Cats in Islam: Are They Pure? Rulings on Keeping and Selling Cats

Not long ago, I had a little kitten at home. It was playful, energetic, and honestly a bit of a troublemaker. Still, despite the mess and mischief, I grew very attached to it. When it passed away, the sadness was overwhelming. That experience made me reflect on something many Muslims wonder: What does Islam really say about cats? There are all kinds of opinions and assumptions out there, but the truth is, cats in Islam hold a unique and honorable place. Some people ask, “Are cats pure in Islam?” or “Is cat saliva impure?” Others want to know about the hadith on cats, including the famous Sahih Bukhari narration involving the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his cat. There are also practical questions like “Is it allowed to buy cats in Islam?” or “Is it Sunnah to have a cat?” 

Through this post, I want to clear up these doubts using authentic sources, sharing the beauty of how Islam encourages kindness to animals—especially cats. Whether you’re wondering about the reward for feeding cats in Islam, the significance of kissing cats, or claims that cats bring angels into the house, Insha’Allah you’ll find clear answers here. This isn’t a long article, but if you read it attentively, I believe it will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the relationship between Islam and cats.

cats in Islam

Islam is a balanced religion that instructs us to be kind to all creatures. The rights of animals are well-protected in Islam, and cats are no exception. Before I share some Hadiths about cats, I’ll mention a few verses from the Quran and Hadiths about the importance of animals in general. The Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran,

• وَّالْخَيْلَ وَالْبِغَالَ وَالْحَمِيْرَ لِتَرْكَبُوْهَا وَزِيْنَةً ؕ وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ
  “And (He created) horses, mules and donkeys, so that you may ride on them, and they may give you a good look. And He creates what you do not know (as yet).”[¹]

• وَمَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ فِي الْاَرْضِ وَلَا طٰٓئِرٍ يَّطِيْرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ اِلَّاۤ اُمَمٌ اَمْثَالُكُمْ ؕ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتٰبِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ اِلٰي رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُوْنَ
  “There is no creature moving on the earth, nor a bird flying on its two wings, but they are all communities like you. We have not missed anything in the Book. Then, to their Lord all of them shall be gathered.”[²]

Now let’s take a look on Hadith about this matter.

Hadith about cats:

• Narrated Sahl ibn al-Hanzaliyyah:
  The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came upon an emaciated camel and said: Fear Allah regarding these dumb animals. Ride them when they are in good condition and feed them when they are in good condition.[³]

• Narrated Abu Waqid Al-Laithi:
  “The Prophet (ﷺ) came to Al-Madinah and they were in the habit of cutting the humps off of the camels and cutting the buttocks from the sheep. He said: ‘Whatever is cut from an animal while it is alive, then it is dead flesh.”[⁴]

• Shaddid b. Aus said:
  Two are the things which I remember Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) having said: Verily Allah has enjoined goodness to everything; so when you kill, kill in a good way and when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way. So every one of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably.[⁵]

Believe me, these are just a few descriptions. You will find many more references in the Quran and Hadith regarding the rights and importance of animals and the instruction to treat them kindly. However, it’s also essential to keep in mind that if there is a threat to life or a risk of harm from an animal, measures must be taken based on the situation. This is an exception to the general rule and should only be applied in exceptional circumstances.
Now, if I share some Hadiths about cats, you will clearly understand Islam’s perspective on them, Insha’Allah.

Hadith about cat’s purity in Islam:

I have nothing to add personally regarding the sanctity of cats. Therefore, I am directly presenting a few Hadiths for you, from which you can gain a clear understanding of this matter.

• It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that:
  The Messenger of Allah said: “Cats do not invalidate the prayer, because they are one of the things that are useful in the house.”[⁶]

• It was narrated from Kabshah bint Ka’b, who was married to one of the sons of Ab Qatadah, that:
  She poured water for Abu Qatadah to perform ablution. A cat came and drank the water, and he tilted the vessel for it. She started looking at it (in surprise) and he said: “O daughter of my brother, do you find it strange? The Messenger of Allah said: ‘They (cats) are not impure, they are of those who go around among you.”[⁷]

• Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin:
  Dawud ibn Salih ibn Dinar at-Tammar quoted his mother as saying that her mistress sent her with some pudding (harisah) to Aisha who was offering prayer. She made a sign to me to place it down. A cat came and ate some of it, but when Aisha finished her prayer, she ate from the place where the cat had eaten. She stated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It is not unclean: it is one of those who go round among you. She added: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performing ablution from the water left over by the cat.[⁸]

From the above Hadith, we understand that cats are pure animals. There is no issue in keeping them as pets in Islam. However, we must ensure that cats receive proper food and water. It is not acceptable to lock them up in a cage where they can’t access food and water. If you can’t provide food and water, it is better to let them go so they can find their own sustenance elsewhere.

Two interesting Hadith about Cats:

Now, I will share another Hadith where a woman confined a cat without providing food and water, leading to the cat’s death, and the severe consequences she faced are mentioned.
The Hadith is:

• Narrated Ibn `Umar:
  The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.[⁹]

From this Hadith, it is evident that when keeping a cat, one must ensure it receives proper food and water.

I would like to mention one last Hadith about cats:

• Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Rafi’:
  “I said to Abu Hurairah: ‘Why were you given the Kunyah Abu Hurairah?’ He said: ‘Do you not fear me?'” He said: “Indeed, I am in awe of you.’ He said: ‘I used to tend the sheep of my people, and I had a small kitten; so I used to place it in a tree at night, and during the day I would take it with me and play with it. So they named me Abu Hurairah.”[¹⁰]

This Hadith also indicates that cats are good and pure animals. If they were not good, it wouldn’t be appropriate to name someone after them. Abu Hurairah (RA) was a companion who narrated the most Hadiths. His nickname, “Abu Hurairah,” which means “Father of the Kitten,” became so widespread that historians have debated what his real name was. This shows that cats are indeed good animals.

Selling and Buying Cats is Prohibited in Islam

When it comes to keeping cats, another important point to remember is that Islam prohibits buying and selling cats. If you have read my About page, you know that I am not an Islamic scholar, so I won’t delve too deeply into this topic. Instead, I will simply mention a Hadith related to this matter. At the end of this post, you will find a link to a detailed explanation by an Islamic scholar on this subject. You can also do your own research for further understanding. For your convenience, I am providing the Hadith which gives a basic idea about this prohibition. Although I mentioned earlier that the previous Hadith would be the last one, this point suddenly came to mind, so I am including it here. I hope you understand.
The Hadith is:

• Abu Zubair said:
  I asked Jabir about the price of a dog and a cat; he said: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) disapproved of that.[¹¹]

Remember there is a difference of opinion regarding the sale of cats in Islam.

Islam and cats: my last thought

So, this is roughly the Islamic perspective on cats. To summarize today’s post, here are the key points:

• Cats are pure animals.
•  There is no prohibition in Islam against keeping them as pets as long as you provide them with proper food and water.
• Selling and Buying Cats is Prohibited in Islam.

So if you already have a cat, you can continue keeping it without hesitation. If you are interested in getting a cat, you can do so, but you need to ensure you take care of a few things, like providing the cat with proper food and water and keeping it as clean as possible, as cleanliness is an important part of faith.Above all, whether it is a cat or any other animal, we should treat them well as long as they do not harm us. May Allah keep us all healthy and well. With this prayer, I conclude today’s post. JazakAllah.

To crosscheck my information and to know more about this matter, please read this post. Ruling on keeping cats. You can also read this post, Dogs in Islam: Are Dogs Allowed in Islam?