Frou-Frou, the cat who supported the French Revolution
The late-18th century was the best and the worst of times for cats as well as for the French people. Like most French men and women, French cats also had no representation in the government of the Old Regime. That is why the actions of one cat, Frou-Frou, are so inspiring, not only for her feline brothers and sisters, but for all humankind.
Frou-Frou, a long-haired, green-eyed beauty, lived in the palace at Versailles with Marie Antoinette and enjoyed all the luxuries of her mistress’s household. Whether or not the Queen was truly sympathetic with the poor—it’s a matter of debate among historians—Frou-Frou showed genuine compassion with the less fortunate. When the Parisian alley-cats petitioned her for crumbs, she replied, “Let them eat crumbs!” and gave generously from the palace’s storehouse. Frou-Frou saw the hunger, dissatisfaction and rising violence in the land and pleaded with the Queen to help the people—to no avail. So this noble cat saw no alternative but to support the Revolution.
Frou-Frou addressed the Third Estate at the Tennis Court. She was there when the mobs stormed Bastille. Her most important role, however, was in organizing the Assembly of Notable Felines in Paris in 1789. There she proposed the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Animals.
As we all know, when Napoleon Bonaparte came to power, he reversed many of the Revolution’s gains on behalf of common people and animals. Napoleon did not like cats because they were not obedient and submissive. However, even if the slogan of the Revolution is no longer “Equalité, Fraternité, Liberté, Felinité!” we should remember Frou-Frou for her principled leadership in those difficult times.
