Ever wondered how it feels to get scratches in return after giving your cat all your love, food, and shelter? 😄
Of course, if you truly love your cat, you probably don't mind those scratchy "love bites" anymore.
Some people even believe that cats are immortal — though no one's been able to prove that yet (lol). But jokes aside, cats really are remarkable pets. They have abilities most other animals don't — like lightning-fast reflexes, sky-high jumps, unmatched sleeping skills, and mood swings that would put any drama queen to shame.
Keeping all these quirky traits in mind, we've put together 20 purr-fect cat poems — not written by cats, of course, but we're pretty sure your cat will love you even more when you read them out loud.
So relax, scroll down, and enjoy the feline poetry ride. 🐾
1. "The Naming of Cats" – T.S. Eliot
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily…
2. "Macavity: The Mystery Cat" – T.S. Eliot
Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw—
For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime—Macavity's not there!
3. "The Cat and the Moon" – W.B. Yeats
The cat went here and there
And the moon spun round like a top,
And the nearest kin of the moon,
The creeping cat, looked up.
Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,
For, wander and wail as he would,
The pure cold light in the sky
Troubled his animal blood.
4. "My Cat Jeoffry" – Christopher Smart
For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry…
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
5. "The Rum Tum Tugger" – T.S. Eliot
The Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat:
If you offer him pheasant he would rather have grouse.
If you put him in a house he would much prefer a flat,
If you put him in a flat then he'd rather have a house.
6. "To a Cat" – Jorge Luis Borges
Mirror is not more silent
nor the creeping dawn more secretive;
you are master of the room,
a moonbeam on the black floor.
7. "The Cat" – Charles Baudelaire
Come, my fine cat, against my loving heart;
Sheathe your sharp claws, and settle.
And let my eyes into your pupils dart
Where agate sparks with metal.
8. "On a Night of Snow" – Elizabeth Coatsworth
Cat, if you go outdoors, you must walk in the snow.
You will come back with little white shoes on your feet,
little white slippers of snow that have heels of sleet.
9. "The Kitten and Falling Leaves" – William Wordsworth
See the Kitten on the wall,
Sporting with the leaves that fall,
Withered leaves—one—two—and three—
From the lofty elder-tree!
10. "The Cat's Song" – Marge Piercy
Mine, says the cat, putting out his paw of darkness.
My lover, my friend, my slave, my toy, says
the cat, but I sing to you in the mornings
walking round and round your bed and into
your face.
📝 Want to Create Your Poem?
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11. "Pangur Bán" – Anonymous (9th Century Irish Poem)
I and Pangur Bán, my cat,
'Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.
12. "The Cat" – Eleanor Farjeon
The Cat, she walks alone,
And all places are alike to her.
Who are you?
Says the Cat.
I am the Cat.
13. "Cat" – J.R.R. Tolkien
The fat cat on the mat
may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
for him, or cream;
but he free, maybe,
walks in thought unbowed,
proud, where loud
roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim.
14. "The Cat and the Fiddle" – Mother Goose
Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
15. "The Cat of Cats" – William Brighty Rands
I am the cat of cats. I am
The everlasting cat!
Cunning, and old, and sleek as jam,
The everlasting cat!
16. "The Cat's Dream" – Léopold Sédar Senghor
The cat curls up in the hollow of the warm night,
He purrs in his dream, dreaming of a mouse,
Of milk, of love, of fine fat rats.
17. "The Cat" – Théophile Gautier
I am the cat who walks alone,
And all places are alike to me.
I am the cat who comes at night,
Soft-footed, silent, and unseen.
18. "The Cat" – W.H. Davies
When I play with my cat,
who knows if I am not a pastime to her
more than she is to me?
19. "A Cat in an Empty Apartment" – Wisława Szymborska
Die—you can't do that to a cat.
Since what can a cat do
in an empty apartment?
Climb the walls?
Rub against the furniture?
20. "The Cat's Prayer" – Anonymous
Let me in or let me out,
That is all I ask about.
Feed me, pet me, keep me warm,
And I'll spare you from my claws' harm.
🐾 Final Thoughts
These 20 whisker-twitching poems prove that cats have ruled literature as fiercely as they rule our homes. From T.S. Eliot's theatrical felines to ancient Irish verses about scholarly cats, these poems capture every aspect of our feline friends — their independence, their mystery, their unconditional demands for attention, and yes, even their scratching habits.
Whether your cat is a drama queen like the Rum Tum Tugger, a master criminal like Macavity, or just a simple house cat with big dreams, these verses celebrate the unique bond between humans and cats. Reading them aloud might not guarantee scratch-free furniture, but it will definitely give you a deeper appreciation for your furry overlord.
Cat lovers know that our pets don't just live with us — they rule our hearts, our homes, and apparently, our poetry too. These timeless verses remind us why we fell in love with these mysterious creatures in the first place, scratches and all.
If your feline still scratches after reading these… well, at least you tried! Maybe they're just a critic with high literary standards. 😸
Want to explore more delightful poetry? Check out our AI Poem Generator to create your own verses about your beloved pets.
