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The Cat in the Hat in Latin

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davver | 22:28 Thu 05th May 2005 | Phrases & Sayings
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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?
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Well, for a start, the Latin for cat is Felis...

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

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"

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.

Catus was a less common Latin term for cat.

Taxonomic name for cat is Felis silvestris catus.

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.

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'!

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

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The Cat in the Hat in Latin

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