Published 1830 | ||
"I Love Little Pussy", alternatively called "I Love Little Kitty", is an English language nursery rhyme about a person who is kind to a pet cat. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 12824.
Contents
Lyrics and melody
The most common modern version is:
Additional lines include:
The melody commonly associated with the rhyme was first recorded by the composer and nursery rhyme collector James William Elliott in his National Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Songs (1870).
Origins
The poem is first recorded in The Child's Song Book published in 1830. It has been attributed to Jane Taylor (1783–1824), as it conforms to her style. However, there is no corroborative evidence to support this case.
Controversy
Usage of the word "pussy" as a slang term for the vagina or Intimate part is documented since the late 17th century. The rhyme's title and lyrics have been changed by some publications to replace the word "pussy" with the word "kitty", among other substitute terms.