Cat Call: Reclaiming the Feral Feminine, an Untamed History of the Cat Archetype in Myth and Magic

Description

"No one writes about the subjects of sexuality, desire, the shadow, and diabolism with such relish, and when I read her words I feel both smarter and less afraid of my own 'tabooed' feelings and thoughts. Like a cat, Kristen sees in the dark, as she guides us gracefully forward with her vision of unapologetic, feminine power." -From the Foreword by Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power The cat: A sensual shapeshifter. A hearth keeper, aloof, tail aloft, stalking vermin. A satanic accomplice. A beloved familiar. A social media darling. A euphemism for reproductive parts. An epithet for the weak. A knitted-and contested-hat on millions of marchers, fists in the air, pink pointed ears poking skyward. Cats and cat references are ubiquitous in art, pop culture, politics, and the occult, and throughout history, they have most often been coded female. From the "crazy cat lady" unbowed by patriarchal prescriptions to the coveted sex kitten to the dreadful crone and her yowling compatriot, feminine feline archetypes reveal the ways in which women have been revered and reviled around the world-in Greek and Egyptian mythology, the European witch trials, Japanese folklore, and contemporary film. By combining historical research, pop culture, art analyses, and original interviews, Cat Call explores the cat and its indivisible connection to femininity and teases out how this connection can help us better understand the relationship between myth, history, magic, womanhood in the digital age, and our beloved, clawed companions.

Kristen J. Sollee is a writer and teacher exploring the intersections of art, sex and culture. She has written for mainstream and academic publications including VICE, NYLON, Time Out New York and BUST. She lectures at colleges and conferences across the United States and Europe. She is, also the founding editrix of Slutist, a sex-positive feminist website and a lecturer at the New School.

"A fascinating exploration into the world of women and cats. Just when I thought I knew everything about the cat-woman relationship, this book proves I've merely scratched the surface." --BriAnne Wills, author of Girls and Their Cats--BriAnne Wills "Prowling through myth, literature, science, philosophy, and pop culture, Cat Call is rollicking and scholarly, diligent and irreverent. From topics as apparently unrelated as Aristotle and pussy hats, she maintains a clear thread explaining why cats have been associated with femininity. This a fantastic gift for the cat lover in your life, especially if that cat lover is you." -Jo Weldon, author of Fierce: The History of Leopard Print--Jo Weldon "Cat Call is the necessary text that links the feline, the feminine, and the magical. In many ways, it's the cat lover's modern epic poem, an ode to the many sacred archetypes we can all tap into -- the feral, the fear-inducing, the autonomous. From Venice's "kitten-carrying drag queens" to the necromancer cat of Japan, Sollee treats her readers to the delicious mythos of the cat, with meticulous research and gorgeous prose. For any cat lover or witch, this book is a feverish examination of the feline in our dreams and in our lives -- and within ourselves. Page by page, you'll tap into your most catty, feral, transgressive self -- caught with the delicious story of the cat between your claws." --Lisa Marie Basile, author of Light Magic for Dark Times and Wordcraft Witchery--Lisa Marie Basile "Kristen Sollee flips the cat call on itself by dismantling patriarchal uses of the feline to discredit the intimidating power of the pussy while gifting us with a book that leaves you eager to embrace your personal cat power." --Sophie Saint Thomas, sex writer, witch, and author of Finding Your Higher Self: Your Guide to Cannabis for Self-Care--Sophie Saint Thomas "Cat Call will change the way you think about the cat forever. Filled to the brim with bewitching, inspiring, and cunning anecdotes on the powers of the feline, this book will leave you inspired to reclaim your own feral femininity. I cannot recommend it enough." --Gabriela Herstik, author of Inner Witch: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Craft--Gabriela Herstik "No one writes about the subjects of sexuality, desire, the shadow, and diabolism with such relish, and when I read her words I feel both smarter and less afraid of my own 'tabooed' feelings and thoughts. Like a cat, Kristen sees in the dark, as she guides us gracefully forward with her vision of unapologetic, feminine power." --From the Foreword by Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power--Pam Grossman