Pussy Cat by the Fire Lyrics
A cat and a dog who are actually polite to each other. The little dog walks in, asks the cat how she is doing, and she answers with perfect manners.
Pussy Cat by the Fire
Pussy-cat sits by the fire;
How can she be fair?
In walks the little dog;
Says: "Pussy, are you there?
How do you do, Mistress Pussy?
Mistress Pussy, how d'ye do?"
"I thank you kindly, little dog,
I fare as well as you!"
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/pussy-cat-by-the-fire/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
What Does Pussy Cat by the Fire Mean?
The cat is curled up in the warmest spot in the house. The little dog comes in, finds her there, and greets her like a visitor: "How do you do, Mistress Pussy?" She replies that she is doing as well as he is. I fare as well as you is an old way of saying "I'm as well as you are."
Mistress was a polite title for a woman, like Mrs. today. Calling the cat Mistress Pussy makes the whole scene sound like two neighbors meeting over tea.
History and Origin
The rhyme is part of The Real Mother Goose (1916), the source of the words here. Cats in old English rhymes are often called Pussy or Puss, the everyday pet name for a cat, which is also how the cat got her name in Puss in Boots.
Learning Activities
- Puppet show: use a toy cat and a toy dog and let your child act out the greeting in their own voices.
- Good manners: practice saying "How do you do?" and "I'm well, thank you" the way the animals do.
- Cat spotting: if you have a cat, notice where it likes to sleep. Is it always the warmest place?