What is the significance of cats in the story?

It is important to understand the significance of the cat in its proper context. Cats, so far, have enjoyed a strange significance in the story. Early in the story, Ownby's peculiar superstitions about cats was discussed; he was so afraid of them that he once even shot a hole in his wall because he thought one was watching him. The idea of reincarnation is floated at a later point by one of the boys.