[Q 167] Keeping Cats: Sunnah or only Permissible?

Question

Are there any narrations which prove that having a cat is the blessed sunnah of our belovedﷺ?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

I haven’t seen any narration that proves that the Prophet ﷺ kept a cat or kept it in the house, so it cannot be called a Sunnah, but it is permissible to keep a cat in the house and raise it. It is proven from the famous Companion Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه to keep a cat. Abu Hurairah means the one who has a small cat. In this case, any animal which Shariah has permitted to keep it is very important to take care of its food and water, even though the animal may not complain to us, but it will complain in the court of Allah, so we should take good care of its food and drink.

Also, keep in mind that a cat’s saliva and leftover water, etc. are Makruh, therefore be cautious with it.

Answered by: Arif Raza Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Mawlana Gohar Madani

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