44 votes

The world’s oldest cat door has been letting working cats enter the cathedral since the 14th Century

Posted by boxer_dogs_dance
Tags: architecture, pests, cats, history, religion, cathedrals, doors, medieval, 14th century, exeter cathedral, united kingdom.exeter, author.madeleine muzdakis, source.mymodernmet
https://mymodernmet.com/exeter-cathedral-cat-flap/

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Authors
Madeleine Muzdakis
Published
Aug 28 2023
Word count
548 words

8 comments

  1. [2]
    snake_case
    Link
    Our relationship with cats is so strange. Feared and hated at some times, welcomed inside as long as they work, in some cultures worshiped, and now mostly just force-cuddled and locked inside....

    Our relationship with cats is so strange. Feared and hated at some times, welcomed inside as long as they work, in some cultures worshiped, and now mostly just force-cuddled and locked inside.

    Some cats are able to domesticate themselves, but others... even when born into captivity they're still assholes. I wonder if they'll all ever fit quite right with us.

    9 votes
    1. KeepCalmAndDream
      Link Parent
      Our relationship with humans is so strange. Feared and hated at some times, welcomed around as long as they feed us, in some clowders worshipped and now their force-cuddles are mostly just...

      Our relationship with humans is so strange. Feared and hated at some times, welcomed around as long as they feed us, in some clowders worshipped and now their force-cuddles are mostly just tolerated and their doored boxes adapted into homes.

      Some humans are able to domesticate themselves, but others... even when born into cat familiarity they're still assholes. I wonder if they'll all ever fit quite right with us.

      6 votes
  2. [5]
    OneEyeMercy
    Link
    This is just down the road from me! We go there all the time and always bring visitors there to show them around. I can give a pretty good tour guide speech at this point. There are lots of...

    This is just down the road from me! We go there all the time and always bring visitors there to show them around. I can give a pretty good tour guide speech at this point. There are lots of fascinating books about it too. It really is an amazing place!

    6 votes
    1. [4]
      boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      I'm jealous, but I live not too far from some pretty impressive redwood forests. Maybe someday we can negotiate and set up a tour exchange.

      I'm jealous, but I live not too far from some pretty impressive redwood forests. Maybe someday we can negotiate and set up a tour exchange.

      5 votes
      1. [3]
        OneEyeMercy
        Link Parent
        Ah, how kind! I've been to 47 states, many repeatedly, so I have seen your dear forests and they are stunning! I can even recall the smell! Come on over and I'll show you around! I am pretty sure...

        Ah, how kind! I've been to 47 states, many repeatedly, so I have seen your dear forests and they are stunning! I can even recall the smell!
        Come on over and I'll show you around! I am pretty sure Exeter is the most perfect (for me anyway) city in the world! Devon in general is just brilliant. We would love to have you!

        3 votes
        1. [2]
          boxer_dogs_dance
          Link Parent
          Thank you! If it becomes possible, I will get in touch.

          Thank you! If it becomes possible, I will get in touch.

          3 votes
          1. OneEyeMercy
            Link Parent
            The cathedral is also the origin of the rhyme 'hickory dickory dock'! https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/hickory-dickory-dock-clock-proves-4546022 Here is the wiki on our clock:...

            The cathedral is also the origin of the rhyme 'hickory dickory dock'!
            https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/hickory-dickory-dock-clock-proves-4546022

            Here is the wiki on our clock:
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_Cathedral_astronomical_clock

            (I really need to learn how to imbed links here, it's on my to-do list!)

            5 votes
  3. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. OneEyeMercy
      Link Parent
      We...don't really do that here if we can help it. if a building is of a certain age, it is protected by a HUGE amount of laws and regulations....

      nobody ever got any funny ideas about putting new doors on.

      We...don't really do that here if we can help it. if a building is of a certain age, it is protected by a HUGE amount of laws and regulations.
      https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/what-is-designation/listed-buildings/
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listed_building

      4 votes