What is setting?

The book is set during Eliot's time, in London. Eliot was an expatriate who went to school in London and never came back to the United States. His deep entrenchment in British society is evident from the many references to it in this book.

Most of the cats live in posh neighborhoods in London. They have gardens and large houses, which are filled with nice furniture and collectibles, such as a Ming vase. The setting is very comfortable in most of the poems.

Once in a while, the setting moves to a different location. Old Deuteronomy, for instance, lives in a smaller town, and Growltiger lives on a barge. Wherever the cats are located, however, they most commonly appear in pubs and restaurants.