw. I will never vex her, nor make her displeased- For pussy don't like to be worried and teased.

Anon, c.1830

'Refined and dedicate natures understand the cat.  Women, poets, and artists hold it in great esteem, for they recognise the exquisite delicacy of its nervous system; indeed, only coarse natures fail to discern the natural distinction of the cat.'

Les Chats, Chanpfluery, 1885

'Serphita remained for long hours immobile on the cushion, not sleeping, following with her eyes with extreme intensity of attention, senses invisible to simple mortals... Her elegance, her distinction, aroused the idea of aristocracy; within her race, she was at least a duchess!  She doted on perfumes; with little spasms of pleasure  she bit handkerchieves impregnated with scent, she wandered among flasks on the dressing-table... and, if she had been allowed to, would willingly have worn powder!'  

 Theophile Gautier, 1850

'The male cat is Ra himself, and he was called Mau because of the speech of the god Sa, who said concerning him: "He is like unto that with he hath made, therefore did the name of Ra become Mau".'

Written on a fragment of papyrus from the XVIII Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, c.1500 BC
 

The male cat is Ra himself, and he was called Mau because of the speech of the god Sa, who said concerning him: "He is like unto that with he hath made, therefore did the name of Ra become Mau".' Written on a fragment of papyrus from the XVIII Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, c.1500 BC

'To gain the friendship of a cat is a difficult thing.  The cat is a philosophical, methodical, quite animal, tenacious of its own habits, fond of order and cleanliness, and it does not lightly confer to its friendship.  If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend, but never your slave.  He keeps his free will, thought he loves, and he will not do for you what he thinks is unreasonable.  But if he once gives himself to you it is with absolute confidence and affection!'

Theophile Gautier, 1850
 

'The cat makes himself the companion of your hours of solitude, melancholy and toil.  He remains for whole evenings on your knee, uttering his contented purr, happy to be with you, and forsaking the company of animal of his own species. In vain to melodious mewings on the roof invite him to one of those cat parties in which fish bones play the part of tea and cakes; he is not to be tempted away from you, looking at you with eyes so melting, so caressing, so human, that they almost frighten you; for it is impossible to believe that a soul is not there.'

Theophile Gautier, 1850

'Those fortunate enough to have been touched by its mystique will agree that once the strange Oriental magic of the Siamese cat has been revealed to them, they will be forever remain in its enchanted spell...'

The Fabulous Siamese, Joan Moore, 1986

Fred Wunpound RN - brought for the price of £1 from the RSPCA, hence his name - was the mascot and official mouse-catcher aboard HMS Hecate from 1966-1974. This redoubtable black and white cat was given ships 'papers' as Able Sea Cat Wunpuund F, Cat/00002 and traveled over 250,000 sea miles aboard the 2,00-ton Ocean Survey ship HMS Hecate, during his eight years' service. He held the Blue Nose Certificate' for services in Icelandic waters and at Fred's own request was promoted from Able Sea Cat to Leading Sea Cat in 1971.

With admirers at every port of call, one Tinkerbell, a torte longhair from Surrey, became an ardent fan and sent Fred a Valentine's Day card inscribed: To the one and only sea cat, from a very lovely she-cat'. Inspiring many column inches in the world's press, Fred finally 'swallowed the anchor' in 1974 when the introduction of the anti-rabies law prevented animal mascots sailing on HM ships.

At Easter 1975 Fred took up residence at the Dr. Barnard's Princess Margaret School in Taunton, Somerset where sadly, on June the 15th the following year, he passed away. Fred was buried with full honors in the garden at the school and it is understood that HMS Hecate pain for his headstone. Written by an Irish monk in the margin of the illustrated

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