Songs of the cat people
March 28, 2023 11:43 AM   Subscribe

A friend is putting together a cat-themed playlist and wants more songs, especially songs that aren’t from the Cats musical.

So far she has Stray Cat Strut, The Love Cats, Cool for Cats, Cat’s in the Cradle, Karma, and All Cats Are Grey. What are some more?
posted by kitten kaboodle to Pets & Animals (88 answers total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
Surely others will come along with "Cool for Cats" by Squeeze and "Plea from a Cat Named Virtute" by Weakerthans, so I'm gonna just drop "Walking My Cat Named Dog" by Norma Tanega and "Cactus Cat" by Look Blue Go Purple.
posted by kensington314 at 11:48 AM on March 28, 2023 [4 favorites]


Murder or a Heart Attack by Old 97's is about a runaway cat.
And the hole in the screen is barely big enough for you
And not near enough for me to go
And the whole damn complicated
Situation could've been avoided if I'd only shut the window
And I may be leavin' myself open
To a murder or a heart attack
But I'm leavin' the back door open
'Til you come back, 'til you come back
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:48 AM on March 28, 2023 [4 favorites]


What's New Pussycat?
Cat Scratch Fever
posted by Diskeater at 11:49 AM on March 28, 2023 [4 favorites]


the year of the cat al stewart
china cat sunflower grateful dead
cats under the stars jerry garcia
kitty the presidents of the united states of america
our house csny

maybe more later
posted by j_curiouser at 11:49 AM on March 28, 2023 [4 favorites]


The Weakerthans' Virtute cycle (Plea from a Cat Named Virtute, Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure, and Virtute at Rest) if you're okay with something you can't listen to without crying.
posted by babelfish at 11:49 AM on March 28, 2023 [7 favorites]


Oh there's also "Lovecats" by the Cure and if I were making a cat mixtape in the days of mixtapes I would definitely put a Cat Power song on there, probably "He War."
posted by kensington314 at 11:52 AM on March 28, 2023 [4 favorites]


Phish - Ocelot
Primus - Tommy the Cat (ft. Tom Waits)
posted by bondcliff at 11:54 AM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Well, Well, Well (My cat fell in the well)

Perhaps a not so stealthy naughty song? We may never know.

I got out a ladder and I climbed down to my pet
I saw in a jiffy that my puss was soakin' wet
Well, well, well
My cat fell in the well
Oh puss puss puss poor kitty kitty kitty
My cat fell in the well

posted by PussKillian at 11:57 AM on March 28, 2023


Y'know, the Virtute recommendations from babelfish reminded me that John K. Samson's former bandmates also have a song about a cat, "Without Love," about Chris Hannah's cat, Cronos.
posted by kensington314 at 11:57 AM on March 28, 2023


Explore the playlists of Bad Animal, the animal-themed show on WFMU. They have played lots and lots and LOTS of cat-themed songs.
posted by mark7570 at 11:58 AM on March 28, 2023


My Cat's Name Is Maceo by Jane's Addiction.

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat from Disney's The Aristocats.

Leave My Kitten Alone is a Beatles cover of a Little Willie John song.

I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat by Mel Blanc, in the voice of Tweety Bird.

Phenomenal Cat by The Kinks.

Pads, Paws, and Claws by Elvis Costello.

Pussycat Meow by Deee-Lite.

And really, I don't know how you could avoid having The Meow Mix theme Song.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 11:59 AM on March 28, 2023 [8 favorites]


Oh, "Honky Cat" by Elton John and "Kitty Cat" by Beyonce.
posted by kensington314 at 12:00 PM on March 28, 2023 [3 favorites]


Ratatat by Wildcat.
posted by Jess the Mess at 12:01 PM on March 28, 2023


putting out the fire with gasoline (cat people theme) bowie
posted by j_curiouser at 12:01 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


For fans of puns, there's always, "Katmandu" by Bob Seger.
posted by alex1965 at 12:01 PM on March 28, 2023


There's also "Cleopatra's Cat" by The Spin Doctors, a single so bad, it mercifully euthanized their career momentum.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:01 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Bridge City Sinners - “Pussy Cat” [NSFW]
posted by sacrifix at 12:03 PM on March 28, 2023


Oh, I do like the song "Alley Cat" by Benny the Jet Rodriguez.
posted by kensington314 at 12:05 PM on March 28, 2023


