Cats and Medieval Manuscripts

[Arizona_Mike]

I guess medieval manuscripts count as a form of media, so…

One of our cats acquired the habit of urinating on a newspaper if we left it spread out on the table, which infuriated me. I just learned that this is apparently common cat behavior, and has been so since the middle ages. This charming blog article shows evidence of cats intruding on the work of scribes, including a rather angry curse written against a cat for urinating on a new manuscript. I love the photo of the cat’s paw prints where they walked through the ink of a freshly inscribed manuscript, and can just imagine the scene that resulted:

medievalfragments.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/paws-pee-and-mice-cats-among-medieval-manuscripts/

But as the author notes, cats were common companions of scribes, as they prevented rats from eating the fragile manuscripts…so along with Irish monks, we Catholics can thank the cats for helping preserve the knowledge of the ages. The monks also probably enjoyed the companionship, despite the cats’ occasional transgressions.

Now if my cat just stop using the paper as a litter box…

 

[Coatimundi]

The 15th c. manuscript may have been carefully written to page, however it was monochromatic and lacked illumination. The scribe’s cat, seeing the error of his owner, was merely helping out by adding some pleasing images.

Granted the cat’s artistry was probably not appreciated by contemporary standards of his day. However, like many great artists, his work was re-discovered after his death. In the light of changing artistic styles, Kitty’s work could be appreciated for the genius of its elegance.

Were the cat living and working in the 20th century, (not to mention our present era) I have no doubt that he would have been feted by art critics and by rewarded by gallery owners. Other artists would have taken inspiration from his work, and imitated his style.

 

[Miserissima]

I hate to sound like Heloise but…if you get some liquid vapo (or any mentholated liquid) and lightly spray over the paper, it will usually repel the cat.

Put just a capful or two in a spray bottle with water and set the nozzle to the finest mist. Spray from up high so that the paper doesn’t get soaked and it has a larger area to cover.

If menthol doesn’t work (it should), try another herb or spice oil, like clove or cinnamon. Best of luck!

 

[tabycat]

I hate to sound like Heloise but…if you get some liquid vapo (or any mentholated liquid) and lightly spray over the paper, it will usually repel the cat.

Put just a capful or two in a spray bottle with water and set the nozzle to the finest mist. Spray from up high so that the paper doesn’t get soaked and it has a larger area to cover.

If menthol doesn’t work (it should), try another herb or spice oil, like clove or cinnamon. Best of luck!

Just do not use catnip!!! You will have even more problems!

 

[Cricket2]

Don’t get mad, get concerned.

If you cat has not done this before he/she is trying to tell you there is a problem most likely. Like the litter box is too dirty if you use one. Or, that they feel like someone else or something else is intruding on their territory. ?Is there a new tom cat in the area or a new female in heat?

Other issues could include bladder infections or stones. If this continues and is new behavior you need kitty to make an appointment with the vet. Sometimes moving a litter box to a new spot can also cause this behavior, or the need to find a more private spot.

Give some thought to your cat’s overall behavior and see if there are other changes or differences. Try to figure out what kitty is saying to you and if there is something you need to change.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Thanks for posting this, Arizona Mike.

It made me laugh!

Typical cat behavior. I can only imagine it happening back then.

Every cat I have had has always had to get into my papers and has had to involve itself in the middle of what I was doing.

Now my husband and I laugh and say that “Kitty is learning by osmosis” when our current cat lays on top of our papers or books.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Don’t get mad, get concerned.

If you cat has not done this before he/she is trying to tell you there is a problem most likely. Like the litter box is too dirty if you use one. Or, that they feel like someone else or something else is intruding on their territory. ?Is there a new tom cat in the area or a new female in heat?

Other issues could include bladder infections or stones. If this continues and is new behavior you need kitty to make an appointment with the vet. Sometimes moving a litter box to a new spot can also cause this behavior, or the need to find a more private spot.

Give some thought to your cat’s overall behavior and see if there are other changes or differences. Try to figure out what kitty is saying to you and if there is something you need to change.

Thank you for the suggestions. She hasn’t done it in a while, and that was not long after we received her as a shelter cat, so I don’t know what her environment was like before - perhaps her former owners laid newspapers out for her to pee on in an apartment, and she thought she was following the rules. We squirted her a few times with a squirt gun when she jumped on the table and she stopped doing it. Although from the medieval evidence, it may just be something cats like to do.

 

[NeedsMercy]

Ah, the vagaries of being a cat parent! Just today, I found that one of my books had been doused; but I have no one to blame but myself for leaving the book on the floor. That’s like a big sign saying “Pee Here”.

 

[Cricket2]

Thank you for the suggestions. She hasn’t done it in a while, and that was not long after we received her as a shelter cat, so I don’t know what her environment was like before - perhaps her former owners laid newspapers out for her to pee on in an apartment, and she thought she was following the rules. We squirted her a few times with a squirt gun when she jumped on the table and she stopped doing it. Although from the medieval evidence, it may just be something cats like to do.

Ah. Yes a history in a shelter could explain this behavior. She might be a little stressed about something. There are products that you can plug into your wall socket that are based on hormones that calm cats. This might help.

We have two indoor and one outdoor kitty’s and this was needed to stop some territorial behaviors. It works like magic.

And yes, I do think it is pretty typical behavior on their part. They must have our full attention it seems, and if they feel the least bit put off by their human they will let it be known. My mama cat loves to get hold of my hair clips and bat them all over the house. Just so the dogs can have something to chew on that won’t pass through without some sort of terror on our part.