Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

8 Cat Nursery Rhymes (With Videos): Fun Poems for Kids & Their Pets

Siamese cat with kids

A great way to get your kids to bond with their pet cats is to let them sing nursery rhymes and poems to them. There are several child-friendly poems and nursery rhymes that can engage their interest at various ages. We have compiled a list of the most popular videos of cat nursery rhymes and poems for kids.

Most of them are short and have words that are easy to pronounce. Some of them also have entertaining animations and words on the screen to be followed along.

This list will discuss eight different cat nursery rhymes for kids and what they are about.

divider 3 paws

The 8 Cat Nursery Rhymes

1. Three Little Kittens

The “Three Little Kittens” is a poem generally attributed to Eliza Lee Cabot Follen. The main poem is part of the Mother Goose collection and involves three little kittens and their mother cat.

The nursery rhyme in the above video is likely based on the “The Three Little Kittens” poem and entails three kittens that lose their mittens and begin to cry. They tell their mother that they have lost their mittens, and she tells them they can no longer have any pie. The kittens eventually find their mittens and are allowed to have pie while wearing mittens.

While eating, the three little kittens end up soiling their mittens and sigh. The nursery rhyme ends with the kittens washing their mittens and hanging them outside to dry. They tell their mother that they have washed the mittens and enjoy pie with their mother without wearing any mittens.


2. The Fat Cat

This fun cartoon and poem feature a little girl who has a very fat pet cat. The cat was so fat that he couldn’t sit on his mat, nor could he wear his hat as it wouldn’t fit. When he tried the hat on, the hat split on his head. This short poem is great for toddlers as it is easy to learn and includes an educational spelling clip at the end. Toddlers and young kids can learn words that end with “at” in the poem, such as cat, fat, and mat.


3. Here’s a Little Cat

The “Here’s a Little Cat” is a short nursery rhyme and animation that kids can sing along to. The lyrics are easy to remember and catchy, so they can sing it to their cat. In the nursery rhyme, a little girl signs about her fat cat that is sitting on a mat. The cat can be seen playing with a hat and the little girl sings about giving the cat a pat on the head as she will be pleased by it.


4. The Shadow Kitten

This video features the short poem “The Shadow Kittens” by Oliver Herford. The poem is read alongside a picture book clip of a kitten who discovers their shadow for the first time.

The poem begins with a little kitten who sees their shadow and describes how it is not as fluffy or round as them. When the kitten tries to meow to the shadow, the shadow never responds. When the kitten jumps into the air, the shadow never leaves the ground. The kitten notices how the shadow seems to grow and shrink but doesn’t understand it. Once when the sun came up in the garden, the kitten noticed how the shadow became very tall.


5. A Cat

This video clip of a short cat poem for kids by Micheal Rosen is extracted from Jelly Boots, Smelly Boots. Rosen describes a cat that was told to be thinner but does not care and wants their dinner. The cat thinks they are fed too little food and is grateful when they are given a massive plateful instead. The poem ends with the cat saying that they “want to get fat and that’s that.”’


6. Our Kittens

This video has a read-aloud poem called “Our Kittens” by Evaleen Stein. It includes a black cartoon cat and words on-screen that can be followed along. The beginning of the poem describes three black kittens with soft fur, velvet paws, and blue eyes. The next set of kittens is described as having tiger stripes. The poem ends off with how the cats play and run fast, and that is a pity that they must turn into cats.


7. The Fat Cat Sits On The Mat

If you are looking for a longer cat-related rhyme to read to your kids, then “The Fat Cat Sits On The Mat” by Nurit Karlin is a great choice. Kids can also read this along to their cats. The rhyming story is easy to follow along with pictures from the original book.

The story starts with a rat that hates a fat cat and wants the cat to get off a mat. The rat ends up getting a bat and a hat to help get the cat off the mat, but it doesn’t work. They end up getting a dish with a fish to lure the cat off the mat, but the cat quickly realizes it’s a trick. Wilma’s broom ends up flying through the window and knocking everyone onto the cat. When the cat eventually gets up, he eats the fish on the dish and lays back in the vat.


8. I Love Little Pussy Cat

“I Love Little Pussy Cat”, alternatively called “I Love Little Kitty” is an old but popular poem dating back to the 18th century. The lyrics have been altered slightly over the years and additional lyrics have been added to make it easier to understand. The nursery rhyme in the video is based on the poem and is a fun song that kids can sing to their cats. Not only does it have a catchy tune that kids can sing along to, but also has an important message behind it. It helps kids understand how to interact with a cat without hurting them.

divider 2 cats

Conclusion

We hope that this list has helped you choose a fun cat-related poem or nursery rhyme for your kids. Although most of these poems and nursery rhymes are meant to be light-hearted, they can be educational. Some of them feature spelling clips at the end of the video, while others teach kids about handling cats properly.

