Bulugh al-Maram 11
وَعَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ ‏-فِي اَلْهِرَّةِ‏-: { إِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِنَجَسٍ, إِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنْ اَلطَّوَّافِينَ عَلَيْكُمْ } أَخْرَجَهُ اَلْأَرْبَعَةُ, وَصَحَّحَهُ اَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ.‏ وَابْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ 1‏ .‏‏1 ‏- صحيح.‏ رواه أبو داود (75)‏، والنسائي (1 /55 و 178)‏، والترمذي (92)‏، وابن ماجه (367)‏ وابن خزيمة (104)‏ من طريق كبشة بنت كعب بن مالك ‏-وكانت تحت ابن أبي قتادة‏- أن أبا قتادة دخل عليها، فسكبت له وضوءا.‏ قالت: فجاءت هرة تشرب، فأصغى لها الإناء حتى شربت، قالت كبشة: فرآني أنظر إليه! فقال: أتعجبين يا بنت أخي؟ فقلت: نعم .‏ قال: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: فذكره.‏ وقال الترمذي: "حديث حسن صحيح".‏
Translation
Narrated Abu Qatada (rad)

Narrated Abu Qatada (rad)

Narrated Abu Qatada (rad) Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said about the cat that, “It is not unclean, but is one of those who intermingle with you.” [Reported by Al-Arba’a. At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Khuzaima graded it Sahih (sound)].

Comment

The Book of Purification - Bulugh al-Maram

Hadith Reference: Bulugh al-Maram 11

Textual Analysis

The Prophet (ﷺ) declared: "It is not unclean, but is one of those who intermingle with you." This establishes the fundamental ruling that cats are pure creatures, not requiring purification after contact.

Legal Rulings

According to classical scholars, this hadith proves the purity of a cat's saliva and body. Water from which a cat has drunk remains pure and permissible for ablution.

The phrase "those who intermingle with you" indicates their common presence in households, affirming their clean nature despite their roaming habits.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam al-Nawawi explains this demonstrates Allah's mercy in facilitating purification matters. Cats frequently move through homes, and declaring them impure would cause excessive hardship.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes this ruling applies specifically to domestic cats, not necessarily all feline species. The hadith's authenticity is strengthened by multiple sound chains of transmission.