Cheshire Cat

fictional character

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Article History

Cheshire Cat, fictional character, a cat notable for its broad grin and its ability to disappear and reappear at will, in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll. The phrase “grin like a Cheshire cat” predates Carroll’s story, and, although experts have guessed at its meaning, its origin remains mysterious. The Cheshire Cat is a member of the Duchess’s household. When it appears before Alice, it assures her that everyone in Wonderland is mad and that it doesn’t much matter which path she follows if she doesn’t care where she’s going. The cat’s ability to vanish slowly by sections disconcerts Alice, who at one point finds herself in the presence of only the cat’s grin.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.