Cat meaning and symbolism includes elegance, curiosity, independence, protection, magic, and other notable qualities. For thousands of years, people have been captivated by cats. Even before wild cats became domesticated, ancient cultures believed in the cat spirit animal. And when wild cats began to live more closely with human beings around 8000 B.C., cats became even more important in our lives. In this post, we’ll explore all aspects of cat symbolism and meanings, including cat spiritual meanings and the cat spirit animals, as well as cat mythology, folklore, and more.
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Here are details on commonly shared cat meanings and what they might mean in your life.
You won’t see a cat rolling in the mud. No, these elegant creatures are rather fastidious about keeping themselves clean and well-groomed. In fact, a friend of mine who’s the director of an animal shelter said that a cat who doesn’t groom themselves has most likely been through trauma because it’s simply not in their nature to be unkempt.
Cats are not heavy breathers like your average dog. They are far more self-contained. While we’ve all seen clumsy kitties, for the most part cats are a graceful species. They tiptoe so silently on their dainty paws that you may not even hear them coming until they utter a delicate mew. Cats are generally quiet beings, unless they’re chatting with you, yowling about something important, or purring away in your lap.
The spirit of the cat reminds you to treasure your capacity for elegance and the finer things in life. The truth is the world can be a rough and ugly place. Where would we be without artistry, beauty, and elegance? It would be like a world without cats. If a cat comes into your purview, it could very well be a reminder to invite more elegance into your life. Take some time to pamper yourself, get your hair done, relax in a sunny spot, or put on a beautiful gown or tux and hit the town.
Though they can be quite elegant and contained, cats see the world as an interesting place. And life can get boring if you don’t cause a little bit of chaos now and then. After all, cats take great pleasure in activities like knocking things off the counter. Why? Because it was there!
Perhaps it’s time for you to knock some things over in your own life? Sometimes it’s necessary to shake things up a little – if only to get someone’s attention.
While you may be content curled up on your windowsill, the cat spirit animal reminds you to get out in the world and explore your curiosities. Just don’t get yourself killed while doing it.
The cat spirit animal asks, “Is your life becoming dull and routine? Perhaps it’s time to swat your loved ones when they pass or knock over a few Christmas trees?”
People who don’t know cats might say they’re unfriendly or standoffish. But those of us who know and love them understand they are actually very friendly and social. They just relish their independence too. Like their larger feline relatives, lions and tigers, cats love to cuddle up with someone they love, but they also put a premium on their freedom.
When the cat is your spirit animal, your domestic situation may be quite content. But the kitty spirit reminds you to always maintain your individual identity, and above all, never become co-dependent. Autonomy is important because it lets us understand the true essence of ourselves. When we’re happy in ourselves, we can show up and be a better participant in our relationships.
Likewise, if you have a tom cat (or a tomelina cat) in your life and you’re trying to tame them into sitting on your lap by the fireplace every evening, you may be on fool’s errand. It’s far better to be patient and give them their space. Instead of demands, tempt them by leaving out treats, and slowly gain their trust over time.
While they can be quite independent, cats are very clear about loving their people and having a desire for companionship. And while they can be demanding, I think we can all agree – the demands of a cat are easily met.
When the cat is your spirit animal, you are a person who is easy to be with. You let your loved ones be as they are, in hopes they will let you be as you are in return. All the while you know you will always be there for each other.
Cats let you know when you are the one – they make it very clear that you are the cat’s meow. In their truest nature, they are a steady, devoted presence. This is a noble quality that we can all aspire to.
The ancient Egyptians, whom you can read more about later in this post, adored cats. In fact, they believed that cats helped to protect the home from bad energy and illness.
Cats are viewed as protectors by many cultures. Despite being small in stature, they can display lioness-like courage when it comes to protecting those they love.
You may have seen this video circulate on social media. I thought I would share it here because it’s such a clear testament to the bravery and devotion that a cat has for their loved ones.
