The Selfish Pussy by Edith Nesbit
A selfish tortoiseshell cat recounts her experiences living with various families, including a shoemaker who used cat fur, a poor musician who made violins with dead cat strings, and a rich family who forgot to provide for her. She eventually finds happiness with a silver worker who gives her cream every day. In contrast, a grey cat lives with a poor widow in an attic and stays with her out of love, which the tortoiseshell cat dismisses as nonsense.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1904 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 784 words
First lines
"YES," said the tortoiseshell cat to the grey one, as she thoughtfully washed her left ear, "I have lived in a great many families. You see, it's not every trade that deserves to have a cat about the place. My first master was a shoemaker, and I lived with him happily enough, until one morning in winter, when I found the wicked man sewing strips of -- let me whisper -- _cat's fur_ on a pair of lady's slippers!
"I mewed as I saw it, and he, thinking I wanted milk, put down his work to get me some, for he was fond enough of me. I drank the milk, and then I ran away. I could not live with such a man.
What this Textopian page supports
The Selfish Pussy is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 784 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Selfish Pussy by Edith Nesbit
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Selfish Pussy?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Work by Edith Nesbit
- The Wouldbegoods by Edith Nesbit
- The Least Possible by Edith Nesbit
- The Spiders Tale by Oliver Herford
- The Singsong Of Old Man Kangaroo by Rudyard Kipling
- The Two Foxes The Mole And The Crows by Basil Hall Chamberlain
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is simple and straightforward, with anthropomorphized animals as main characters, a common feature in children's literature.
- Fantasy — The story involves talking animals, which is a common element in fantasy literature.
- Adventure — The tortoiseshell cat's journey through different homes and experiences can be considered an adventure.
- Social Commentary — The story subtly comments on different social classes and occupations through the cat's various owners.
Tags
Children's literature · Fantasy fiction · Short stories · Feminism · Satire · Social commentary · Humor · Whimsical · Imaginative · Quirky · Unconventional · Morality tale