You've heard of several kinds of Cats,
And my opinion now is that
You should need no interpreter
To understand of OUR character.
You've learned enough to see
That Cats are very much like you and me
You've seen us both at work and games,
And learnt about our proper names,
Our habits and our habitat:
But
How would you ad-dress a Cat?
So first, your memory I'll jog,
And say: A CAT IS NOT A DOG.
So first, your memory I'll jog,
And say: A cat is not a dog.
With cats, some say, one rule is true
Don't speak 'til you are spoken to
Myself I do not hold with that I say,
You should ad-dress a cat
But always bear in mind that he resents familiarity
You bow, and taking off your hat,
Ad-dress him in his form "O Cat"!
Before a cat will condescend
To treat you as a trusted friend
Some little token of esteem is needed, like a dish of cream
And you might now and then supply
Some caviar, or Strassburg Pie,
Some potted grouse, or salmon paste-
He's sure to have his personal taste.
And so in time you reach your aim,
And finally call him by his NAME.
A Cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect.
So this is this, and that is that:
And there's how you AD-DRESS A CAT.
A Cat's entitled to expect
These evidences of respect.
So this is this, and that is that:
And there's how you AD-DRESS A CAT