--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a…" description: "\"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.\" — Ellen Perry Berkeley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/ellen-perry-berkeley-235544_cat_as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-c_1558585.jpg" --- # As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat. ![“As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.” quote by Ellen Perry Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/ellen-perry-berkeley-235544_cat_as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-c_1558585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/ellen-perry-berkeley-235544_cat_as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-c_1558585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/ellen-perry-berkeley-235544_cat_as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-c_1558585.jpg) > “As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.” [Ellen Perry Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-perry-berkeley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously asserts that cats cannot be owned, emphasizing their independent nature. **In simple terms:** Cats are not owned, they are companions. Key Takeaway Respect a cat’s autonomy. Themes animals cats pet ownership independence humor Mood lighthearted observational Type Cat:1 Cats:1 Love:0 Owner:0 Owners:0 Owns:0 Cat Owner:0 Owner Knows:0 Owns Cat:0 When to use this quote - adopting a cat - vet visits - daily care - training sessions Key Concepts animal behavior human‑animal bond responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What does “owning” a cat really mean? - How do you balance care with freedom? A Different Perspective Owners may misinterpret independence as neglect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cat Owner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-owner-4849086/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Owner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owner/) [Owner Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owner-knows-5162161/) [Owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owners/) [Owns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owns/) [Owns Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owns-cat-5503457/) ## Related quotes > [No one ever owns a cat...you share a common habitation on a basis of equal rights and mutual respects...although somehow the cat always comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-ever-owns-a-cat-you-share-a-common-habitation-on-a-basis-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is in men as in soils where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/it-is-in-men-as-in-soils-where-sometimes-there-is-a-vein-of-gold/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“It’s not that I don’t like cats. And really, I think I would enjoy having… a cat. But what if I get a cat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-like-cats-and-really-i-think-i-would-enjoy/) [Cora Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack/) > [I enjoyed my time as Raw Co-Owner. Actually I got beat more! I got beat up a lot as Co-owner but it was ok.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-flair/i-enjoyed-my-time-as-raw-co-owner-actually-i-got-beat-more-i-got-beat/) [Ric Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-flair/) > [By saying that someone becomes the owner of something, we are referring to a market transaction, while by saying that something is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-callon/by-saying-that-someone-becomes-the-owner-of-something-we-are/) [Michel Callon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-callon/) > [The House shewes the owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-house-shewes-the-owner/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Every problem must find it's owner before we can ever offer a solution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-silk/every-problem-must-find-it-s-owner-before-we-can-ever-offer-a-solution/) [Danny Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-silk/) > [“Most of the dreams that have suffered to death were murdered by their own owners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/most-of-the-dreams-that-have-suffered-to-death-were-murdered-by-their/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I am the guardian of power, not its owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fox/i-am-the-guardian-of-power-not-its-owner/) [Vicente Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fox/) > [It's first owner...well, things didn't turn out too well for her. Her name was Helena.' Piper let that sink in. "Wait, you mean the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-first-owner-well-things-didn-t-turn-out-too-well-for-her-her/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [As the owner of the Arison Group, a philanthropic and business enterprise that spans across 40 countries in 5 continents, my ongoing challenge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-arison/as-the-owner-of-the-arison-group-a-philanthropic-and-business/) [Shari Arison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-arison/) > [Many businesses fail because the owner wasn't willing to invest and wasn't educated on the difference between spending money frivolously and investing money into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-roth/many-businesses-fail-because-the-owner-wasn-t-willing-to-invest-and/) [Carol Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-roth/) > [One thing I've learned is that I'm not the owner of my talent; I'm the manager of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/one-thing-i-ve-learned-is-that-i-m-not-the-owner-of-my-talent-i-m-the/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [If you take away what a person owns, you control what that person can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kirk/if-you-take-away-what-a-person-owns-you-control-what-that-person-can/) [Charlie Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kirk/) > [“Only that which you make real becomes that which controls you or owns you. \*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-m-douglas/only-that-which-you-make-real-becomes-that-which-controls-you-or-owns/) [Gary M. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-m-douglas/) ## More Cat quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Man wishes woman to be peaceable, but in fact she is essentially warlike, like the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-wishes-woman-to-be-peaceable-but-in-fact-she-is-essentially/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There are videos I used to take at home, pretending to be a newscaster, interviewing the teapot or my house cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-are-videos-i-used-to-take-at-home-pretending-to-be-a-newscaster/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) [Browse all 2,996 Cat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Perry Berkeley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-perry-berkeley/as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-cat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-perry-berkeley/as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-cat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/ellen-perry-berkeley-235544_cat_as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-c_1558585.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/ellen-perry-berkeley-235544_cat_as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-c_1558585.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e85/ellen-perry-berkeley-235544_cat_as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-c_1558585.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.” — Ellen Perry Berkeley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ellen Perry Berkeley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-perry-berkeley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As every cat owner knows, nobody...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-perry-berkeley/as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-cat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-perry-berkeley/as-every-cat-owner-knows-nobody-owns-a-cat/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```