Ahh, cats! One of the most iconic and essential creatures that encapsulate the true bookworm aesthetic. Whether it’s curling up with your feline friend by the fire to start a new book or envisioning your cat as a sidekick to your daydreams of being a witch like in many of your fantasy stories, cats are an essential part of our modern literary culture.
Well, July 10 marks National Kitten Day, and in the bookish world of Bookstr, we thought it would be important to bring in some reminders of famous cats we’ve encountered through literature.
5. Bombalurina from Old Possum’s Books of Practical Cats
Bombalurina might be a more popular name for theatre fans who are aware of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats on Broadway. However, before that, we had the original Bombalurina in T.S. Eliot’s poetry book Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, which the musical adapted its storyline from. Feisty, assertive, and confident, Bombalurina is an iconic cat character we find in poetry and on stage.
4. Cheshire Cat from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
There are many iconic characters in Lewis Caroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and the Cheshire Cat is one of them! Appearing in books, movies, political cartoons, and even more aspects of pop culture, the Cheshire Cat is a high contender on this list of iconic cats in literary history! His wide, soul-probing eyes and creepy, crescent-shaped smile are iconic characteristics of this feline.
3. Hobbes from Calvin & Hobbes
This beloved comic from the mid-80s features Calvin and his imaginary friend, a stuffed tiger named Hobbes. Hobbes serves to be a sardonic but guiding voice for the many, many misadventures of the mischievous, six-year-old Calvin, making him a lovely literary cat to reminisce on this National Kitten Day.
2. Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service
Did you know before Kiki’s Delivery Service became a movie, it started out as a children’s fantasy novel? Yes, and what’s a more endearing character than Jiji, Kiki’s beloved black cat that follows and aids her adventures into becoming a fully developed witch. Not only are cats the perfect sidekicks for witches, but they also fulfill the true bookish aesthetic!
1. The Cat in the Hat from The Cat in the Hat
You can’t celebrate National Kitten Day without one of the most iconic childhood literary cats! Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat is a quirky and lovable classic for children and adults today to celebrate National Kitten Day!