Cat Stevens’ Love for Felines and How He Got His Purrfect Name

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If you were alive during the 1960s and 70s, you probably heard music played by a man named Cat Stevens. Today, he is still revered as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time. And if you didn’t know about Mr. Stevens, we’re sitting down and learning all about him together!

Many people ask, where did he get his name from? Why has he likened himself to a cat? We’re about to find out! For clarity, when referring to him by his first name we’ll use Yusuf/Cat as he goes by both names together now.

So Where Did Cat Stevens Come From?

Cat Stevens’ name isn’t really Cat, or Stevens for that matter. Well, Stevens isn’t his last name anyway. Yusuf/Cat was born Steven Demetre Georgiou in 1948. He gained popularity in the 1960s as a teen star performing in the United Kingdom. Since then he changed his stage name to Cat Stevens, Yousef Islam, and today as a mix of the two, Yousef/Cat Stevens. So why did he originally pick Cat Stevens? According to Yusuf/Cat himself, his birth name wasn’t doing the trick to sell records and get noticed. 

“I couldn’t imagine anyone going to the record store and asking for ‘that Steven Demetre Georgiou album’.”

Cat Stevens Tweet from August, 2017 for International Cat Day

His Greek name is a bit of a mouthful. With his name being difficult to remember, he wanted an easier name for everyone to not only be able to pronounce but remember as well. The name was given to him by his then-girlfriend according to his biography on his website. She said that his eyes were like a cat’s. It’s up to speculation though what exactly that means. Appearance? Agility? Who knows. Whatever the reason, Cat Stevens was born. Yusuf/Cat himself is also an animal lover. He realized that many people in the United Kingdom and the United States were animal fans, so the name would help his popularity. 

Stevens and Cleo the Cat

Below, the singer appeared with Cleo the cat in the January edition of Disc and Music Echo from 1967. According to the accompanying text, Cleo lived with a writer for the magazine but ended up with Stevens on the cover.

“Cat and Cleo claw up chart!

Charging up the chart this week: Cat Stevens, with his highly catch “Matthew And Son.” Here, he’s pictured with a cat named Cleo – and they both have plenty to purr about!

Cat, the one with the capital C, is confirming all his early promise with “I Love My Dog,” and the current big hit will certainly keep him in far better fare than cups of cold coffee and pieces of cake. Cat, the one with the small c, ought to be grinning, too. Cleo has, after all, captured the front page for her owner, Disc and Music Echo writer Bob Farmer! But grinning for Cat Stevens will be easier when he’s old and grey. He can’t wait to join the older generation. Find out why on the back page.”

On the back, the 18-year-old Stevens remarked: 

“When I’m old, I’m sure I’ll be very happy. I’m looking forward to it and the sooner it happens the better. It’s peace of mind. It’s knowing what it’s all about and not having to chase yourself round in circles. Being old will be great.”

Image screenshot via World Radio History

Oddly enough, the singer never made any songs specifically about house cats. He did however make a song about dogs,  I Love My Dog in 1967.

However, he did create an album titled Teaser and the Firecat, released October 1971. The title is also shared by a now extremely rare children’s book he wrote. A character named Teaser, who wears a top-hat, and his friend the Firecat go on a journey to put the Moon back in the sky.

You Can Ride a Tiger

Then, in 2017, Stevens released, “You Can Do (Whatever)!” featuring lyrics about riding a tiger. As you can see in the Tweet below, the artwork for the song features a boy riding a big striped cat. Ignoring the fact that we totally disagree with his lyrics about riding tigers!… 

“You can do whatever you want to do
Anything you want – you can do
You can ride a tiger or walk the dog
Anything you wish can be true
You can watch the world as it passes by
Or you can make it stop for you”

Also, Steven’s video for the song, “Butterfly” features an adorable animated tiger. Perhaps, this tiger represents the artist himself? Originally, Stevens recorded the song in 1978, but it wasn’t released until January, 2020. See the wonderful artistic video below:

Steven’s reimagined video for “Where Do the Children Play?” released in 2020, also features an animated cat. The song is an environment anthem first released in 1970.

Cat Stevens, Where Do the Children Play?, screenshot via YouTube

Ever year, the musician wishes everyone a Happy National Cat Day and International Cat Cay, sharing pictures of him with cats.

Image via Twitter/@YusufCatStevens

As you can see below, Stevens shared a picture in 2021 of an orange tabby with his grandchild, dubbing the cat “Firecat’s cousin.”

Image via Twitter

To add to his cat-like eyes and love of animals, it is also said he has an animal magnetism. Yusuf/Cat has also compared his personality to a cat.

“I was alone, totally alone … like a cat that you get too close to.”

So not only eyes like a cat, but a personality of a cat as well? Cat Stevens sounds like a perfect name then! So there’s the mystery of Cat Stevens’ name. Not as mysterious as it could have been, but then again sometimes cats are straightforward creatures.

As all cat lovers know, you can learn a lot from a cat’s approach to life.

Featured image: Screenshot via YouTube/ Yusuf, Cat Stevens with screenshots via Twitter/Yusuf, Cat Stevens

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