Cat Curiosities and Trends

Although music cannot be put on display, it is nonetheless a part of cat history, as numerous composers have been stimulated by the beauty and movement of cats.

Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) claimed that his cat, Pulcinella, helped in his compositions.

Pulcinella had a habit of walking along the keys of Scarlatti's harpsichord, and on one occasion this inspired. him to compose Fugue in G Minor, L.499, now generally known as The Cat's Fugue.

This musical association was taken to the extreme by Japanese makers of the samisen, an instrument similar to a guitar - cat skin was stretched across its soundbox, and its strings were made from cat intestines.

In 17th-cenrury Italy violin makers advertised the use of catgut in their instruments, although in reality it was sheepgut. They did this to protect tneir design. but the term has stuck because of the din produced by inexpert violinists, which is often compared to the caterwauling of mating cats

The preneutering days generated many unwanted cats, which led to a fashion during the 19th century for preserving these animals in the name of art. For example, taxidermist Walter Potter produced a number of works in which stuffed kittens were posed in human scenarios.

Such a practice seems distasteful today, although the success of the 1980s cartoon book, 101 Uses for a Dead Cat. suggests that modern tastes have barely changed.