Even the name Jellicle cat can arouse child-like curiosity. What exactly is a Jellicle Cat? Where can I get one? Unfortunately, you can only get this cat in your dreams or in your imagination while reading literature. These cats are a concept created by humans by the poet TS Eliot.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you want to know about the Jellicle Cat to brush up on your English history.
Where was the term “Jellicle cat” used?
In 1933, Jellicle Cats was mentioned in TS Eliot’s poem “Five Finger Exercise”. It was a short excerpt and left the reader wondering even more about what exactly a Jellicle Cat is. The song was later revisited when Eliot delved deeper in his poem “The Jellicle Song.”
So TS Eliot created an idea that has stood the test of time and has become a classic of mass ratios.
TS Eliot’s poem “The Jellicle Song”
Jellicle Cats will be appearing tonight,
The Jellicle Cats keep coming.
The Jellicle Moon shines brightly—
The Jellicle comes to the Jellicle Ball.
Jellicle Cats is black and white,
Jellicle cats are quite small.
Jellicle Cats are cheerful and bright.
And it’s fun to listen to when they catterwall.
Jellicle Cats look full of energy,
Jellicle cats have bright black eyes.
They like to practice their atmosphere and elegance
Then wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise.
Jellicle cats grow slowly, but
Jellicle Cats aren’t that big.
Jellicle Cats is Rorypoly,
They know how to dance gavottes and jigs.
Until Jellicle Moon appears
They make a toilet and take a rest.
Jelly wash behind the ears,
The jelly will dry between your toes.
Jellicle cats are white and black,
Jellicle cats are moderately sized.
Jellicle cats jump like jumping jacks.
Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes.
It’s quite quiet in the morning, but
It’s quiet enough in the afternoon,
Preserving Terpsichorean Power
Dancing under the light of the Jellicle Moon.
Jellicle Cats is black and white,
Jellicle Cats are (like I said) small.
If it’s a stormy night
They practice the caper once or twice in the hall.
The sun will shine brightly if that happens
You would say they had nothing to do.
They are saving themselves by resting and getting right.
For Jellicle Moon and Jellicle Ball.
Other references to Jellicle Cats in history
Jellicle Cats were originally mentioned in the 1933 poem “Five Finger Exercise”. In this, they are portrayed as untidy and friendly, both white and black. Canines are not excluded from this poem, and the Poricle Dog is also mentioned.
Poricle dog is a play on “poor little dog,” and Jellicle cat means “dear little cat.”
Jellicle Cats may have originally sprung from the imagination of TS Eliot. However, they were adapted into the 1981 production of the musical Cats, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. In this work, they move away from the traditional black and white and instead have a variety of coat colors and personalities.
The 1986 film Logan’s Run interestingly features the purchase of Jellicle Cats.
In 2017, a picture book featuring “The Jellicle Song” was published by Faber and Faber, in which standalone poems were published.
Madame Tussauds New York has Jellicle Cats wax figures on display since 2019, including Grizabella, who performed the Cats theme song.
So you can see how much the Jellicle Cats concept influenced pop culture.
Jellicle Cat Rescue Foundation
There is a conservation foundation named after the infamous fictional Jellicle Cats. Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Long Beach, California.
They perform TNR (short for Trap, Neuter, Release) to reduce the breeding of homeless cats. They spread awareness about responsible pet ownership to help reduce the epidemic of homelessness in the county and around the world.
You can also adopt a cat through this program. If this is not possible, you can always gather resources and other information from the Foundation.
There is no breed called the Jellicle cat.
Unfortunately, there is no cat breed named after the infamous Jellicle cat. In the future, cultivars may be developed that adopt this name to commemorate the work of TS Eliot. However, in modern times, you cannot keep a Jellicle cat for yourself.
conclusion
Now you know more about these fictional historical cats. It’s truly a wonder how our domestic pets inspired so much creativity in human consciousness. Jellicle Cats lives on through the writings, works, teachings, and memories of those familiar with the older works.
One thing is for sure: every cat lover wants to own their own fictional Jellicle cat.
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Featured image credit: Impact Photography, Shutterstock
