The Cat in the Hat in Latin

[davver]

Does Cattus Petasatus really mean the Cat in the Hat? If not, what is the Latin for 'in the hat'? Surely the word for 'hat' would be ablative?

[kempie]

Well, for a start, the Latin for cat is Felis...

[Peter Pedant]

I will have to think: we need a Latinist....

It could be a participle - compare togatus  - yeah pity it isnt a cat in a toga

in an emergency i would write felis coronatus

[THECORBYLOON]

davver There's a review of the book here  (in the lower section of the page) and the title translates as "the cat with the travelling cap on"

[jno]

catus does seem to have been Latin for cat; modern technical name is felis catus. So I suppose the translation is 'hatted cat', adjective/past participle rather than a noun in the ablative.

[kempie]

Catus was a less common Latin term for cat.

Taxonomic name for cat is Felis silvestris catus.

[Octavius]

Hmmm.

Catus means sharp or cunning.

Petasus is a broad rimmed felt hat.

I guess the translator of the book knew what they were doing.

[Quizmonster]

A petasus was a flat felt hat with a broad brim, so 'petasatus' would be appropriate enough as a generalised adjective to mean 'hatted' or 'in a hat'. (Wasn't Dr Seuss's cat in a tall red hat, however?)

The basic Latin word for 'cat' was 'feles', which is - I believe - a feminine word. Personally, therefore, I'd be happier with 'Feles petasata', though the WWW is full of references to 'Cattus Petasatus'!

[Quizmonster]

Ah! Yet again we get involved in synchrography, O!