Three Little Kittens Rhyme

Nursery Rhyme & History

Words of the Three Little Kittens Nursery Rhyme
A cautionary tale with words directed toward to a mother and child and the common occurrence of losing an article, then finding it and finally being rewarded!  The word "meeow" shows effective use of onomatopoeia where a word sounds like the action. The mother cat was correct in her view that she could "smell a rat!" This Nursery Rhyme first appeared in the " Only True Mother Goose Melodies" in 1843.

Three Little Kittens poem
AKA - 3 Little Kittens

Three little kittens they lost their mittens, and they began to cry,
"Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens."
"What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens! 
Then you shall have no pie."
"Meeow, meeow, meeow, now we shall have no pie."
The three little kittens they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
"Oh mother dear, see here, see here 
For we have found our mittens."
"Put on your mittens, you silly kittens
And you shall have some pie"
"Meeow, meeow, meeow,
Now let us have some pie."
The three little kittens put on their mittens
And soon ate up the pie,
"Oh mother dear, we greatly fear 
That we have soiled our mittens."
"What! soiled you mittens, you naughty kittens!"
Then they began to cry, "Meeow, meeow, meeow"
Then they began to sigh.
The three little kittens they washed their mittens
And hung them out to dry,
"Oh mother dear, do you not hear
That we have washed our mittens."
"What! washed your mittens, you are good kittens."
But I smell a rat close by, 
"Meeow, meeow, meeow" we smell a rat close by...

Three Little Kittens poem
AKA - 3 Little Kittens

note: A Rhymes lyrics and the perceived origins of some Nursery Rhymes vary according to location