CATS TEND to sprout up like weeds in the folklore of peoples all over the map, and all over time. They are always slinking along the dark back alleys of our imaginations, or pouncing with tooth and claw into our dreams or onto the evil outsized mouse over there in the corner. And all too often, of course, they are actually happily lapping up some milk by the back door, because, more often than not, people like cats, no matter the size of the cat or the degree of its ferocity.
As a lover of cats myself, I know for certain how foolish this can be: I can show you the scars I will wear for the rest of my life because I like to play with domestic cats, few of whom respond with any real aggression, but some of whom get all carried away and vicious! But if you are at all nervous about them — as I'm told some people are — it is obvious that you need to stay away from them. Because cats, overall, are trouble. There is just no quick-step known to man or dog that can help us with this. Cats > Trouble.
* * * * *
There is a cute little anecdotal tale from British folklore that tells of two mice trembling in their mousehole as they hear the approach of a cat: "Meow. Meoowww." But then they hear an angry: "Woof-woof!" and a hissing and a scampering of paws. And after that, silence.
Slowly the mice emerge from their hole, only to be pounced upon and devoured by the cat. With a satisfied burp, the cat says: "So glad I learned a second language!"
* * * * *
This Trickster tale originates, as far as I can tell, from the Ute tribe of North America:
Wildcat used to have a long nose and a long tale. One afternoon as he lay sleeping, along came Coyote. Coyote looked him over. Then he pushed in the nose of Wildcat, and also pushed in his tail. Pleased with what he had done, Coyote continued on his way.
When Wildcat awoke he felt strange. Discovering his ... alterations, he immediately guessed their cause and went in search of Coyote. He found him napping not too far away. So Wildcat pulled Coyote's short nose out long, and also pulled his short tail out long. Having done this he went on his way.
* * * * *
A much-loved cat of mine died recently under particularly unpleasant circumstances (which will not be mentioned here). Still, it's hard to beat this little ditty from Egyptian folklore:
First friend is sitting and whiling away the time. Second friend walks by carrying a cat.
First friend calls out, lazily: "Where are you going?"
Second friend answers, lazily: "To the river. To wash the cat."
First friend observes: "It is very cold today. The cat will die."
Second friend replies: "The cat will not die."
A little later Second friend returns, without the cat.
First friend asks: "Where's the cat?"
Second friend mopes: "It's dead."
First friend can't help it: "I told you that would happen. It is very cold today."
Second friend, miserably: "It wasn't the cold."
First friend: "Then what was it?"
With much distress, Second friend holds up his fists and demonstrates: "It happened when I was wringing it dry!"
