Cat

Cat

Cat, (fr. chat): occurs not infrequently. Probably the wild-cat is generally intended, thought the special reference to the Cat-a-mountain in several arms seems to imply a distinction. A spotted cat is also referred to.

Cats are found blazoned most frequently passant, but also rampant, salient, statant, and couchant. With French heralds the term effarouché is used to signify the cat when rampant(as if scared), and herissonée with 'the back up.' The wild-cat is supposed always to be represented guardant, although it be not stated in the blazoning. Musion, a fanciful name for a cat, is used by BOSSEWELL.

A cat's head is also found on one coat.

Argent, two cats passant gules--CATT.

Gules, two cats passant guardant argent--CATTON.

Per fesse azure and vert, in chief a cat argent couchant, coward; in base a pierced cinquefoil of the last--CATHARNE, Pembroke.

Vert, a cat statant, tail erect argent, within an orle of eight trefoils slipped or--VAGHAN.

Argent, three mountain-cats passant in pale sable--KEATE, Herts.

Per pale sable and gules, a mountain-cat between three roses argent--LIMPENIE.

Sable, on a fesse argent, between three mountain-cats or, a cross formy of the field--HILL, Berks.

Sable, a chevron ermine, between three spotted cats passant argent--HARTHORP, London.

Cats are also borne by the families of CHIVAS, Aberdeen; DUANE, London; ADAMS, Northampton; TIBBETT; LIPPINGCOTE, Devon, GIBBS, Dorset; and KEATS, Dover.

Azure, a cat's head erased argent, between eight crosses crosslet of the second, 3, 2, 2, and 1--TOLDERREY, Kent.

The crest of the Duke of Sutherland is a cat-a-mountain sejant guardant proper: and two wild-cats are the supporters to the arms of FARQUHARSON of Invercauld; while the lezard, a beast somewhat resembling the wild-cat, is the dexter supporter of the SKINNERS' and MUSCOVY Merchants' Companies, as well as the crest of the former.