Here is a whimsical 1960 tune from legendary singer-songwriter Gino Paoli (lyrics written by Mogol, who would later work with Lucio Battisti). It apparently alludes to Paoli's starving-artist-in-garret period, populated by a music-loving (female) cat and a visiting star (of the astronomical sort). Lyrics and translation follow. Students of Italian will note the use of the imperfect for habitual situations in the past that no longer exist.
C'era una volta una gatta
che aveva una macchia nera sul muso e una vecchia
soffitta vicino al mare con una finestra
a un passo dal cielo blu.
Se la chitarra suonavo
la gatta faceva le fusa ed una stellina
scendeva vicina vicina
poi mi sorrideva e se ne tornava su.
Ora non abito più là tutto è cambiato,
non abito più là ho una casa bellissima
bellissima come vuoi tu.
Ma io ripenso a una gatta
che aveva una macchia nera sul muso a una vecchia
soffitta vicino al mare con una stellina
che ora non vedo più.
Once upon a time there was a cat
with a black spot on her muzzle and an old
attic by the sea with a window
steps away from the blue sky.
If I would play my guitar
If I would play my guitar
the cat would purr and a little star
would come down really close
then it would smile and go back up again.
Now I don't live there anymore everything has changed,
I don't live there anymore, I have a beautiful house,
beautiful, as you want.
But I think back to a cat with a black spot on her muzzle, to an old
attic by the sea with a little star
That I don't see anymore.
