--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The cat, covered in dust and standing on…" description: "\"The cat, covered in dust and standing on its hind legs, bowed to Margarita. Round its neck it was now wearing a made-up white bow tie on an elastic ban..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_band_the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on_2609672.jpg" --- # The cat, covered in dust and standing on its hind legs… ![“The cat, covered in dust and standing on its hind legs, bowed to Margarita. Round its neck it was now wearing a made-up white bow tie on an elastic band, with a pair of ladies’ mother-of-pearl binoculars hanging on a cord. It had also gilded its whiskers.” quote by Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_band_the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on_2609672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_band_the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on_2609672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_band_the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on_2609672.jpg) > “The cat, covered in dust and standing on its hind legs, bowed to Margarita. Round its neck it was now wearing a made-up white bow tie on an elastic band, with a pair of ladies’ mother-of-pearl binoculars hanging on a cord. It had also gilded its whiskers.” [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fantastical scene shows a cat transformed, symbolizing absurdity and hidden depth in ordinary moments. **In simple terms:** A cat in a bow tie reveals hidden wonder. Key Takeaway Notice unexpected details. Themes surrealism transformation observation Mood whimsical curious Type literary descriptive When to use this quote - daily life - artistic inspiration - mindfulness Key Concepts magical realism symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How can you find wonder in mundane objects? - What does the cat represent for you? A Different Perspective The scene may be purely fictional, limiting real-world relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Bow tie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bow-tie/) [Bowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowed-1528131/) [Bowed Margarita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowed-margarita-2016044/) [Bows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bows/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cat Covered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-covered-2016043/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Covered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covered/) [Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust/) [Gilded Whiskers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gilded-whiskers-2016045/) [Hanging on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanging-on/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Margarita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/margarita/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Necks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necks/) [Pairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pairs/) [Pearls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pearls/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [Whiskers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiskers/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) ## Related quotes > [I wouldn’t like to meet you when you’ve got a revolver,” said Margarita with a coquettish look at Azazello. She had a passion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/i-wouldn-t-like-to-meet-you-when-you-ve-got-a-revolver-said-margarita/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [But what can be done, the one who loves must share the fate of the who is loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/but-what-can-be-done-the-one-who-loves-must-share-the-fate-of-the-who/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Margarita was never short of money. She could buy whatever she liked. Her husband had plenty of interesting friends. Margarita never had to cook.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/margarita-was-never-short-of-money-she-could-buy-whatever-she-liked/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Is that vodka?" Margarita asked weakly. The cat jumped up in his seat with indignation. "I beg pardon, my queen," he rasped, "Would I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/is-that-vodka-margarita-asked-weakly-the-cat-jumped-up-in-his-seat/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/they-bowed-down-to-him-rather-because-he-was-all-of-these-things-and/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [He bowed. 'The young lady must not dance alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/he-bowed-the-young-lady-must-not-dance-alone/) [Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/) > [I've bowed to you for too long, and if I continue to do it, we will all suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-ve-bowed-to-you-for-too-long-and-if-i-continue-to-do-it-we-will-all/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [ “\[A\] person whose head is bowed and whose eyes are heavy cannot look at the light.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/a-person-whose-head-is-bowed-and-whose-eyes-are-heavy-cannot-look-at/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“Alexey Alexandrovitch bowed his head in assent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/alexey-alexandrovitch-bowed-his-head-in-assent/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“And her slender white neck was bowed over her book, the fair hair falling on either side of it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/and-her-slender-white-neck-was-bowed-over-her-book-the-fair-hair/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [Jealousy is not at all low, but it catches us humbled and bowed down, at first sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidonie-gabrielle-colette/jealousy-is-not-at-all-low-but-it-catches-us-humbled-and-bowed-down/) [Sidonie Gabrielle Colette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidonie-gabrielle-colette/) > [Every moment I live, I live bowed to something. And if I don't see God, I'll bow down before something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/every-moment-i-live-i-live-bowed-to-something-and-if-i-don-t-see-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [My cat, or my best friend. I would DIE for my cat. I love him with all of my heart and without words