The premise for this book is intriguing: how does one mythologize pet cats? Author Andrew Anderson is the kahu of Marlowe and Alfie (kahu is the Hawaiian term for a pet guardian or protector). His solution was to envision his cats Marlowe and Alfie as the “Cat of the Night” and “Cat of the Day”, two cats at the center of a creation myth that chase each other around the Earth in an endless game. Cats have a reputation for being spiritual and other-worldly creatures and are associated with night, but Andrews demonstrates how cats have both diurnal and nocturnal qualities in this book.
The book is divided into two parts: The Cat of the Night and The Cat of the Day.
The Cat of the Night is divided into three sections: The Universal Cat, The Witch’s Cat, and The Knowing Cat. In The Universal Cat, the author shares creation myths that include cats. The stories link cats to the Moon and stars, and they are symbols of change. The Witch’s Cat shares the myth of how cats became associated with Hekate, the Greek goddess of the Moon, magic and witchcraft, which eventually led to cats being seen as evil agents of Satan during the medieval period. The Knowing Cat expounds on how cats understand things that elude humans and reveal hidden truths. Cats are equally connected to senses and sensuality, embracing both physical explorations as well as spiritual ones. There are stories about cats’ abilities to predict natural disasters, sense impending dangers, and see ghosts.
The Cat of the Day “falls out of the crown of the Sun” and brings illumination, warmth and plenty. The section begins with the less-familiar Egyptian myth of Ra’s feline avatar Mau, who protects the Tree of Life and guards against the serpent Apep. The Sun rules the sign of Leo, a somewhat larger cat. Cats are die-hard sun-bathers during the day. The Cat of the Day challenges stereotypes and assumptions about felines. Cats live in the present and like their humans to be there, too.
The Idiomatic Cat begins with the tales of Puss in Boots and Dick Whittington. The cats in those stories create wealth through purely practical means. Cats warning people of dangers are the source of the lucky Maneki Neko cat figurines in Japan. The single raised paw isn’t waving but beckoning the person away from bad fortune to good fortune. The author shares a surprising number of linguistic idioms that show how cats have been integrated into the English language.
The Physical Cat discusses the incredible athleticism and extraordinary sensing abilities of felines. Domestic cats evolved from miacids (65 to 33 million years ago) into assorted sub-species that includes felis (11 million years ago). The Felis species includes African wildcats that eventually became Felis catus. Their basic physiological design has changed very little. This section shares recent findings about the remarkable vision and hearing of cats and the many ways that cats communicate through body language. Although scientists are just now figuring it out, cat lovers have known a lot of these things for centuries.
The Evolving Cat section discusses the many ways that cats have evolved to live with humans. House-dwelling cats retain a range of kitten behaviors to show they regard us as surrogate parents. Felines also cultivated traits to make themselves highly attractive to humans. And while that seems rather manipulative, cats have markedly positive healing effects on people. Petting cats lowers human blood pressure, while cats’ purrs repair wounds and broken bones, reduce pain, and increase joint mobility. Cats continue to evolve because humans want and need them to do so.
An appendix provides “The Cat of the Night and the Cat of the Day (a story for kittens of all ages)” an original poem by the author that inspired the book. Endnotes include citations to quotes and information sources in the text as well as a bibliography.
This book will delight any cat lover because it presents a unique view of these animals and their interactions with humanity. Clever illustrations are included in the chapters to augment the myths, tales, and facts about the only species on Earth that domesticated itself. This book would be a wonderful gift for any cat-lover or for any witch or pagan with a feline familiar because it improves the understanding of and love for our delightful yet sometimes enigmatic furry friends.
~review by Elizabeth Hazel
Author: Andrew Anderson,
Moon Books, 2023
105 pages.
Pb $14.95, Kindle $6.99
