Venus and the Cat

A cat, having fallen in love with a young man, besought Venus to change her into a girl in the hope of gaining his affections. The goddess, taking compassion on her weakness, changed her into a fair damsel and the young man, enamored of her beauty, led her home as his bride.

As they were sitting in their chamber, Venus, wishing to know whether in changing her form she had also changed her nature, set down a mouse before her. The girl, forgetful of her new condition, started from her seat, and pounced upon the mouse as if she would have eaten it on the spot. Whereupon the goddess, provoked at her frivolity, straightway turned her into a cat again.

What is bred in the bone will never be out of the flesh.