A few weeks ago, I submitted Serat Ngalamating Kucing as an entry for #FolkloreThursday: a Javanese manuscript that consists of verses depicting different types of #cats. There are still no known English sources, so I made a thread, with examples. @FolkloreThurs

Serat Ngalamating Kucing is a part of Javanese tradition called "katuranggan", a classification system used to loosely codify characteristics of domestic animals, their philosophy, and impact to their owners' life. It's quite obscure and a few available texts are anonymous.

Each text may be different in the titles and order of the verses, but the content is similar. The one that I used for the following examples is kept at the Keraton (palace) library of Yogyakarta Sultanate, probably written at some time in the 18th or 19th century.

I cannot read Javanese scripts, but i have several verses that have been transliterated into Latin alphabets, which I translated into English (the transliteration is courtesy of Mirya. A from Universitas Diponegoro). Here are some of the verses (cat pics are only illustrations):

Verse 2 (Javanese): "Leksana Nira"

Yen arsa ngingu kucing
Sukune pacal sakawan
Utama ireng ulese
Abecik leksana Nira
Kang ngingu suka wirya
Akathah rejekinipun
Yen buntut bundhel utama

Verse 2 (English): "Blessed Child"

If you want to keep a cat
Find one with white paws
Preferably with black coat
Called "leksana nira"
Who owns it will be happy
Lead prosperous life
Especially if it has a short/stumped tail

Verse 4 (Javanese): "Wulan Krahingan"

Aja sira ngingu kucing
Awak ireng pan days
Lambung kiwa tembong puteh
Ngalamatipun prayoga
Aran wulan krahingan
Tinekan sasedyanipun
Yen bundhel langkung utama

Verse 4 (English): "Daylight Moon"

Don't keep a cat
Black all the way
Unless it has white spot on left belly
It will bring you luck
Called "wulan krahingan"
All your wishes will be granted
Especially if it has a short tail

Verse 6 (Javanese): "Pujanggana Mengku"

Lamun sira ngingu kucing
Awake seta sadaya
Anging acemeng sirahe
Iku lamate prayoga
Ageng mangurah ira
Aran pujanggana mengku
Yen bundhel langkung utama

Verse 6 (English): "A Poet's Cradle"

If you keep a cat
White all the way
Except with black mark on head
It's a good sign
Sign of your virtues
Called "pujanggana mengku"
Having short tail is better

Verse 8 (Javanese): "Satriya Tapa"

Lamun sira ngingu kucing
Dalamakan papat pethak
Terus cangkem lan netrane
Iku lamate prayoga
Aran satriya tapa
Sakarsanira dinulur
Yen bundhel langkung utama

Verse 8 (English): "Meditating Warrior"

If you have a cat
With white paws
White mouth and eyes
It's a good sign
Called "satriya tapa"
Your wish will be granted
Especially if it has short tail

Verse 10 (Javanese): "Candra Mawa/Rekatha Sura"

Padha ngulatana kucing
Ingkang darbe nyeng unyengan
Ing sirah miwah dadhane
Atanapi gigir it's
Aran rekatha sura
Becike kalangkung langkung
Aran kucing candra mawa

Verse 10 (English): "Moonlight"

Look for a cat
With circular fur marks
On its head and chest
Well behaved
It's called "rekatha sura"
If it's extremely sweet
It's called "candra mawa"

Verse 12 (Javanese): "Sangga Buana"

Lamun sira ngingu kucing
Gigire tembong punika
Ules sarupa tulane
Iku lamate prayoga
Aran sangga buwana
Lulus dongane kang ngingu
Yen bundhel langkung utama

Verse 12 (English): "Pillar of the World"

If you have a cat
With marks on its back
Its body and face have the same color
It's a good sign
Called "sangga buwana"
Your prayers will be granted
Especially with short tail

Verse 14 (Javanese): "Wisnu Atapa"

Lamun sira ngingu kucing
Bisu datan darbe swars
Ules sarupa rupane
Iku lamate prayoga
Aras wisnu atapa
Pan ageng wilalatipun
Sampun dipun siya-siya

Verse 14 (English): "Meditating God"

If you have a cat
Quiet, rarely makes sound
Same color of body and face
It's a good sign
Like a meditating god
Huge is the consequence
If you dare to abuse it

Verse 21 (Javanese): "Sari Kuning"

Lamun sira ngingu kucing
Kang dalir gigire oka
Terus marang retainer
Becike ing mupangat ira
Sari kuning wastanya
Kang ngingu kucing puniku
Lir sipen mas tanpa ana

Verse 21 (English): "Essence of Gold"

If you keep a cat
With long stripes on the back
Extending to its face
It brings you virtues
Called "sari kuning"
Whoever keeps the cat
Is like having a hidden gold

Verse 22 (Javanese): "Udan Emas"

Sampun sira ngingu kucing
Abang semu putih ika
Kadya menjangan warnane
Abecik panedha nira
Akeh rejeki nira
Uleh derajat kang ngingu
Aran kucing udan emas

Verse 22 (English): "Rain of Gold"

If you have a cat
Reddish coat with white streaks
Like a deer
Feed it well
You will be prosperous
Your reputation uplifted
This cat is called "udan emas"

The verses not only describe physical qualities, but also behaviors. For example, in verse 17, a cat that sleeps on the owner's pillow or clothes on late afternoon will bring good luck. In verse 18, cats that immediately play with you after waking up also bring good luck.

These verses were written in a way so that they can be recited in song ("tembang"). This is not a strict rule, more like a loose guide that each person can use as consideration when choosing an animal.

This is not the only traditional text that describes characteristics of cats. Bali has "Carcan Kucing/Carcan Meyong" a palm leaf manuscript that describes types of cats and their qualities. It's kept at Gedong Kirtya, a palm leaf manuscript museum in Buleleng Regency, Bali.

A little correction for the Javanese version of verse 4 (Wulan Krahingan). At the end of the second line, it should've been "pan sadaya", not "pan days". Unnecessary autocorrect strikes again!