My Pussy-Cat Has Got the Gout Lyrics
The cat is laid up with a sore foot, and the rats and mice take the chance to play about.
My Pussy-Cat Has Got the Gout
My pussy cat
Has got the gout,
And the rats and mice
Can play about.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/my-pussy-cat-has-got-the-gout/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken in a sing-song voice, with a sly look on the last line
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Has got the gout | Hold one foot up and wince. |
| the rats and mice | Wiggle your fingers like little scampering mice. |
| Can play about | Skip around the room on tiptoe. |
What Does My Pussy-Cat Has Got the Gout Mean?
Gout is a painful illness that makes the joints swell, often the joints of the foot. A cat that is sore cannot chase anything, so the rhyme says the rats and mice can play about without fear.
The humour is the quick change of sides. The cat is usually the hunter, but today the mice are free. The rhyme is four short lines, with gout and about ending the second and fourth.
History and Origin
The verse comes from The Little Mother Goose, published in 1912.
Learning Activities
- Cat and mice: one child is the sore cat sitting still while the others creep about as mice.
- Sore paw: talk about what you do when you hurt your foot, and how you look after a hurt pet.
- Quiet mouse game: move around the room as quietly as a mouse and freeze if the cat looks up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gout?
A painful illness that makes the joints swell, often in the foot.
Why can the rats and mice play about?
The cat is ill with the gout, so it cannot chase them.