Overall, they can be useful in getting your kids interested in interacting with cats and learning more about them from a young age.


Featured Image Credit: Bear Fotos, Shutterstock

Want content like this delivered to you?

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News, insights, expert advice, and everything cat

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Scaredy Cats vs Curious Kitties: How the Wednesday Cats of Catster React to Strangers

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every month, we ask our cat-loving Catsters to weigh in on a new topic. This week,...

8 Best Cat Foods for Older Cats With Bad Teeth in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

These days, it’s not unusual for a cat to reach 20 years old, or even older, but one of the downsides to looking...

When an Aloof Cat Becomes a Lap Cat: Olga’s Rocky Transition

Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga. Before I adopted Olga, I...

9 Things to Do If You Want to Buy a Purebred Cat: Vet Approved Advice

Catster advocates for adopting before shopping, though we fully understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder. So, we encourage it to...

More related

Jungle Curl Breed Info: Pictures, Temperament & Traits

The Jungle Curl is a mix of the American Curl and the African Jungle Cat. These curled-eared hybrids are rapidly gaining popularity due...

Can Cats Eat Lizards? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

Cats are known to catch and eat lizards, but luckily, most lizards are harmless. They shouldn’t cause any problems for your cat, though...

Are Peace Lilies Toxic to Cats? Vet-Verified Risks & FAQ

Most cat owners are aware of the dangers of a cat ingesting Lilies, specifically those from the Lilium and Hemerocallis family. These include...

National Microchipping Month 2025: When & What It Is

The facts of lost pets tell a sad tale. Roughly 15% of cat owners will lose their pet within 5 years. Outdoor felines...

Keep reading

How Often Should You Clean Your Cat’s Ears? Vet Approved Facts & Step-by-Step Guide

Cats normally spend about 50% of their waking hours licking themselves as a self-grooming technique.1 However, their ears are out of their reach. So, how often should you clean your cat’s ears? Well, there is no exact answer to this...

woman-cleaning-cat-ear

How to Cat Proof a Balcony: 5 Vet-Approved Tips

Balconies can be a huge source of anxiety for cat owners. It’s just so easy for our furry friends to, well, fall off. A fall from a balcony can be exceptionally dangerous, resulting in serious injuries or worse. Cats almost...

striped cat sitting on a balcony with net protection

Why Is My Cat Extra Clingy When I’m Pregnant? 4 Vet Verified Reasons

It is not uncommon for cats to act strangely around pregnant women. You may notice that your cat is extra clingy as your pregnancy progresses. What causes this? Can cats sense when you are pregnant? Many owners report that their...

pregnant woman holding a bengal cat

How to Cook Chicken for Cats: 5 Vet-Approved Recipes

Quality, store-bought cat food is formulated to give your cat everything they need to grow to be healthy and happy, but there may be occasions when you want to give your cat something homecooked. For example, on a special occasion...

cat eating food in the bowl

Store Bought vs Homemade Cat Food: Vet-Reviewed Pros, Cons & FAQ

Even though hundreds of store-bought cat food options are on the market, many owners want to make homemade cat food for their cats. Whether it’s because it feels more personal or they believe it’s healthier, it’s not uncommon to want...

Store Bought vs Homemade Cat Food

Why Is My Cat Scared All of a Sudden? 10 Vet-Approved Reasons

It can be very disconcerting to a loving cat parent when their cat starts acting scared. True, some cats are naturally more nervous or jumpy than others, but if the change is sudden and unexpected, it’s important to try and...

scared British blue-point cat hiding under the bed

Raw Paws Pet Food Review 2025: Pros, Cons, & Verdict

Raw Paws Pet Food is a company that makes dog and cat foods. They offer frozen food that comes in rolls, patties, or ground, freeze-dried food, as well as grain-free kibble for dogs. They also offer food toppers, chews, supplements,...

Raw Paws Cat Food Review

Why Does My Cat Eat My Hair? 9 Reasons for This Behavior & Vet-Approved Tips

If you find yourself asking “Why does my cat eat my hair?”, you’re not alone. Out of all the odd cat behaviors, your feline chewing on your hair is probably one of the strangest. Your hair is not a very...

cat sitting behind the man licking his head