Cat gods, goddesses, deities, and demons : a guide to feline folklore and mythology

Cat gods, goddesses, deities, and demons A guide to feline folklore and mythology

Natalie Bovis-Nelsen

Book - 2025

"Discover 51 of the most common and not-so-common cat gods, goddesses, deities, and demons from around the world and how to incorporate their Divine Feline Energy into your daily life. Throughout time, felines have played a sacred role in human life. Archeologists have found cat remains buried with humans as far back as the tenth millennium BCE in Cyprus, and the Greek goddess Hecate is said to have regularly assumed the form of a cat. Hieroglyphics tell us that ancient Egyptians worshipped cat gods, and their queen Cleopatra had a kitty companion in her palace whom she called Tivali. A Chinese cat goddess called Li Shou is said to have protected farmers from mice, and Ai Apaec was a pre-Inca god with fangs and whiskers said to have de...scended from an even more ancient cat god. This book is more than a guide to ancient cat gods. It's an exploration of the way humans have observed, interacted with, learned from, and revered another species who share the Earth with us. Ancient folklore is rife with examples of animal cunning and compassion, and many humans invoked other species as spiritual guides or flat out worshipped them as gods. Arguably, cats are the most intriguing of animals because of how we can relate to them. Much like us, they are free spirits and adaptable survivors. We admire them for their dignity, independence, and ferocity. In this gorgeously illustrated guidebook, you'll meet 51 feline deities and demons from four geographical families around the world-Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe. You'll also encounter mystical cats who work in alliance with human gods and goddesses. The feline entities come from different eras and cultures all over the world. Some are angelic guides, and others, demonic adversaries, but all play a role in our understanding of feline deities and why they became to be so. Learn all about these sacred godlike creatures, including what they look like, what they symbolize, and how you can use their spirit and ancient wisdom to tap into your own Divine Feline Energy"--

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Subjects
Cats > Folklore.
Cats > Mythology.
Published
Philadelphia : Running Press 2025.
Language
English
Main Author
Natalie Bovis-Nelsen (author)
Other Authors
Lucy (Illustrator) Rose (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
pages cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9780762488018
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

For almost ten thousand years, cat lovers have believed in their felines' uniqueness. Here, writer and animal advocate Bovis explores the Divine Feline Energy that flows across the continents. In her introduction, Bovis provides a historical introduction to cats big and small, particularly focusing on their special connection with humans. She then shares her deep knowledge of cat deities and demons over the ages in 51 entries, featuring figures from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe (cats were not native to Australia and the Pacific Islands). Much of the information is rooted in Indigenous societal knowledge, and the names of most of the cats are probably unknown to the general public. The author provides a detailed historical overview of each region, and two-to-three page entries follow, arranged alphabetically. Each entry defines the specific cat, its characteristics, its history, and its relationship with humans; most entries begin with an imaginative illustration of the cat by Lucy Rose. Acknowledgements and a list of sources complete the book. This work is a knowledgeable and loving tribute to these sacred feline manifestations.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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