Feline Friends of Rare Books and Special Collections
An exploration of the beloved, mischievous and fantastical role of cats in books
'I am a Cat', chapter 1-2 (Meiji 41 1906) by Natsume SōsekiOriginal Source: University of Sydney Library, EA 5933 N271 16
Cats in the library were once a familiar sight, helping to protect valuable books and manuscripts from mice and rats. Beyond their practical role as pest controllers, these feline residents became beloved companions, charming main characters, and clever literary devices.
JeanWhyteAndBaggins (December 1962)University of Sydney Library
Baggins the Library Cat
The University of Sydney Library was once home to Baggins the library cat, seen here with Jean Whyte (Associate Librarian) in Fisher Library.
Brentano's Cat in Quartier Latin by J. S. GordongUniversity of Sydney Library
The Companion
Cats and books are a familiar and cherished combination for many a reader. Providing quiet companionship, our furry friends happily join us through never-ending research projects or on fantastical, imaginary adventures.
Cat's paw motif on leather binding (1762-1772) by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'AlembertOriginal Source: University of Sydney Library, RB Folio 3762.9
Although rare books collections are now strictly cat-free, feline friends have left their pawprints on our collections, like the marks on this cat's-paw binding. Now safely contained between two covers, cats still appear in the form of sketches, illustrations, photos and stories.
Illustration of Ada Lovelace's childhood cat (Between 1828 and 1855) by Ada Lovelace and Anne Isabella Noel ByronOriginal Source: University of Sydney Library, Add.Ms. 438
Doodles and sketches often reflect what matters to people, making drawings of cherished cats a common discovery among the pages of a book. Here is Lady Byron's sweet sketch of 'The lovely Puff', who belonged to her daughter Ada Lovelace.
Foss, Edward Lear’s devoted feline companion, appears again and again in the artist’s sketches. These drawings capture their affectionate bond.
Illustration of bakeneko cat in Bakin's 'Neko no tsuma chūgi no tsurebiki' (Bunka 2 1805) by Takizawa Bakin and Utagawa ToyokuniOriginal Source: University of Sydney Library, EA 5929.9 3
Fantastical Cats
In Edo-period Japan, artists and writers often portrayed cats as playful and fantastical characters.
Inspired by folklore and popular fiction, these feline figures blurred the line between the familiar and the imaginary.
Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai's lions (shishi) were associated with protection from misfortune. In his later years, Hokusai painted shishi almost daily as part of a ritual intended to ward off evil and begin each day anew.
Bookplate of Clan Macpherson (Unrecorded) by Alexander PopeOriginal Source: University of Sydney Library, Macdonald P119
The Feline Protector
The crest of Clan Macpherson features a wild cat and the motto, “Touch not the cat bot [without] a glove.” Traditionally, the motto is interpreted as a warning not to provoke the clan without protection.
The Scene-Setting cat
American illustrator Truman "True" Williams often used small details to enhance the mood of a scene. Here, the cat adds an air of mystery and unease, reflecting the long tradition of cats as a visual shorthand for mystery, intrigue and mischief.
British illustrator Arthur Rackham also used cats to create atmosphere. Whether representing a shape-shifting witch or a watchful presence in an enchanted woodland, the cats add a sense of mystery, tension, and wonder to the scene.
Simpkin the mischievous cat in 'The tailor of Gloucester' (1903) by Beatrix PotterOriginal Source: University of Sydney Library, RB 4803.33
The Storybook Cat
Cats have long occupied a special place in children's literature, appearing as companions, guides, tricksters, and observers. Beatrix Potter's mischievous Simpkin is one of many memorable feline characters.
The iconic illustrations of the cats in The Jungle Book and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland are part of why these stories remain vivid in the imagination of generations of readers.
Rudyard Kipling's illustration of 'The Cat That Walked by Himself' (1902) by Rudyard KiplingOriginal Source: University of Sydney Library, RB 1151.39
The Cat That Walked by Himself
Rudyard Kipling's once-wild cat secured a place in the human home without surrendering his independence. Likewise, cats have found a home between the covers of books that fill our library shelves, without losing their freedom or their air of mystery.
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