Cats, Fools and Mysteries
Cats, Fools and Mysteries on April Fool’s Day. Updated 2024. The day of silly pranks has a fishy history. The first of April in France is known as Poisson d’Avril or fish of April or Pesce d‘Aprile in Italian.
The holiday dates back 500 years when paper fish were slapped on the court jester’s backs as a joke. But the day of merry pranksters goes back to Roman times and the Pagan holiday near the spring Equinox called Hilaria. It’s the origin of the word hilarious but the holiday was all about celebrating renewal, pagan resurrection and the joys of spring.
Wearing masks aka masquerade was popular. Everyone felt more emboldened to fool and be fooled by hiding behind a mask. From that long history the French comedy tradition Commedia Del’la Arte Did you know Paris is over 2000 years old and build on a Roman settlement? And that’s no joke.
Our cats of course secretly laugh at us behind our back. What’s worse is that we can’t always tell. Look at Gris Gris serenely enjoying the garden and perhaps a private joke. Who knows.
It’s Monday with me, Merlin, a cat who knows a thing or two about mystery. My mom thinks she knows what I’m thinking and sometimes she does but I’M A CAT! You will never know what we’re thinking 100% of the time and sometimes when you think you do…
April Fool!
April is ASPCA Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Month. How can you be more kind? I’ll be adopting 5 more cats today. Joking!
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Maggie
Love that phrase: Be a fool for love. Adopt a cat.
Perfect.
Meezer'sMews&TerrieristicalWoofs
A great rerun and you fooled me enough that I hunted for today’s article/post…LOL, LOL!
Ellen
Merlin cats have more mystery in the tip of their tail than we humans have in our whole bodies. Mind you, some women humans are quite mystical and come close, but still you outhink us.Meezers in particular have this mysterious thing down pat.
Youre looking quite dapper, may the sun shine upon you today!
Nerissa's Life
This is why it’s such a good thing that so many of us cats, blog. That way, peeps can understand what we’re thinkin’ when they read what we write. purrs
Loy Cerf
Love the twinkle in his eye! Happy Day!
The Island Cats
Haha! Good one, Merlin!
Penelope
Oh Merlin! This is the bestest!
Kisses
Nellie
maggie
Marvelous mysterious Merlin. Love that photograph.
Skeeter and Izzy
Silly Humans, Tricks are for Cats!!! Happy April Fool’s day Merlin! You are such a distinguished looking gentleman! Luvs Skeeter and Izzy >^..^<
Sparky Spitfire
you know yer stuffs merlin. keep teh woman guessing (and have fun while you do it!).
Katnip Lounge
heh heh…and when she thinks she knows what you are thinking, you are thinking that thought just to fool her!
CATachresis
Was just going to say what Rumpy said!! mol Happy Monday 🙂
Jobi and Fisher
That’s a good one! I love the photo.
Brian
You are wise and witty handsome Merlin!
Maxwell, Faraday & Allie
Merlin, SO true. We need to keep those humans on their TOES!
Cherry City Kitties
What a nice twinkle in your eye Merlin (ok, BY your eye, but we think it looks cool twinkling anyway!)
Harry, Dexter and Tipp
Abby
Merlin we can never let them in on our secrets!!!
Cheysuli
Of course, Merlin. It is important to keep them on their toes.
Hannah and Lucy
Why do humans think they can read our minds – we know they can’t as they are our servants.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Cats of wildcat woods
Thanks for the comment on our header. As for Al’s adventure – APRIL FOOL! Gotcha!
Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal
I have not been fooled either and I think my human have made it too 🙂
Happy aprils fool´s day !
Tamago
Kitties sure are mysterious. I would love to know what they are thinking! This is lovely picture of Merlin. And the “April Fool” written with kitties…so cute 🙂
Sue Brandes
Love that picture. Happy April Fool’s Day.
Sue B
Marilia
Yes! Not is more misterious!!!!
Lovely week!!!!
da tabbies o trout towne
dood…happee monday two ewe N de crew
we iz gonna eat BURD ta day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Layla Morgan Wilde
Ya almost fooled us 😉
Katie and Coccolino
Don’t get fooled! We already did!
Piggy kisses,
Katie and Coccolino the mini pig
Caren Gittleman
Lovely photo! Hope no one fools you today!
Pam Kimmell
Love that picture of Merlin…..he’s right of course…..we humans THINK we know what’s going on inside our cats’ fertile minds but we don’t know the HALF of it! Happy April 1st!
Pam and Sam
Sparkle
My human NEVER knows what I am thinking… and she is the first to admit it!
rumpydog
Every day is a fool’s day if ya think ya know what a cat is thinking!