Cheshire & Wain's Favourite Famous Cat Quotes

It’s no secret that at Cheshire & Wain we love cats. We love them so much that we have our very own cat library, and we have been busy researching some of our favourite quotes.

Here are our top 10 in no particular order with some background information for any curious cats. 

This quote is often attributed to a Chinese proverb, but the origins of this quote and its exact wording can vary. It is often used metaphorically to convey the idea that some tasks or problems may be challenging, especially when there is uncertainty. 

The imagery of trying to catch a black cat in a dark room emphasises the difficulty of a task, highlighting the challenges of pursuing something ambiguous or even non-existent. 

Also known as ‘The Black Cat Analogy’ it can be used to question spirituality, philosophy, metaphysics and science. A small quote with big credentials! 

We love Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass, as he was the creator of the Cheshire Cat - our namesake and inspiration for Cheshire & Wain. 

This popular quote is often attributed to him, but there is no conclusive evidence that Lewis Carroll ever said or wrote these words. However, we all know the joy our feline friends bring to our homes so wherever these words of wisdom came from, we couldn't agree more! 

Albert Schweitzer was a theologian, organist, musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician. 

His life and work reflect a commitment to a holistic approach to ethics, combining theological, philosophical, and humanitarian principles in his pursuit of a meaningful and compassionate life. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 for his philosophy of "Reverence for Life" and his dedicated humanitarian efforts.  

He was also an accomplished and talented organist and musicologist, with his version of Bach cited as one of the best interpretations ever. If Schwietzer regarded cats as highly as music then they must be in good company! 

Frank Perkins was a British engineer and inventor best known for his work in the development of the Perkins diesel engine. This popular quote actually has no traceable source and more than likely wasn’t said by him, but we still love the sentiment. As cat owners we know how our kitties rule the roost, and trying to control their behaviour can often be futile! 

This quote is commonly attributed to Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, however no one can trace this exact statement back to any documented source. 

He was more well known as a dog lover, but we did some digging and we found that Freud did spend time living with a cat as documented in The Freud Journal of Lou Andreas-Salomé (1913). It comments that Freud was initially unsure of the cat and its affection because of it's aloofness and apparent narcissism, but he quickly warmed to it. 

Ernest Hemingway was a well-known cat lover. He was particularly fond of polydactyl cats, which are cats with six toes. The story goes that a ship's captain once gave him a polydactyl cat named Snow White, and this marked the beginning of Hemingway's affinity for these unique felines.

Hemingway's home in Key West, Florida, where he lived for many years, is now a museum and is home to around 60 cats, approximately half of which are polydactyl. The descendants of Hemingway's original cat Snow White still roam the property, and polydactyl cats are often referred to as "Hemingway cats."

This quote is taken from a letter written in 1943 to Hemingway’s first wife, Elizabeth Hadley Richardson.

Charles Bukowski was an German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer known for his raw and gritty writing style. Time Magazine once named him "the laureate of American lowlife." 

Regarded as a cult hero, his somewhat surprising love for cats shows a gentler side to the tough exterior and themes often portrayed in his writing. 

In 2016 On Cats was published, which is a collection of all Bukowski’s writing about his relationship with his feline companions. This quote is taken from Charles Bukowski’s poem My Cats. 

Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) was one of the most talented multifaceted artists of the early 20th century, most well known for being one of the pioneering artists of the surrealist, avant-garde and Dadaist movements. 

He often featured cats in his drawings, paintings, and writings, portraying them as mysterious and enigmatic creatures. One of his most notable works involving cats is his film "La Belle et la Bête" (the original Beauty and the Beast), where he incorporated a live cat into the storyline.

Do you have a favourite quote about cats? Let us know in the comments!