| You’ve heard of several kinds of cat | 
| And my opinion now is that | 
| You should need no interpreter to understand our character | 
| You’ve learned enough to take the view | 
| That cats are very much like you | 
| You’ve seen us both at work and games | 
| And learnt about our proper names | 
| Our habits and habitat | 
| But how would you ad-dress a cat | 
| So first, your memory I’ll jog | 
| And say: A cat is not a dog | 
| So first, your memory I’ll jog | 
| And say: A cat is not a dog | 
| With cats, some say, one rule is true | 
| Don’t speak 'til you are spoken to Myself I do not hold with that | 
| I say, you should ad-dress a cat | 
| But always bear in mind that he resents familiarity | 
| You bow, and taking off your hat, ad-dress him in this form «O Cat!» | 
| Before a cat will condescend | 
| To treat you as a trusted friend | 
| Some little token of esteem is needed, like a dish of cream | 
| And you might now and then supply | 
| Some caviar or Straussburg pie | 
| Some potted grouse or salmon paste | 
| He’s sure to have his personal taste | 
| And so in time you reach your aim | 
| And call him by his name | 
| A cat’s entitled to expect | 
| These evidences of respect | 
| So this is this and that is that | 
| And there’s how you ad-dress a cat | 
| A cat’s entitled to expect these evidences of respect | 
| So this is this and that is that | 
| And there’s how you ad-dress a cat | 
| Palash Desai |