When the rabbi led in worship each evening, the temple cat would get in the way and distract the worshippers. So the rabbi ordered that the cat be tied during the worship.

Attachment 42428

After the rabbi died, the cat continued to be tied during evening worship. And when the cat expired, another cat was brought to the temple so that it could be duly tied during evening worship.

Centuries later, treatises were written by the rabbi's scholarly disciples on the liturgical significance of tying up a cat.

Attachment 42429

Moral: Avoid mindless adherence to tradition.