he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-cat-or-my-best-friend-i-would-die-for-my-cat-i-love-him-with-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With electricity we were wired into a new world, for electricity brought the radio, a "crystal set" and with enough ingenuity, one could tickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-electricity-we-were-wired-into-a-new-world-for-electricity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know what I like about you? You have no sense. You sit here in my house, you can barely hold a spoon, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/you-know-what-i-like-about-you-you-have-no-sense-you-sit-here-in-my/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## More by Mikhail Bulgakov > [“The Procurator did not squint because the sun dazzled him. No! For some reason, he did not want to see the group of condemned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-procurator-did-not-squint-because-the-sun-dazzled-him-no-for-some/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“…i głośno, radośnie oznajmił: - Utną panu głowę!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/i-g-o-no-rado-nie-oznajmi-utn-panu-g-ow/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [If it is true that cowardice is the most grave vice, then the dog, at least, is not guilty of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/if-it-is-true-that-cowardice-is-the-most-grave-vice-then-the-dog-at/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“-No, to rzeczywiście nie są pieniądze – lekceważąco powiedział do swego gościa Woland – chociaż szczerze mówiąc, nawet tyle nie jest panu potrzebne. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/no-to-rzeczywi-cie-nie-s-pieni-dze-lekcewa-co-powiedzia-do-swego-go/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [The tongue can conceal the truth, but the eyes never! You're asked an unexpected question, you don't even flinch, it takes just a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-tongue-can-conceal-the-truth-but-the-eyes-never-you-re-asked-an/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [This twenty-year-old boy was distinguished from childhood by strange qualities, a dreamer and an eccentric. A girl fell in love with him, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/this-twenty-year-old-boy-was-distinguished-from-childhood-by-strange/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“You should never ask anyone for anything. Never—and especially from those who are more powerful than yourself. They will make the offer and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/you-should-never-ask-anyone-for-anything-never-and-especially-from/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Cowardice is the greatest sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/cowardice-is-the-greatest-sin/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Too bad!' the feisty poet responded. 'Yes, too bad!' the stranger agreed, his eye flashing, and went on: 'But here is a question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/too-bad-the-feisty-poet-responded-yes-too-bad-the-stranger-agreed-his/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Don't be afraid, your majesty... Don't be afraid, your majesty, the blood has long since drained away into the earth and grapes have grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/don-t-be-afraid-your-majesty-don-t-be-afraid-your-majesty-the-blood/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“But this is what disturbs me: if there is no God, then, the question is, who is in control of man's life and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/but-this-is-what-disturbs-me-if-there-is-no-god-then-the-question-is/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“If you’ve been exiled, why don’t you send me word of yourself? People do send word. Have you stopped loving me? No, for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/if-you-ve-been-exiled-why-don-t-you-send-me-word-of-yourself-people/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Tu nieznajomy uprzejmie zdjął beret i pisarzom nie pozostawało nic innego, jak wstać i ukłonić się.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/tu-nieznajomy-uprzejmie-zdj-beret-i-pisarzom-nie-pozostawa-o-nic/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Thou art a black God! I curse Thee, God of thieves, their soul and protector! (191)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/thou-art-a-black-god-i-curse-thee-god-of-thieves-their-soul-and/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“-No, więc ja wysłałem depeszę. I co dalej? Popławskiemu zawirowało w głowie, stracił władzę w rękach i nogach, wypuścił z ręki walizkę i opadł…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/no-wi-c-ja-wys-a-em-depesz-i-co-dalej-pop-awskiemu-zawirowa-o-w-g/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) [Explore all 186 Mikhail Bulgakov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) [Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The cat, covered in dust and standing on its hind legs, bowed to Margarita. Round its neck it was now wearing a made-up white bow tie on an elastic band, with a pair of ladies’ mother-of-pearl binoculars hanging on a cord. It had also gilded its whiskers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mikhail Bulgakov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on-its-hind-legs-bowed-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Band" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on-its-hind-legs-bowed-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_band_the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on_2609672.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_band_the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on_2609672.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43d/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_band_the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on_2609672.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The cat, covered in dust and standing on its hind legs, bowed to Margarita. Round its neck it was now…” — Mikhail Bulgakov", "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": "Mikhail Bulgakov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The cat, covered in dust and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on-its-hind-legs-bowed-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-cat-covered-in-dust-and-standing-on-its-hind-legs-bowed-to/#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 } } ] } ```