Cat Power, Sea of Love. not technically about a cat, but if this is in honor of a specific cat:
Do you remember when we met?
That's the day I knew you were my pet
I want to tell you
How much I love you

posted by pinochiette at 12:06 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Anything by Elvis, because in China he's known as 猫王, the Cat King.
posted by Rash at 12:06 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Tigers are cats! "The Tigers Have Spoken" by Neko Case.
posted by kensington314 at 12:08 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]


Facts About Cats, Timbuk 3.
posted by LizardBreath at 12:09 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


And yeah What's New, Pussycat? Can't have 1965 without it.
posted by Rash at 12:10 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Ooh if Tigers count: Tiger on the Lawn by Paul Cotton.
posted by PussKillian at 12:17 PM on March 28, 2023


Leave My Kitten Alone

Hello Kitty by riot-grrrl-era band Cub
posted by Frowner at 12:24 PM on March 28, 2023


Oh my god, Aesop Rock's song about his cat, Kirby. The video has both a puppet and a kitten.
posted by Frowner at 12:26 PM on March 28, 2023 [6 favorites]


Father John Misty - Goodbye Mr. Blue
[shniffle]
posted by feistycakes at 12:28 PM on March 28, 2023


amazing breadth above.

Bagheera (@ the panther from Jungle Book) from Blues Traveler, ~1991
posted by adekllny at 12:30 PM on March 28, 2023


Orriel Smith made a couple of albums of cat-meowing and hen-clucking operatic pieces. Were they performed by someone with less talent than she, they'd be terrible, but these work amazingly well. They're painfully funny, but probably best used sparingly.

After The Weakerthans, John K. Samson put a couple of Virtute-adjacent tracks on his solo albums. These ones are probably too sad to put on a mix, though.

And you gotta use the Norma Tanega one, it's so good.
posted by scruss at 12:33 PM on March 28, 2023


The cat came back
posted by Melismata at 12:34 PM on March 28, 2023 [6 favorites]


Response by poster: I know it’s tradition to ignore the question or make sideways connections, but it’s just what it says on the tin: songs about/that mention cats. Not people or bands named cat or anything like that. I’m trying to relay things to her so it’d make my job easier, thank you.

Surely others will come along with "Cool for Cats" by Squeeze
They did, since it’s in the question!
posted by kitten kaboodle at 12:35 PM on March 28, 2023 [3 favorites]


"Sheila" by Morphine
posted by LionIndex at 12:36 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Theme from the Pink Panther
posted by alex1965 at 12:37 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Jonathan Coulton, "Pictures of Cats"

Queen, "Delilah"

Aimee Mann, "Goose Snow Cone" (Songfacts "My friends post a lot of pictures of their cat, Goose, on Instagram, and she's got white fur, and she really looks like a snow cone ball. So I start writing this song, and it's really more about being homesick and lonely than it is about the cute little kitty. It's very dumb that I kept the name, but once I wrote the song, I was stuck with it.")
posted by jzb at 12:37 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]


Sorry, somehow didn't notice your below-the-fold line mentioning specific songs!
posted by kensington314 at 12:43 PM on March 28, 2023


A Fan’s Mail (Tron Song Suite II) by Thundercat.
posted by The Half Language Plant at 12:45 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


"Sunday Morning" by Ani DiFranco

Sunday morning
Sheets still warm
Kitties swarming
Around our feet

posted by skunk pig at 12:48 PM on March 28, 2023


Animal Collective, Leaf House

This house is sad . . . there's no one to say, "Meow, kitties!"
posted by meemzi at 12:49 PM on March 28, 2023


Here is music created _for_ cats; it includes elements that sound like purring and also kitten-suckling. It's been scientifically tested for effect, and it does in fact lower stress in cats more than non-cat-focused music.

The creator, David Teie, has released two albums of songs like this.
posted by amtho at 12:58 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]


AMQA - Cats Are Neat
posted by credulous at 1:07 PM on March 28, 2023


Cat’s in the Cupboard, Pete Townshend
posted by staggernation at 1:09 PM on March 28, 2023


Oh! There was a whole remix album for the the second Run the Jewels album, called "Meow the Jewels." So all the songs have cat themed titles and samples. It's on streaming.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meow_the_Jewels
posted by kensington314 at 1:11 PM on March 28, 2023


It turns out I have a lot of cat-based songs in my library. Here's what I could find in my initial sweep:

Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers An entire album of cat-based parody songs.

