Old Deuteronomy Old Deuteronomy Old Deuteronomy is a character in T. S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" and its musical adaptation, "Cats". In Eliot's original poem, Old Deuteronomy is described as an ancient, wise cat who has "lived many lives in succession" and is respected by the other cats and humans (and perhaps even dogs) in his environment. His name derives from Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Old Testament of the Bible, which shares the central element of law with the character (who is a magistrate). "Cats" expands on the theme of wisdom by depicting Deuteronomy as the leader
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats of the United States Senate Chamber during their search for Sanctuary. The Old Man has many cats and refers to the poem "The Naming of Cats", explaining that each cat has three names: one common, one fancy and one that only the cat knows. Later the Old Man refers to one cat in particular, "Gus", short for "Asparagus", and goes on to recite parts of "Macavity: the Mystery Cat". On June 5, 2009, "The Times" revealed that in 1937 Eliot had composed a 34-line poem entitled "Cows" for the children of Frank Morley, a friend who, like Eliot, was a