Cats are common so it would be easy to move around unnoticed as a cat. Also cats have a long history of being a favorite among magical societies and are said to be very sensitive to magical and other vibrations.

She's good at tranfiguration, so I think that's why she wanted to become an Animagus. In that I agree with sama.

Why she chose a cat? Cats have a lot of qualities. Fast, small and difficult to catch or be seen if they don't want to. That's a pretty good disguise. Also cats are often linked to witches, so maybe that could've been a reason too.

Well, maybe she wanted to learn how to be one for protection. Cats are amazing at hiding in tight enclosd spaces, and with the threat of Voldemort during her time she probably wanted something that would be good at hiding not that she's a coward or anything, but I think she felt it was the best thing to be. And wasn't this around the time the Order was first made?

Was she old enough to join then trhe Order the first time around? Maybe it was like aHarry thing, she felt threatenened and wanted someting small and easy to be, though becoming an aniimaguus is difficult, but she was extremly bright and talneted so it might have been easy for her/

I think she probably chose to be an animagus because it's one of the most difficult forms of magic to learn and she wanted to conquer that.

As far as why it was a cat: In many old religions cats were seen as strong protectors, especially when facing confrontational situations. They also represent mystery, magic, independence, clear perception, and ancient egyptians thought them to be a link between the spirit world and our own. Soooo, I think these things could fit McG. She's very independant, exceptionally intelligent, brave and clear minded.

It also fits with her namesake-Minerva (AKA Athena to the Greeks),which is the goddess of war and wisdom.

Oh, good question. You know I can see her as a shark if you can become something that's a swimming creature. They're very cautious creatures but can strike at any time. So I can almost see it, but yeah not quite. My first thought was a panther though, she stays away until something happens, then pounces into action. I can't see anything that's not cat - like though.

Point of interest:
Minerva is I believe around the same age as Voldemort. Actually, I just looked it up and she's one year older than him. Which means that they would have gone to Hogwarts together, no?


I think that maybe if she had grown up in a different era that shaped her personality to be different then yes another animal might have been suited well. However, if she was a different type of cat (such as a lion or tiger), then she would not have been able to blend in as easily.

Besides, Minerva strikes me as the very inquisitive type that wouldn't mind sitting for hours and watching people's behaviors. As a small tabby cat, she is able to do this without suspicion. So its not about lack of courage or hiding, but to me she is a cat animagus to allow her to observe. Since that is where I reckon she gets some of her wits from