Cats and Nuns in The Unicorn, The Mystery -- #cats #WomensHistoryMonth2026 #amreading
- Janet Mason
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Since it is women's history month, I thought I would post a brief excerpt from my novel The Unicorn, The Mystery (Adelaide Books; New York; Lisbon) from a section that centers on two nuns who live in the abbey where the unicorn lives (the novel is based in 1390 and was inspired by the unicorn tapestries now in The Museum of Modern Art). These two nuns, who happen to be in love with each other, keep a secret cat (cats were forbidden in the Middle Ages and often thought of as representatives of Satan). Cats have long been associated with women (because of their feminine wiles) and also bring to mind the association of cats and witches. Chances were there were more than a few nuns in the Middle Ages who kept secret cats!
I heard the nun with the higher voice sigh.
“Kitty is clean. She licks herself all the time just like all cats do,” said the one with the lower voice. “Not to mention that if more cats were allowed to live, it would help to eliminate or at least reduce the mice and rat populations. Maybe we’d have less sickness. Cats are natural predators. I watched Kitty tracking a chipmunk for more than an hour the other day.”
The other nun sighed again and resignedly said, “Oh, you and that cat.”
Then she changed her tone and said, “but that’s one of the things that I love about you — your devotion. When you love someone or … something … you are relentless with your love.”
“Kitty is hardly ‘something,’” responded the other nun sullenly.
“That’s true. I didn’t mean to insult her,” replied the one with the soprano voice.
“That’s right, Kitty is very special. Today she led me to you,” said the woman with the lower voice. I came outside because I was worried about her.”
“That’s true. It is good that we are finally together,” replied the other. “We haven’t seen each other alone for a while.”
To learn more about The Unicorn, The Mystery, click here:
CINNAMON, my most recently published novel, is available on amazon.com: Cinnamon: A dairy cow’s (and her farmer’s) path to freedom: Mason, Janet: 9781958419786: Amazon.com: Books
CINNAMON is also available through your local bookstore and library
(just ask them to order it if they don’t have it).
For more information on my novel THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders published by Adelaide Books click here.
For more information on my novel Loving Artemis, an endearing tale of revolution, love, and marriage, click here.
To order my book Tea Leaves, a memoir of mothers and daughters, click here.
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