Why the Cat Catches Rats

Ansa was king of Calabar for fifty years. He had a very faithful cat as a housekeeper and a rat as his house-boy. The king was an obstinate, headstrong man; but he was very fond of the cat, for she had been in his store for many years.

The rat fell in love with one of the king’s servant girls; but he was poor and could not give her any presents. What, then, would he do?

At last he thought of the king’s store. In the night-time, as he was quite small, he had little difficulty in getting into the store through a hole he had made in the roof. He then stole corn and native pears, and gave them to the girl he loved.

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The Cat and the Rat

At the end of the month, when the cat had to give the king her account of the things in the store, it was found that some corn and native pears were not there. The king was very angry at this, and asked the cat how this happened. But the cat could not explain the loss, until one of her friends told her that the rat had been taking the corn and giving it to the girl.

When the cat told the king, he called the girl before him and had her whipped. He turned the rat over to the cat to be pun-ished and he then drove both of them from his home. The cat was so angry at this that she killed and ate the rat. Ever since then whenever a cat sees a rat she tries to kill and eat it.

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The Cat catches the Rat.

Thoughts About Animals

  1. When the rat laughs at the cat, there is a hole.

    The rat has not power to call the cat to account.

    The rat does not go to sleep in the cat’s bed.

  2. If the dog is not at home he barks not.

    A heedless dog will not do for the chase.

    A lurking dog does not lie in the hyena’s lair.

  3. He who cannot move an ant, and yet tries to move an elephant, shall find out his folly.

    The elephant does not find his trunk heavy.

    If there were no elephant in the jungle the buffalo would be a great animal.

  4. The butterfly that brushes against thorns will tear its wings.
  5. If the fly flies, the frog goes not supperless to bed.
  6. When the fox dies fowls do not mourn.
  7. When the goat goes abroad, the sheep must run.
  8. He who goes with a wolf will learn to howl.