Pussy Cat Pussy Cat Lyrics
"Where have you been?" "I've been to London to look at the Queen." This question-and-answer rhyme about a traveling cat was first printed in 1805.
Pussy Cat Pussy Cat
"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat,
Where have you been?"
"I've been to London
To look at the Queen."
The second verse
"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat,
What did you there?"
"I frightened a little mouse
Under the chair."
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/pussy-cat-pussy-cat/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes, Mother Goose
- First published
- 1805
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 1 to 5 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, where have you been? | Hold your hands out, palms up, asking. |
| I've been to London to look at the Queen | Put a pretend crown on your head and curtsy or bow. |
| I frightened a little mouse under the chair | Pounce with cat paws, then pretend to be a mouse running away. |
What Does Pussy Cat Pussy Cat Mean?
A cat goes all the way to London to see the Queen, but the only thing it does there is chase a mouse under a chair. The joke is that a cat is still a cat, even in a palace.
The rhyme is written as a conversation, so it works well with two voices: an adult asks, the child answers.
History and Origin
The rhyme was first printed in 1805 in Songs for the Nursery, a London collection. People have suggested several queens it might refer to, but it is simply a fun idea for a cat's adventure.
Learning Activities
- Two voices: you ask the question and your child answers as the cat.
- Where have you been? Change the place and the answer: "I've been to the park to look at the ducks."
- Cat and mouse: play a gentle chasing game with one cat and one mouse.