"I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through"

Jules Verne’s statement, “I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through,” imbues felines with an almost mystical quality, elevating them above the ordinary. His words suggest that cats possess an ethereal nature, as if they are more than just physical creatures, but otherworldly beings gracing the human realm with their presence. The choice of the word “spirits” evokes a sense of the supernatural, hinting at the age-old belief that animals, especially cats, are connected to worlds beyond our own.

By imagining a cat walking on a cloud without falling, Verne emphasizes their grace, poise, and balance, qualities often attributed to these animals. Cats are known for their ability to move quietly, to leap and land softly, to thread through obstacles with seemingly effortless elegance. This metaphor of walking on clouds accentuates both their lightness and mystery. The cloud, insubstantial and ephemeral, is a fitting stage for such creatures; while a human would fall through, a cat would glide silently, untouched by the material world’s limitations.

There is also an undertone of reverence and awe. Cats have long inspired myth and legend, from ancient Egypt’s worship of the feline goddess Bastet to common folklore that regards cats as magical or protective beings. Verne taps into this lore, imagining that cats “come to earth” from some higher or more mysterious plane, their arrival a gift or a visitation. Their inscrutable gaze, unpredictable moods, and nocturnal habits further reinforce the sense that they live partially in a realm inaccessible to humans, a liminality that sets them apart from more mundane animals.

Ultimately, Verne’s words capture the sense of wonder that cats elicit, reminding us of the beauty in their inscrutability, their delicacy, and their enduring ability to enchant those who share their world.