How Cats Came to Purr - A Children's Story

by Anne Kaier

God was making cats. God made orange cats. God made black cats. God made calico cats.

He gave cats paws. He gave cats ears. He gave cats tails. He did not give cats purrs, yet.

God made faces for the cats. God painted faces on the orange cats. He painted faces on the black cats. He painted faces on the calico cats.

The cats were beautiful.

God smiled. He sat back on his stool. He folded his arms. He thought for a while.

Then he said, "Cats need brains, too."

God kept the brains in a clay pot. He scooped out some brains. He gave some brains to each orange cat. He gave some brains to each black cat. He was giving some brains to each calico cat.

Lucille was the smallest calico cat. She was at the end of the line.

God looked at Lucille. He looked into his pot. There were only a few brains left.

God said, "There are only a few brains left. There are not enough for Lucille."

Lucille said, "That's OK, God. I am very pretty. I don't need brains."

God said, "I know you are pretty. But you need something else."

God kept the purrs in a blue box. He took out a purr very gently. He slid the purr into Lucille's neck. Lucille purred aloud.

Then all the other cats wanted purrs too.

God gave all the cats purrs. God smiled. And all the cats purred.