Cats in the cloistersĬats are found in abundance as a status symbol in medieval religious spaces. Eulogies such as this suggest a strong emotional attachment to pet cats and show how cats not only cheered up their masters but provided welcome distractions from the hard mental craft of reading and writing. We present the earliest evidence for domestic cat (Felis catus L., 1758) from Kazakhstan, found as a well preserved skeleton with extensive osteological pathologies dating to 775940 cal CE from. In one poem, a cat is described as a scholar’s light and dearest companion. In 1406, the bright green cloth was bought to make a special cover for her cat.Ĭats were also common companions for scholars, and eulogies about cats were not uncommon in the 16th century. In 1387, she commissioned a collar embroidered with pearls and fastened by a gold buckle for her pet squirrel. In fact, the 14th-century queen of France, Isabeau of Bavaria, spent excessive amounts of money on accessories for her pets. Almost always known for being superior guard dogs or hunters, these names are perfect for the bravest dogs.

It was not unusual for high-status men and women in the middle ages to have their portrait completed in the company of a pet, most commonly cats and dogs, to signify their elevated status.īacchiacca (circa 1525), by the Italian painter Antonio d'Ubertino Verdi. We’ve included the most popular breeds from this era, which also double as great name ideas. Keeping an animal that was lavished with attention, affection, and high-quality food in return for no functional purpose - other than companionship - signified high status. Pets became part of the personal identity of the nobility. If you’re looking for a name that’ll cue the awws just as easily as your cat’s precious face, here are 195 cute cat names for your adorable kitty. Have you ever considered giving a cat a name based on art Maybe the name of a famous painter would add some color to their life. Some animal lovers have combined the two with art-themed cat names. Art is one of life’s great pleasures, and so is having a cat. Pet monkeys, for example, were considered exotic and a sign that the owner was wealthy, because they had been imported from distant lands. If you’re welcoming a new kitten or adult cat into the family and are seeking inspiration on what to name them, we’ve prepared a lengthy list of cute cat names for kitties of every kind. Artistic Cat Names: Art Themed Names for Cats. In the middle ages, men and women were often identified by the animals they kept. But despite their association with the supernatural, medieval manuscripts showcase surprisingly playful images of our furry friends.įrom these (often very funny) portrayals, we can learn a lot about medieval attitudes towards cats - not least that they were a central fixture of daily medieval life.

Their presumed links with paganism and witchcraft meant they were often treated with suspicion. Cats had a bad reputation in the middle ages.

Medieval names for cats