Whiskers in the Jar More cat parody songs.

Bella Chow (like Bella Ciao, but with more cats)

Little Green Eyes Warning: sad!

Cat Macros

Spot the Cat Data wrote a poem about his cat, Ookla the Mok made it a song.
posted by aaebig at 1:15 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]


Soft Kitty from Big Bang Theory
The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
Roar by Katy Perry
It doesn't have cats but I'm gonna sneak this in anyway.
Tarzan Boy by Baltimora
Also, check out any soundtracks from animated movies like The AristoCats, The Lion King, Gay Purr-ee, etc.
posted by TrishaU at 1:16 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]


Look What The Cat Dragged In

The cat came back

We thought it was a goner!
posted by jquinby at 1:18 PM on March 28, 2023




Hep Cat Baby, Gene Criss & the Hep Cats (there are a few covers)
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:23 PM on March 28, 2023


Ummm... Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin is about a string game, used to recall days gone by with a child, but it may turn up on your playlist.
posted by TrishaU at 1:28 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Great job, team. We're up to five out of the six songs the OP said they already had recommended back at them.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:35 PM on March 28, 2023 [11 favorites]


From the fabulous Flesh for Lulu you can have Laundromat Kat (pussycat, pussycat, where have you been? Around and a round in a washing machine.) and Cat Burglar. Then there's Takako Minekawa with Fantastic Cat, Brian Auger with Black Cat, DeWolff with Blackcat Woman, Cat on the Wall by P J Harvey, El Pussycat by The Skatalites.
posted by merocet at 1:40 PM on March 28, 2023


Cat by the Sugarcubes (possibly the most Sugarcubes song). Also in Icelandic, if you prefer.
posted by chrisulonic at 1:44 PM on March 28, 2023


Cat Wants to Be a Dog, Macha (bonus purring in the track); really wonderful, underrated band

Jazz Butcher and all his musical permutations has many cat songs; Love Kittens is one of the silliest. Another by him is Marnie.
posted by carrienation at 1:51 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Cat House by Takako Minekawa
posted by jquinby at 1:56 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


One of my favorite songs by Queen is "All Dead All Dead", which Brian May wrote about his cat (I realize that this one is a stretch, but it's a great song).
posted by alex1965 at 1:59 PM on March 28, 2023


Black Cat, Janet Jackson.
posted by Mitheral at 2:04 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


My Pal Foot Foot by The Shaggs

Your Best Friend by Dot Wiggin Band

I do not know why I know these things.
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 2:10 PM on March 28, 2023


Great job, team. We're up to five out of the six songs the OP said they already had recommended back at them.

I am disproportionately responsible. Something about a single-line below-the-jump explanation is just imperceptible to me!
posted by kensington314 at 2:12 PM on March 28, 2023


Response by poster: It’s hard! People get excited!

Thanks SO much, everyone. There’s a lot of great stuff in here.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 2:21 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Phenomenal Cat by the Kinks
posted by cabbage raccoon at 2:23 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


A few songs that mention cats (but are not primarily about cats):

Pretty Girls Don't Cry by Anna Akana
I've got 6 cats. But one ran away. Pretty fitting that Ghost was her name. She ghosted.

Weirdos by Whitney Woerz
Best friend, my cat, we're tight, weird

Stacks by Miss Eaves:
PB & Jay (jay)
Don’t even play (play)
Come to my hood
Bodega cats all day (meow)

posted by creepygirl at 2:32 PM on March 28, 2023


I can't believe no one has mentioned The In and Out Cat Song by Garrison Keillor.
posted by Dolley at 2:50 PM on March 28, 2023


Here's an art song: Samuel Barber's "The Monk and his Cat", sung by Leontyne Price from an ancient poem. This other soprano's recital version is very nice - I like how she sings!

It's based on a very old Irish poem.
posted by amtho at 2:57 PM on March 28, 2023


The delightful Chairman Meow by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion.

Full disclosure: It's mostly about the narrator's girlfriend's neighborhood in Los Angeles, but several times we're reminded that said bae has "a pretty little kitty named" ... you guessed it.
posted by virago at 3:27 PM on March 28, 2023


... And the mouse police never sleeps - my favorite Jethro Tull song
posted by thatwhichfalls at 3:29 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]


Came in here to say Kirby by Aesop Rock. Heyyy Kirby. Whatcha doin' Kirby. Why'd you eat that leaf
posted by potrzebie at 3:47 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]




I used to have an album of cat songs which I can't find online. In searches, though, I found

* Have Yourself a Feline Groovy Christmas, Mark Steyn
* Lost in Catland, compilation
* Cat Tales, Cindy Mangsen
* Catland, Dawn Coppola

Apologies if you want songs rather than albums.

