Why the Cat Kills the Rat

In the beginning, the Cat and the Rat were the best of friends. They decided to make a pot of delicious, rich stew together and save it for a festival. They sealed the pot and placed it on a high shelf. That night, the Cat, whose real name was 'Ologbon-ori' (Master of cunning), grew hungry. He woke the Rat and said, "I hear a sound. Someone is calling my name. I must go." He went to the pot and ate the top layer of the stew. When he returned, the Rat asked what the name of the new child was. The Cat replied, "Its name is 'Ijedi' (The-top-is-eaten)." A few nights later, the Cat did it again, this time eating to the middle of the pot. He told the Rat the child's name was 'Olorun-de-agbede' (God-has-reached-the-middle). Finally, he went a third time and finished the entire pot, telling the Rat the child's name was 'Itan-pari' (The-story-is-finished). On the day of the festival, the Rat climbed up to get the pot and found it empty. He knew then that the Cat had tricked him. He ran and hid in a small hole. The Cat, furious at being found out, has been hunting the Rat ever since to silence him for his crime.