A Kingdom of Cat Lovers

Long before the internet’s modern obsession with feline companions, the people of China’s Song Dynasty (960–1279) elevated cat adoration to an art form. Far from mere mousers, cats were cherished family members, celebrated in poetry, pampered with luxury goods, and even entangled in political drama. From elaborate “marriage” rituals to specialized markets serving every feline whim, Song society’s devotion to cats reveals a surprisingly modern pet culture flourishing a millennium ago.

The Sacred Ritual of “Marrying” a Cat

In Song culture, acquiring a cat was no casual transaction—it was a ceremonial courtship. The term “marrying a cat” (聘猫) reflected the belief that these graceful creatures possessed feminine elegance, earning poetic nicknames like “Jade-Faced Raccoon” or “Snow Maiden.” The process unfolded in three sacred steps:

### 1. The Matchmaking Inspection
Song cat connoisseurs consulted manuals like The Classic of Cat Physiognomy, which prescribed ideal traits:
– Head: Round like “a full moon,” symbolizing honesty
– Ears: Small and delicate, never thick (“pointed faces steal chickens”)
– Paws: Strong hind legs for superior mousing—tested by dangling cats by their ears or tossing them against walls (those who clung tight passed)

### 2. The Bride Price
Prospective owners presented symbolic gifts:
– Fish skewers: Poet Huang Tingjian offered “willow-wrapped dried fish to woo the butterfly-mouthed cat” (cats with dark chin markings)
– Salt packets: In Wu dialect regions, “salt” (盐) homophonously meant “fate” (缘), representing a binding bond
– Hemp fibers: Shaoxing families used hemp (苎), punning on “managing a household” (持), to ensure the cat would dutifully guard the home

### 3. The Feline Marriage Contract
A formal “Cat Betrothal Document” outlined expectations:
> “This spotted feline shall patrol granaries without rest, hunt rodents without pause, never harm livestock nor steal food… Should it flee, it shall face the whip before the ancestors.”

Witnessed by deities like the Queen Mother of the West, these contracts blurred the line between pet ownership and kinship. Contemporary poems describe owners weeping at partings, lamenting “raising a cat is like raising a daughter.”

Bringing Kitty Home: Song-Era Cat Parenting

The Chongzheng Pimiu Almanac prescribed meticulous homecoming rituals:

1. The Royal Procession: Transport cats in cloth-lined buckets, smoothing road gaps with stones (to prevent “second thoughts”)
2. Household Introductions: New cats bowed to the Kitchen God (family registrar) and sniffed resident dogs to prevent jealousy
3. Litter Training: Owners planted the cat’s scent-marked stick in a dirt pile—the 12th-century equivalent of a litter box
4. Anti-Escape Protocol: Alternating pork liver treats with light bamboo spankings taught cats to stay put

The Purr-fect Economy: Song Cat Markets

Urban centers like Kaifeng’s Xiangguo Temple hosted thriving feline marketplaces:

– Gourmet Dining: Vendors delivered live “fish minnows” (yuqiu) for discerning cats; “drunken cat cakes” blended catnip (茴香) and mint into addictive treats
– Fashion & Entertainment: Silk neck ribbons and jingling bells appeared in tomb murals; paintings like Court Ladies Playing with Cats show early feather wands
– Healthcare: “Cat-Dog Adjusters” (veterinarians) offered solutions for:
– Excessive meowing: Nose-rubs with tangerine peel powder
– Fleas: Peach leaf baths or camphor oil massages
– Neutering: Outdoor surgeries using reed mats as Elizabethan collars (“indoor operations cause PTSD”)

Famous Felines Who Shaped History

### 1. The Throne-Stealing Palace Cat
In 1123, a cat altered imperial succession when candidate Zhao Bóhào kicked it during Emperor Gaozong’s evaluation. The disgusted monarch instead chose the cat-friendly Zhao Bóshòu—future Emperor Xiaozong, architect of the golden “Qianchun Era.”

### 2. Qin Hui’s Golden Scandal
The notorious chancellor mobilized Hangzhou’s guards to search every home for his granddaughter’s lost Persian “lion cat.” When the hunt failed, a gold replica was forged—a stark symbol of Qin’s excesses.

### 3. Lu You’s Soulmate Snowball
The exiled poet found solace in his mouser Xue’er (“Snowchild”), writing:
> “My former life’s pageboy, now my mountain village companion… Together we warm the bed, awaiting dawn through stormy nights.”
Their bond transcended poverty (“though our fish stew is thin, my conscience is clear”) and became emblematic of Song-era emotional dependency on pets.

The Pawprint on History

The Song Dynasty’s cat culture reflects its societal sophistication: booming urbanism enabled specialized pet economies, while Neo-Confucian ideals of harmony extended to interspecies relationships. Modern cat lovers might recognize their own devotion in Lu You’s poems or chuckle at 12th-century “cat influencers” wearing the latest silks. Yet beyond the charm lies a deeper legacy—the Song’s recognition of animals as emotional companions, not just utilities, pioneered an attitude that still defines humanity’s relationship with pets today.

As contemporary science confirms the mental health benefits of pet ownership, we might say the Song Chinese were a millennium ahead—with better-dressed cats.