Animal Farm

by

George Orwell

The Cat Character Analysis

A greedy and self-serving farm cat. She’s only interested in participating in the rebellion when there’s no cost or danger to do so, and she’s only willing to support Animalism when it might help her—though it’s implied that she doesn’t truly believe in the ideology even then; she parrots its ideals to try to dupe birds she’d like to eat. The cat disappears before Napoleon turns Animal Farm into an entirely totalitarian state.
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The Cat Character Timeline in Animal Farm

The timeline below shows where the character The Cat appears in Animal Farm. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Revolution and Corruption Theme Icon
Class Warfare Theme Icon
Language as Power Theme Icon
...foolish mare Mollie shakes her braided and beribboned mane while she munches sugar, and the cat finds the warmest spot between Boxer and Clover. The cat doesn’t listen to Old Major... (full context)
Totalitarianism Theme Icon
Revolution and Corruption Theme Icon
Suddenly, the dogs catch sight of four rats listening in and chases them back to their holes. Old Major... (full context)
Chapter 3
Revolution and Corruption Theme Icon
Class Warfare Theme Icon
The Soviet Union Theme Icon
...harder!” All the animals work as hard as they can, save for Mollie and the cat. Mollie struggles to rise in the morning and often leaves work early because of stones... (full context)
Chapter 4
Totalitarianism Theme Icon
Class Warfare Theme Icon
...Snowball flattens Mr. Jones as Boxer strikes at men with his front hooves. Even the cat leaps on a man, and the animals send the men racing for the main gate.... (full context)
Chapter 7
Totalitarianism Theme Icon
Revolution and Corruption Theme Icon
The Soviet Union Theme Icon
...since Mr. Jones’s departure that there’s been bloodshed on the farm. The animals—except for the cat, who disappeared—lie down together near the windmill while Boxer paces. Boxer announces that he wouldn’t... (full context)