Yahya related to me from Malik from Ishaq ibn Abdullah ibn AbiTalha from Humayda bint Abi Ubayda ibn Farwa that her maternal auntKabsha bint Kab ibn Malik, who was the wife of the son of Abu Qatadaal-Ansari, told her that once Abu Qatada was visiting her and shepoured out some water for him to do wudu with. Just then a cat came todrink from it, so he tilted the vessel towards it to let it drink.Kabsha continued, "He saw me looking at him and said, 'Are yousurprised, daughter of my brother?' I said, 'Yes.' He replied that theMessenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,cats are not impure. They intermingle with you .' "Yahyasaid that Malik said, "There is no harm in that unless one seesimpurities on the cat's mouth."
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 2, Hadith 13
Arabic reference: Book 2, Hadith 43