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The most famous '''cats''' in the histories of [[Middle-earth]] were the cats of Queen [[Berúthiel]], nine black and one white, belonging to the Queen of King [[Tarannon]] of [[Gondor]].  As well, the cat '''[[Tevildo]]''', who developed through [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien's]] lifespan into [[Sauron]].
{{disambig-more|Cats|[[Cat (disambiguation)]]}}
[[Image:Paula DiSante - Reporting to Beruthiel.JPG|right|250px|thumb|[[Berúthiel]] and the white cat, by [[Paula DiSante]]]]
{{quote|It won't sound too pretty to say you've caught the kitten and let the cat escape.|[[Gorbag]] in ''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[Shelob's Lair (chapter)|Shelob's Lair]]"}}


[[Category:Animals]]
'''Cats''' were animals that lived in [[Arda]].
 
==History==
Other than use as company, for which the [[Hobbits]] and [[Bree-men|Bree-folk]] used pets,<ref name="RitD"/><ref name="Sign"/> cats were used for the hunt<ref name="XR"/> and for spying.<ref name="UTI7"/> They were soft-footed,<ref name="XR">{{TT|Journey}}</ref> keensighted<ref name="Journey"/> and agile.<ref name="Cirith">{{TT|Stairs}}</ref>
 
===The cats of Queen Berúthiel===
{{main|Cats of Queen Berúthiel}}
In the late ninth and possibly early tenth century of the [[Third Age]], [[Berúthiel]], wife of [[Tarannon Falastur]], the twelfth [[King of Gondor]], kept cats, nine black and one white. The marriage of Tarannon and Berúthiel was not a pleasant one: his love for the [[Belegaer|Sea]] drove her mad. She hated all making, all colours and elaborate adornment, and spent much of her time in her austere chambers with her ten cats. She hated all making, all colours and elaborate adornment, and sent her cats out to spy on everyone, learning their dark secrets. Berúthiel conversed with the cats and may have been able to read their memory. She even set the white cat to spy on the others, to torment them. The cats were feared and reviled in [[Gondor]], and people cursed upon seeing them. Berúthiel's reign of terror only came to an end at last when Tarannon banished her from the realm. He put her and her cats alone on a ship and set it adrift before a north wind. Berúthiel and her cats were last seen passing [[Umbar]], sailing away into the southern seas.<ref name="UTI7">{{UT|Istari}}, note 7</ref>
 
All memory to them was erased (and the [[Book of the Kings]]), though legends of the cats and their ability to spy remain.<ref name="UTI7"/><ref name="Journey">{{FR|Journey}}</ref>
 
===Other cats===
Though there are no other cats that play a large role in history, some are mentioned in [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] folklore (for example, the Hobbit poem ''[[Cat (poem)|Cat]]''<ref name=Cat>{{ATB|12}}</ref>). [[Bob]], the ostler of the [[Prancing Pony]], had a cat. After [[Frodo Baggins]] sang ''[[The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late]]'' (in which the ostler of an unnamed inn had a tipsy cat that played a five stringed fiddle), several patrons suggested that he had to do the same.<ref name="Sign">{{FR|Sign}}</ref> Similarly, a cat, or "four-legs", was part of an old [[Riddle-game|riddle]] [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] asked [[Gollum]].<ref name="RitD">{{H|Riddles}}</ref>
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
One of the more important cats in the development of the [[legendarium]] was [[Tevildo]], the Prince of Cats. Mentioned only in early writings of ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', Tevildo was a demonic servant of [[Melko]], who would eventually be replaced by [[Sauron]].<ref>{{LT1|Music}}, p. 52</ref> He is the principal antagonist in ''[[The Tale of Tinúviel]]''.<ref>{{LT2|I}}, passim; see pp. 53-6</ref> Other cats appearing in ''The Tale of Tinúviel'' include [[Miaulë]], [[Oikeroi]], and [[Umuiyan]].
 