Journalist Jane Pauley said, “You cannot look at a sleeping cat and feel tense.” Indeed, doctors say that the purr of a cat helps to bring your heart rate down. When a cat is well-loved and their needs are met, they will offer comfort and serenity that is nothing short of divine.
After my dog, Roo, died, I went through a depression punctuated by tidal waves of grief. I would pull myself together, only to be knocked over again by what felt like a rogue wave that caught me off guard. What got me through this period was my two cats, Uti and Isa.
When I got Roo from the shelter as a scared little puppy, I made a bed for her between my couch and coffee table because she seemed to feel secure there. Throughout her life, that was her preferred space to sleep. When I was grieving after her death, I would lie in that space and cry and cry. But whenever I did, Uti and Isa would come and sit by me. And inevitably Isa (my black cat) would pose her kitty question to me, “Meow?” It always translated in my brain as, “Mom, are you ok?”
Cats bring tranquility to the spaces they occupy. Some psychics say they absorb negative energy and turn it into positive energy the way a tree absorbs CO2 and converts it into oxygen.
The cat spirit animal reminds you to find this serenity in yourself and to create it in your home, workspace, and other places where you need sanctuary. In this way, cats are very much like little Zen masters who remind you to go back to your breath. Breathe in. Breathe out. All is well.
Cats are associated with magic for a few reasons. One, they are nocturnal and can see in the dark. In addition, in ancient times, they most likely spent time with healers and sages as they did their quiet work.
Healers of old most likely had a lot of animals around them with whom they shared a spiritual connection. The animals recognized them as old souls who understood that everything is connected.
Some cultures referred to the animal friends of healers as familiars, and they could be any type of animal. However, as dogs and ravens can be prone to restlessness, it’s very likely that a cat was present when these advanced souls were working on their healing potions, studying the world, and connecting with their angels for guidance.
As protectors and companions, cats are also considered to be sources of good luck. The saying that cats have nine lives stems from the fact that cats have the skills to get themselves out of danger. As they say, a cat always lands on their feet.
For those of us who love black cats, we know that having one cross our path is a lucky sign, and only something to be feared by the unenlightened. (If you’d like to read more about these beautiful felines, please check out my more detailed post on black cat meaning.)
Cats can also be more sensitive to sounds, and their ability to see at night means they pick up on things that we don’t. When the cat is your spirit animal, be open to opportunities even if you think you have none. Limited thinking is not the reality. The cat spirit says luck is there, just open your awareness and be receptive to it.
Archeologists and anthropologists estimate that wild cats started to become domesticated in the Fertile Crescent (the area that is now southern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran) around 8000 B.C.1 These wild cats most likely helped to keep small animals from eating the crops, thus the local humans appreciated their presence.
These quasi-domesticated cats eventually spread throughout Asia, then made their way to Europe around 4400 B.C. However, another lineage of domestic cats can be traced back to Africa, notably Egypt, a place where they thrived. These felines eventually traveled across and around the Mediterranean Sea. Undoubtedly, they were brought on ships and land journeys for rodent control.
Unlike domesticated dogs, who were specifically bred by humans to perform a variety of jobs, cats were apparently viewed as fine just the way they were. Case in point: Today’s domesticated cats still closely resemble their wild cat ancestors from thousands of years ago.
What is clear is that cats have made an impression on every society they have joined, and thus they are the subjects of mythology and folklore in a wide variety of cultures around the world.
The ancient Egyptians revered animals, yet no animal was quite so revered as the cat. Not only did the Egyptians think cats were beautiful, they also saw them as magical beings who brought good luck to a household.
The Egyptians dressed their cats in jewels, and they were important members of the family. When a pet cat died, the family had them mummified, so they could join their human companions in the afterlife.2 In addition, when a family cat passed away, all members of the household would shave off their eyebrows to express their grief.
The ancient Egyptians viewed the cat as a protector because they killed snakes, insects, and other dangerous creatures. In fact, archaeologists have found the skeletal remains of many cat companions in the tombs of pharaohs and other nobles.
