The cat is a dilettante in fur.

Théophile Gautier (1811-1872) French poet, writer, critic

Ménagerie Intime, ch. 1 “Temps Anciens” (1864)
    (Source)

Paraphrase of an anecdote about his cat, Madame Théophile, who would lay a paw on a visiting singer's lips if a certain high note were sung, often tested by guests: "The dilettante in fur was not to be deceived." [Il était impossible de tromper sur la note cette chatte dilettante.]

Excerpted in Champfleury, The Cat, Past and Present, "Supplementary Notes by the Translator" (1869) [tr. Hoey (1885)]