In this early stages of the [[Elvish]] languages, the [[Gnomish]] vocabulary about cats was ''miog'' ("cat"), ''miaug''/''miog'' ("tom cat"), ''miaulin'' ("she cat").<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 57</ref> The [[Qenya]] word for "cat" is ''meoi''.<ref>{{LT2|Appendix}}, entry "Tevildo"</ref> Later Qenya words were ''miue'' ("cat"), ''titse'' ("kitten").<ref>{{PE|21}}, pp. 12-13, 20, 27</ref>
 
==Other fiction==
Tinker is a cat appearing in ''[[Roverandom]]''.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Roverandom]]''</ref>
 
==Inspiration==
Especially in the case of Berúthiel and Tevildo, cats in Middle-earth are portrayed in a negative light. It could be argued that Tolkien was not a cat-person. When a cat-breeder asked permission to use names from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' for her cats, Tolkien replied to [[Allen and Unwin|Allen & Unwin]]:
{{blockquote|I fear that to me Siamese cats belong to the fauna of Mordor, but you need not tell the cat breeder that.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Letter 219]] (dated [[14 October|October 14]], [[1959]])}}
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
 
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Cats are found throughout Middle-earth, especially in Bree-land. There is a "cat lady" who has a house full of cats. Lore-masters can also have a non-combat cat pet.
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Cats| ]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
 
[[de:Katzen]]

Latest revision as of 16:09, 10 October 2022

The name Cats refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Cat (disambiguation).
Berúthiel and the white cat, by Paula DiSante
"It won't sound too pretty to say you've caught the kitten and let the cat escape."
Gorbag in The Two Towers, "Shelob's Lair"

Cats were animals that lived in Arda.

History[edit | edit source]

Other than use as company, for which the Hobbits and Bree-folk used pets,[1][2] cats were used for the hunt[3] and for spying.[4] They were soft-footed,[3] keensighted[5] and agile.[6]

The cats of Queen Berúthiel[edit | edit source]

Main article: Cats of Queen Berúthiel

In the late ninth and possibly early tenth century of the Third Age, Berúthiel, wife of Tarannon Falastur, the twelfth King of Gondor, kept cats, nine black and one white. The marriage of Tarannon and Berúthiel was not a pleasant one: his love for the Sea drove her mad. She hated all making, all colours and elaborate adornment, and spent much of her time in her austere chambers with her ten cats. She hated all making, all colours and elaborate adornment, and sent her cats out to spy on everyone, learning their dark secrets. Berúthiel conversed with the cats and may have been able to read their memory. She even set the white cat to spy on the others, to torment them. The cats were feared and reviled in Gondor, and people cursed upon seeing them. Berúthiel's reign of terror only came to an end at last when Tarannon banished her from the realm. He put her and her cats alone on a ship and set it adrift before a north wind. Berúthiel and her cats were last seen passing Umbar, sailing away into the southern seas.[4]

All memory to them was erased (and the Book of the Kings), though legends of the cats and their ability to spy remain.[4][5]

Other cats[edit | edit source]

Though there are no other cats that play a large role in history, some are mentioned in Hobbit folklore (for example, the Hobbit poem Cat[7]). Bob, the ostler of the Prancing Pony, had a cat. After Frodo Baggins sang The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late (in which the ostler of an unnamed inn had a tipsy cat that played a five stringed fiddle), several patrons suggested that he had to do the same.[2] Similarly, a cat, or "four-legs", was part of an old riddle Bilbo asked Gollum.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

One of the more important cats in the development of the legendarium was Tevildo, the Prince of Cats. Mentioned only in early writings of The Book of Lost Tales, Tevildo was a demonic servant of Melko, who would eventually be replaced by Sauron.[8] He is the principal antagonist in The Tale of Tinúviel.[9] Other cats appearing in The Tale of Tinúviel include Miaulë, Oikeroi, and Umuiyan.

In this early stages of the Elvish languages, the Gnomish vocabulary about cats was miog ("cat"), miaug/miog ("tom cat"), miaulin ("she cat").[10] The Qenya word for "cat" is meoi.[11] Later Qenya words were miue ("cat"), titse ("kitten").[12]

Other fiction[edit | edit source]

Tinker is a cat appearing in Roverandom.[13]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Especially in the case of Berúthiel and Tevildo, cats in Middle-earth are portrayed in a negative light. It could be argued that Tolkien was not a cat-person. When a cat-breeder asked permission to use names from The Lord of the Rings for her cats, Tolkien replied to Allen & Unwin:

I fear that to me Siamese cats belong to the fauna of Mordor, but you need not tell the cat breeder that.
J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 219 (dated October 14, 1959)

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Cats are found throughout Middle-earth, especially in Bree-land. There is a "cat lady" who has a house full of cats. Lore-masters can also have a non-combat cat pet.

References