Also found a discussion of cat songs, and a Readers Recommend at the Guardian.

And here are some specific songs

* Jólakötturinn, Björk (and an English version here)
* The Kittyman Sea Shanty, Trailer Park Boys
* Hold On To My Fur (I Like It), The Kiffness
* Cat Party in the Sky, Lord Kitchener
* Has Anybody Seen our Cat?

Thanks to you and your friend for the question, I had fun dredging up some of these from the back of my mind, and am enjoying other people's answers too.
posted by paduasoy at 4:17 PM on March 28, 2023


Found the album I was thinking of: A Cat-Shaped Hole in my Heart.
posted by paduasoy at 4:25 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


If kid's songs won't drive them crazy, some of the Pete the Cat stories have songs. And of course, The Cat Came Back (from the 50s) and a current kids version.
posted by kathrynm at 4:28 PM on March 28, 2023


Big cats, early Brian Eno: The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy).
posted by Rash at 4:55 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]


Rossini's Cat Duet?

(Apparently not really by Rossini)
posted by mpark at 4:58 PM on March 28, 2023


My Cat by Jack off Jill might be one of the stranger entries on your playlist. It is about a movie (Ruben and Ed) which I haven’t seen but gather is about a young man overly attached to his cat.

Also scanned through and haven’t seen mention of The Year of the Cat by Al Stewart. Forgive me if I missed it.

No lyrics but The Pogues have a very feline sound for Wild Cats of Kilkenny

And if you’re into feline sounding things (think jauntily played jazz flute) you might like Yomoti’s Cats Walking
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 5:26 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]






"Our house
Is a very very very fine house,
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy 'cos of you...."

From Our House, CSN
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:17 PM on March 28, 2023 [1 favorite]




"Smelly Cat, smelly cat,
What are they feeding you?
Smelly cat, smelly cat,
It's not your fault!"

--

An early song by Yusuf Islam was called "Kitty" - and it was from back when he was still calling himself "Cat Stevens" to boot.

--

Another cat song from another early-in-his-career person: Billy Joel was in a garage band in the late 60s called the Hassles, and here is their song "Cat".

--

Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull did a solo number called Old Black Cat.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:29 PM on March 28, 2023 [3 favorites]


Cats on Mars
posted by saladin at 4:26 AM on March 29, 2023


The Waltzing Cat, by Leroy Anderson.
posted by elphaba at 6:19 AM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]


Lucifer Sam, Pink Floyd
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:46 AM on March 29, 2023


Oh! An early U2 song, An Cat Dubh. "An cat dubh" is Irish for "the black cat"; the song itself is about a very brief affair Bono had when he and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Ali were "on a break".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:51 AM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]


Joel Plaskett's sprawling, 12+ minute "On and On and On" is all about returning home to his cat, White Fang

I really like it
posted by elkevelvet at 10:11 AM on March 29, 2023


If the tone of the collection can accommodate a song about a horny cat who likes sex parties, Arne Parrott's Otto von van Veen is hilarious.
posted by mark k at 10:59 AM on March 29, 2023


Cat Flushing a Toilet
posted by ignignokt at 11:33 AM on March 29, 2023


Woody, by Hayden
posted by krunk at 1:24 PM on March 29, 2023


Jorge Ben - Menina Gata Augusta (Sure, it's in Portuguese, but there's some very nice meowing.)
Dirt Dress - Stray Cats
Muddy Waters - Crosseyed Cat
Carl Perkins - Put Your Cat Clothes On
James Knight & The Butlers - Funky Cat
posted by hydrophonic at 1:26 PM on March 29, 2023


Ratatat by Wildcat

Flip that around - the band is Ratatat, the song is Wildcat. Features some big cat hissing too!

There's "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat" from the Aristocats movie!
posted by creatrixtiara at 2:43 AM on March 31, 2023


Well, what comes to mind for me is Mannie the Selfie Cat's video to Seneca the Product's What Up? But then you could have guessed that.
posted by y2karl at 12:11 PM on December 6, 2023


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