Similar to Native Americans, the ancient Egyptians believed that deities could shapeshift into animals. For example, the Egyptian goddess Bastet was believed to take on the form of a cat.3
Bastet ruled the home, fertility, and childbirth. She was also a protector deity who prevented evil spirits and illnesses from entering the home.
When the ancient Greeks made their way to Egypt before 500 B.C., seeing the number domesticated cats was most likely startling, as felines had not yet made themselves fully at home in Greek households. Thus, cats don’t appear in early Greek myths. However, historians surmise that the Greek goddess Artemis was inspired by the Egyptian goddess Bastet, and thus a cat is sometimes associated with Artemis.
According to Muslim stories, the prophet Muhammad loved cats. Some say that a cat, such as a tabby, who has an “M” shape on their forehead is blessed by Muhammad, who blessed his own cat by touching his head.
In one popular tale, Muhammad’s cat was asleep on his arm when the prophet was called to prayer. Reluctant to disturb his sleeping kitty, Muhammad slipped his arm out of the sleeve of his robe, then cut the sleeve off, so he didn’t disturb the cat by pulling his sleeve out from underneath him.4
The Celtic goddesses Brigid and Ceridwen were both associated with cats. In addition, both the Irish and Scottish tell tales of a fairy cat called the Cat Sith who was a big black cat with a white spot on his chest. Some versions of the Cat Sith say that he was a witch shapeshifter.
It was important in Celtic tradition to leave a saucer of milk out for the Cat Sith on the evening of Samhain – the holiday that we all know as Halloween. Failure to do so could bring bad luck to the home.
Cats are not mentioned in the Bible, most likely because they were not present during its writing. However, as Christianity spread throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, cats were associated with paganism by misguided Christians. As the Christian fundamentalists tried to stomp out paganism, cats suffered.5
In medieval times, both Pope Gregory IX and the writer Walter Map spread the view that cats were demonic. Thus, cats were ritually killed in England in the 12th and 13th centuries. However, this unfounded cruelty was not without its consequences. Historians theorize that the death of so many cats enabled the rat populations to thrive, which made the impact of the Bubonic Plague of the mid-1300s far worse than it needed to be.6
The Norse goddess Freya rode a chariot pulled by two cats. (She was also associated with hawks.) Similar to the Egyptian goddess Bastet, Freya was a fertility goddess, as well as the goddess of love and good luck.7
The association of cats with Freya is most likely because the Vikings viewed cats as having special powers, including seeing and hearing things that others could not. In addition, they saw the cat as a symbol of the divine feminine, or female power. Furthermore, the independence of the cat symbolized Freya’s power to be her own woman, or goddess.
As in other cultures, cats have been welcome in Indian homes for centuries because they do such an excellent job of keeping rodent populations under control.
The Mahabharata tells the tale of a cat named Lomasa and a mouse named Palita who became friends and helped each other to face adversity.8
In other Hindu stories, the goddess Shashthi rides a cat. She closely resembles the Egyptian goddess Bastet because she’s also a goddess of fertility, as well as a benefactor of children.9
In one Hindu story, a gluttonous young woman steals extra food in her household. When other members of the family ask who ate the food, the young woman blames the family’s black cat. So, the family beats the cat.
Unbeknownst to them, the black cat is special to the goddess Shashthi. So, the cat goes to Shashthi and tells her what happened. Naturally, the goddess takes revenge. She steals every child that the young woman gives birth to and keeps them as her own.
In Japan and other Asian countries, the cat symbolizes good luck and blessings. They are also seen as protectors of the home. Many Japanese restaurants and other Asian businesses will display a figurine of the Beckoning Cat, who is depicted with one paw raised. They believe the Beckoning Cat will bring good fortune to the establishment.
