CAT

Wild Word Friday!

You knew I’d have to follow up last Friday’s DOG day with a CAT day, right?

CATs haven’t been domesticated nearly as long as dogs, and I think most CAT lovers recognize that streak of wild in their pets. A couple of summers ago, my brother and his wife and daughter were visiting from Oregon. They brought their CAT George with them. George escaped the confines of the house one night and for five days we didn’t see or hear from him. My niece was heartbroken, and we were heartbroken for her. I was pretty sure one of the wild animals that lurk nearby had finished him off. (We or our neighbors have seen bears, wolves, coyotes, bobCATs, lynx, and cougars in our woods.)

Then in the middle of night six, my brother heard a plaintive “Me-owww” at the door, and there was George. Fine and fat and sassy. CATs do pretty well in the wild. Ther are definitely survivors!

Because CATs were domesticated fairly recently, the European words for CAT are closely related, the largest difference being the K-C/G switch. Here are a few samples: Italian – gatto; Spanish – gato; Danish – kat; Old High German – kazza ; Lithuanian – kate; Slavic – katuka; Polish – kot; Russian – koska; Irish – catt.

The original Greek words for CAT are related to their words for fast moving and tail.

My family has had a long tradition of yellow CATs named Squeaky Tailer.  There’s something very endearing about a big old yellow tomcat. (And then there are other things that aren’t so endearing!)  

Do you have a CAT? Wild or not so wild?

Blessings,

Sue