Theophile Gautier Cat Quotations

If you are worthy of its affection, a cat will be your friend but never your slave.

It is a difficult matter to gain the affection of a cat. He is a philosophical, methodical animal, tenacious of his own habits, fond of order and neatness, and disinclined to extravagant sentiment. He will be your friend, if he finds you worthy of friendship, but not your slave.

[A cat] will lie the whole evening on your knee, purring and happy in your society...

[A cat] will make itself the companion of your hours of work, of loneliness, or of sadness.

Cats are the tigers of us poor devils.

Sometimes he will sit on the carpet in front of you, looking at you with eyes so melting, so caressing and so human, that they almost frighten you, for it is impossible to believe that a soul is not there.

Once [a cat] has given its love, what absolute confidence, what fidelity of affection!

It is difficult to obtain the friendship of a cat.

The cat makes himself the companion of your hours of solitude, melancholy and toil.

The cat is a dilettante in fur.

Sometimes he sits at your feet looking into your face with an expression so gentle and caressing that the depth of his gaze startles you.

Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!