How Did the Prophet ﷺ Know That Cats Are Pure and Dogs Are Impure?

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ affirmed through many authentic hadiths that cats are pure (طاهرة) and not impure (نجسة). He referred to them as “among the frequent visitors” of homes, and he ﷺ would perform ablution (وضوء) using water from which a cat had drunk, considering it pure.

This raises an important question:

How could the unlettered Prophet ﷺ have known that cats are pure while dogs are impure — a fact now scientifically proven?

Let us explore the findings of scientific research and laboratory experiments, where results remarkably matched the guidance given by the Prophet ﷺ fourteen centuries ago.

Scientific Facts About Cats (الهر، القط، السنور، الضّيون، البس)

Cats are known for their extreme cleanliness. The renowned scientist Louis Pasteur once said:

“Cats are clean animals because they spend much of their day grooming themselves. There is no part of the cat’s body that it does not clean.”

Due to their exposure to external environments, the skin of cats possesses immune cells similar to white blood cells. Moreover, their tongues are uniquely designed — covered with small, hooked, saw-like projections — making them ideal for grooming, brushing dead fur, and maintaining hygiene.

Cats are, in fact, equipped with the best self-cleaning system.

Their rough tongues efficiently remove loose fur and dirt, while their method of drinking — touching the surface of liquid lightly with the underside of the tongue — ensures minimal contamination.

Laboratory Analysis

Scientific laboratory experiments were conducted on cats of different ages and body parts (back, paw pads, mouth area, tail). Samples were cultured using various bacterial media (Gram-positive and negative, EMB, Moler Henton, and Blood Agar).

1. Antibacterial Properties of Cat Saliva

Scientific studies have confirmed that cat saliva contains several antibacterial compounds:

• • Lysozyme: An enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls, effectively killing certain bacteria.

• • Lactoferrin: A protein that binds iron, depriving bacteria of this essential nutrient, thereby inhibiting their growth.

• • Cathelicidin: A peptide with antimicrobial properties that disrupts bacterial membranes.

These components collectively contribute to the antibacterial nature of cat saliva, aligning with the Islamic view of cats being pure.

2. Microbial Composition of Cat Skin

Research into the skin microbiota of healthy cats reveals a low presence of pathogenic bacteria:

• • A study found that bacteria such as Micrococcus, Acinetobacter, Streptococci, and Staphylococci are common on feline skin.

• • Notably, bacteria could not be isolated from half of the samples, attributed to the cats’ grooming behavior.

The results were astounding:

• • All external surface samples were negative for harmful pathogens.

• • 80% of samples from the mouth walls tested negative.

• • Samples from the tongue surface were completely negative.

• • Bacteria found were only harmless strains commonly coexisting with humans: Enterobacter, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus, all in numbers less than 50,000 colonies.

• • No complex or dangerous bacterial strains were detected.

Thus, laboratory analysis confirmed that cats’ bodies and saliva are extremely clean, and their presence poses no microbial threat.

Testimonies from Veterinary Experts

• • Dr. Georges Maqsoud, Head of Veterinary Labs, stated: “Rarely do we find harmful bacteria on a cat’s body; if found, it usually indicates the cat is ill.”

• • Dr. Jane Gustavsen, after comparing human, dog, and cat saliva, found: “Dogs have the highest bacterial load, followed by humans at one-fourth, and cats at half that of humans.”

• • Veterinarian Dr. Said Rafah from Damascus noted: “Cats have a natural antiseptic enzyme called lysozyme. They instinctively avoid water — especially stagnant water — to prevent bacterial infections, keeping their fur dry and clean.”

1. Staphylococcus felis as a Commensal Organism

Staphylococcus felis is recognized as a normal commensal organism present on the skin, conjunctival sac, eyelid margins, and in the saliva of healthy cats.

This indicates that the bacteria commonly found in cats are typically non-pathogenic and part of their normal flora.

2. Comparative Microbial Diversity

Studies comparing the oral microbiota of cats, dogs, and humans found that cat saliva harbors a diverse range of bacteria, but many are non-pathogenic and part of the normal flora.

This diversity does not equate to impurity but reflects a balanced microbial ecosystem, further supporting the Islamic perspective of cats being clean animals.

Evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah

Several authentic narrations from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ illustrate the purity of cats:

• • Hadith of Kabsha bint Ka’b ibn Malik, where Abu Qatada allowed a cat to drink from his ablution water and then explained: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Cats are not impure; they are among those who go around among you.“
    (Narrated by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and others)

• • Hadith of Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet ﷺ waited for a cat to drink from an ablution vessel before he ﷺ performed wudu’ (ablution), saying: The cat is part of the household and does not defile anything.

• • Narration from Aisha (رضي الله عنها) regarding a cat eating from a dish: She declared it pure and said: The Prophet ﷺ used to perform wudu’ from the leftover water of cats.

These hadiths prove that the Prophet ﷺ not only declared cats pure but acted upon this knowledge in his daily life.

The Miracle of Prophetic Knowledge

Through these scientific results and historical narrations, it becomes clear that:

• • A cat’s body is exceptionally clean — cleaner even than that of a human.

• • Allah ﷻ blessed cats with glands and a specialized tongue that protect them from bacteria.

• • Their saliva contains far fewer bacteria than human saliva and includes natural disinfectants.

Thus, when the Prophet ﷺ declared that the water remaining after a cat drank from it is pure, it was an implicit medical and scientific sign, long before the advent of modern laboratory science.

Glory be to Allah! How could the Prophet ﷺ have known this without divine revelation?

Indeed, as Allah ﷻ said regarding His Messenger ﷺ:

“Nor does he speak from [his own] desire. It is but a revelation revealed.”

(Surat An-Najm, 53:3-4)

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