Islam and cats

In Islam, the domestic cat is regarded as ritually clean and thus holds a unique status in comparison to other companion animals, such as the domestic dog. Under Islamic law, cats are permitted to be kept by Muslims within their homes and other private and public spaces, including mosques. Likewise, if a person's food or drink is sampled by a cat, it is not rendered impure or unfit for consumption, and water from which a cat has drunk is permissible to use for ablution.

Cats are believed by Muslims to possess barakah, which refers to a blessing power that is said to flow through those who are spiritually closest to God. As such, they are widely acclaimed as the "quintessential pet" for a Muslim household. A story that tells of Muhammad, the Islamic prophet, owning a pet cat himself is also popular in some parts of the Muslim world, although it is generally considered to be untrue because it is not verifiably attributed to accounts of his lifetime.

Human interaction with cats dates back to the domestication of the cat more than 10,000 years ago. Cats have been the subject of admiration by many civilizations due to their various qualities and behaviours, and they are often humanized as pets. They are one of the most common companion animals around the world and are thought to be the single most common companion animal among the global Muslim community.