Is It Halal to Keep a Cat?

Also asked as: “Are cats clean in Islam?” · “Can Muslims have cats as pets?”

Cats and purity

Water a cat drinks from remains pure for wudu, according to hadith. Cat hair on clothes does not stop prayer.

Responsibility

A hadith tells of a woman punished for locking up a cat without food. Feed, shelter and care for any animal you keep. Compare keeping a dog.

Cats and cleanliness

The Prophet ﷺ was known to be kind to cats, and the companion Abu Hurayrah gets his name from the kitten he carried. Cats are not treated as impure in the way dogs are in some schools.

Looking after a cat includes food, water, veterinary care and not leaving it to suffer. Scholars warn that neglect or cruelty to animals is a sin.

Last reviewed 2026-11-01. How we write these answers · Suggest a correction

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