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What if one of the most empowering fairy tales for children today was written over 300 years ago? In my latest conversation with fairy tale scholar Anne E. Duggan, we dove into the rich, magical world of “The White Cat,” a once-beloved story by Madame d’Aulnoy that deserves a major comeback in bedtime routines today. Here’s why. Meet the White Cat: More Than a Pretty Feline “The White Cat” combines the whimsy of Puss in Boots and the mystery of Rapunzel, but with a twist: this tale’s heroine is a powerful, sovereign female who leads, loves, and saves the day. The story begins with a king who sends his three sons on impossible quests. The youngest stumbles upon a magical castle ruled by a white cat in mourning. Over three years and three trials - finding the tiniest dog, the finest fabric, and the most beautiful woman - the cat helps him succeed. In the end, she asks him to cut off her head and tail, revealing her true form: an enchanted princess trapped by fairy punishment. She doesn’t just reward him with her hand in marriage - she gives away three kingdoms. The message is clear: this is no damsel in distress. She is the story’s beating heart, strategist, and ultimate liberator.  The Hidden History of the Cat Fairy Tales As Professor Duggan explains, “The White Cat” has deep roots in earlier European cat tales, especially in versions where magical feline helpers are passed from parent to child. Over time, these cats became increasingly masculinized - Charles Perrault famously flipped the gender of the magical helper to a male in “Puss in Boots.” Madame d’Aulnoy, in naming her tale after the female cat, reclaims the feminine magical archetype. And her cat isn’t just magical – she is regal, commanding armies of feline subjects, controlling time, and offering abundant resources. The tale even hints at her previous marriage and sexual experience, making her more mature than the prince she ultimately weds. Rewriting Patriarchy Through Fairy Tales Many early-modern fairy tales, including Russian and Arabian stories, feature a familiar pattern: a passive young man is aided by a magical woman who does all the work. Anne and I reflected on how these stories might have offered a subtle critique of gender roles, especially considering the social and political landscape of the 17th century. In aristocratic society, youngest sons (like the prince in the White Cat story) were often left out of inheritance, while daughters could be confined to convents. In “The White Cat,” the youngest son gets everything - but only because a powerful woman chooses to help him. Even more subversive is the cat’s refusal to marry an “ugly dwarf,” a fairy-imposed punishment echoing the real-life forced marriages young women like d’Aulnoy faced. Anne shared how the author herself was forced into marriage at 13 to a man in his 40s and later imprisoned for scandal and political defiance. Writing, in many ways, became her act of resistance. Rewriting Power: Noblewomen Who Penned Their Own Fate It’s easy to assume women were always submissive in history, but Anne offers a different lens. In 17th-century France, noblewomen such as duchesses, queens, and court influencers typically held more power than men of lower rank. Writers like Madame d’Aulnoy, Madame de Lafayette, and others were published, respected, and widely read. Some even ran their own literary salons. Still, it wasn’t easy. Many, like d’Aulnoy, were locked up in convents or exiled. Anne described how these women turned fairy tales into emotional safe spaces, rewriting the lives they were denied. In their stories, the powerless gain agency, the unjust find justice, and women rescue themselves. A Story Worth Resurrecting Despite its historical popularity, including stage musicals, serialized chocolate bar inserts, and comic books, the White Cat has faded from mainstream memory. But she’s poised for a comeback. Dr. Duggan shared that a new illustrated collection of tales by d’Aulnoy and her peers is in the works, aimed at modern audiences. These condensed, beautifully drawn versions retain the heart of the stories while making them accessible to new generations of readers. As a mom, I am excited to read “The White Cat” to my daughter. Not just because it is charming and fantastical, but because it also celebrates a heroine who is clever, courageous, and kind.  If you are inspired by this story, catch the full conversation with Dr. Anne Duggan on Trust Me Mom podcast, Season 1, episode 19. The crowning touch is Madame D’Aulnoy’s own life story — a tale as intriguing as any detective novel.
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