The historical tracings of The Three Little Kittens have led to Eliza Folen (1787-1860), an influential writer in the New England Unitarian Movement. This verse was published in her collection, New Nursery Songs for All Good Children published sometime around 1843. Folen herself has been said to describe this and other verses as “traditional” although some assume that The Three Little Kittens was an original verse written for her book.
The verse, however, also appeared in 1843 in the Only True Mother Goose Melodies, and from then on it was found in other titles of Mother Goose lore. The Opies indicate that this tune has been described as a variant of “The Seven Joys of Mary.”
Two extremely different renditions exist of this nursery rhyme. One is the short text version ending with “then you shall have no pie,” and the long text ending with the appearance of a rat.
The mysterious question of why the kittens are often asked by their mother to “put on your mittens so you can eat some pie” remains. Most versions that contain the extra verses give the kittens an opportunity to redeem themselves and wash the soiled mittens. The rat that appears in these versions seems to be an ominous symbol of danger, a warning to children to beware. This is in keeping with the general “morality tale” sensibility of the need for the kittens to be “good” in order to earn their pie.
Three Little Kittens Lyrics
Three little kittens they lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear
Our mittens we have lost.
What! lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
No, you shall have no pie.
The three little kittens they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother dear, see here, see here,
Our mittens we have found!
Put on your mittens, you silly kittens,
And you shall have some pie.
Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r,
Oh, let us have some pie.
The three little kittens put on their mittens,
And soon ate up the pie;
Oh, mother dear, we greatly fear
Our mittens we have soiled.
What! soiled your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then they began to sigh,
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
Then they began to sigh.
The three little kittens they washed their mittens,
And hung them out to dry;
Oh! mother dear, do you not hear,
Our mittens we have washed!
What! washed your mittens, then you’re good kittens,
But I smell a rat close by.
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
We smell a rat close by.
Three Little Kittens Music Sheet
