Medieval Cat Ladies

[sister_raphael]

When writing about medieval women and sex, one's thoughts turn to gifts of love or companions for our single lady forebears.

Did we like cats? What's not to love?

Cats were often seen as being sexually promiscuous due to their reproductive abilities, so there was a concern that their lustiness might rub off on their female owners, but by and large, cats were seen to be a suitable companion for a woman. Even a nun might have one for a pet, as long as it was not overly coddled and was mainly for catching mice.

For more of medieval women, why not explore more? The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women is available online and in all good book shops.