A Lesson in Consequences
Two Children Teasing a Cat was painted by Annibale Carracci in 1590. The scene shows two mischievous children hovering over a family cat. One boy gently pats the cat with one hand, but in the other, he hides a crayfish—ready to let it bite the cat’s ear. The children’s smirks say it all: they’re eagerly anticipating the chaos that’s about to unfold.
A similar painting by Judith Leyster depicts a boy teasing a cat with an eel while a girl pulls its tail. Both works illustrate a Dutch proverb:
“He who plays with cats gets scratched.”
Today, we might say, “If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.”
These paintings use innocent-looking children to teach adults a serious lesson about consequences.
King Solomon warned us long ago:
“Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?” — Proverbs 6:27–28
Though Solomon was warning specifically about sexual immorality, the principle applies to all areas of life. The first step down a dangerous path rarely stops there—it often leads to more pain and regret.
So what are the key takeaways from this painting?
First: Stay away from spiritual danger. Every choice we make has consequences—some immediate, others long-term.
Second: Never hurt anyone—or anything. It’s one thing to show cruelty toward animals, but how often do we show compassion to a stray cat or dog while being harsh or indifferent toward the people closest to us?
The Bible also says:
“A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” — Proverbs 11:17
In other words, what goes around comes around—for better or worse.
| Artist | Annibale Carracci |
| Title | Two Children Teasing a Cat |
| Production | 1590 |
| Material | Oil on Canvas |
| Dimensions | 89 cm (width), 66 cm (height) |
| Exhibit Location | Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| Accession Number | 1994.142 |
| Credit Line | |
| Image Credit | Wikimedia Commons |
Written by Dr. Neale Schofield
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A Lesson in Consequences