According to Japanese legend, an emperor was passing by the Temple of Gotoku-ji when it began to rain, so he took shelter under a tree. Gazing at the temple, he saw a cat sitting outside. The cat raised her paw in greeting to the emperor, who was intrigued. So, he decided to walk into the temple. Just as he did so, lightning struck the tree where he had stood. Thus, the cat is believed to have saved his life.10
Cats have been the beloved companions of people around the world for centuries, to the point that people and cats can share a spiritual connection. Native Americans believe that your spirit animal selects you, which sounds very much like a cat. And those who believe in reincarnation will often say their cat was with them in a past life.11
Yet for all of us cat lovers, it does beg the question: If you have a cat companion, does it mean the cat is one of your spirit animals? Only you can answer this question for yourself. But I’ll insert my own opinion here and say – yes!
There are many stories of a cat going out of their way to select their human companion – making it as clear as they can in their kitty way that you belong together.
I’ll tell the story of one of my cats, Isa. I had adopted a puppy (my dog Roo, whom I mentioned above.) As a puppy, Roo exhibited strong prey drive. I knew that if I didn’t raise her with a cat, she would probably never be able to live with one. So, I decided I would adopt an oversized adult tabby. I had in my mind a big tom cat who had dealt with dogs before and would know how to keep a puppy in line. So, off I went to the shelter.
At the shelter, when I was passing by the little rooms that held the cats, a skinny black kitten came to the glass and stared right at me and yowled. Then she put her front paws up on the glass and yowled louder. The shelter volunteer I was with said, “These are the kittens, but we have some older cats in the back.” But I was starstruck by this little black kitten. I said, ‘No, this is the cat. This is the right cat.’ Twelve years later, Isa is here sitting on my lap as I write this.
As the name implies, a power animal can empower you with their most dynamic traits. So, if you want to transform an area of your life, meditate on the attributes that the power animal represents. For example, you can summon the cat power animal when you:
An animal totem is a helpful symbol that represents the protective powers of the animal it represents. Therefore, a cat totem serves as a helpful symbol for manifesting more protection, good luck, and magic in your life. The cat totem is also a helpful symbol for attracting companions who will give you the comfort and support you need to reach your potential in a certain area.
Dreams are personal to the dreamer, so there is not one meaning applied to a dream of a cat. However, I do share the belief held by many Native American tribes that animal dreams can be messages from your spirit guides and that they are worth studying.
When analyzing your cat dream, it’s important to analyze the emotions you felt in your dream, whether it was fear, anger, anxiety, or some other emotion. Your feelings will help you to understand the nature of a matter that you need to address when in your wakeful, conscious state.
Many of us have cat companions whom we dream about. I had a black cat named Keith whom I often dreamed about after he passed. In addition, I would feel him getting on my bed. A psychic told me that it was simply his spirit communicating with me.
Our animal companions can be soulmates and thus, we connect with them on a spiritual as well as physical level. So, dreaming of your own cat can be a spiritual connection. Having anxious dreams about your cat can mean that you need to attend to them more closely in your wakeful state.
If you’re still curious about what dreaming of a cat or cats might mean, be sure to visit my dedicated post on cat dream meaning for additional ideas.
A cat tattoo is a lovely tribute to these special animals. Certainly, cat lovers everywhere would understand why you would get a tattoo of your own kitty. But even a general depiction of a cat sends the message that you adore these elegant and insightful creatures. Tattoos are personal to each individual, but hopefully understanding cat symbols and mythology can bring deeper meaning to your tattoo.
Every year, approximately 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters in the U.S. alone. And roughly 860,000 of these cats are euthanized.12 Although they are predators with sharp teeth and claws, cats are actually extremely vulnerable in the human-dominated world. If you care about cats, please do what you can to protect them. Here are some organizations that work to protect the safety and well-being of our feline friends:
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4 Responses
Beautiful! Thank you! I was gifted the presence of a cat during this time, to help me in making a decision.
I am happy to hear this!
Lovely article. Well written very informative. Thanks!
Thank you!