"Cats have been venerated in the Near East since antiquity. Islam also has that tradition, albeit in a much modified form.[2] According to many hadith, the Islamic prophet Muhammad prohibited the persecution and killing of cats.[1]
One of Muhammad's companions was known as Abu Hurairah (literally: "Father of the Kitten") for his attachment to cats.[3] Abu Hurairah reported that he had heard Muhammad declare that a pious woman went to Hell for after she had been annoyed by a female cat, tied her with a rope and neglected to provide her with food and water until she died.[4] According to legend, Abu Saeed's cat saved Muhammad from a snake.[1]"
This would explain why our old cat was an annoying wee shiite although she liked sunni spots.