After trolling around the Internet for information, it appears likely that “Dewey” was actually not the cat’s name, but the last name of his owners. The owner’s name appearing on the tombstone was apparently customary, or very common, for the few pet cemeteries in the early 1900s. But whatever his real name, he has now become a little famous (at least, “Internet-famous”) as “Dewey” the cat with the touching inscription on his tombstone.

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ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE
I LEARNED FROM MY CAT

Life is hard, then you nap.
Curiosity never killed anything except maybe a few hours.
When in doubt, cop an attitude.
Variety is the spice of life: one day ignore people, the next day annoy them.
Climb your way to the top—that’s why the drapes are there.
Never sleep alone when you can sleep on someone’s face.
Find your place in the sun—especially if it happens to be on that nice pile of warm, clean laundry.
Make your mark in the world—or at least spray in each corner.
When eating out, think nothing of sending back your meal twenty or thirty times.
If you’re not receiving enough attention, try knocking over several expensive antique lamps.
Always give generously—a small bird or rodent left on the bed tells them, “I care.”
When you go out into the world, remember: being placed on a pedestal is a right, not a privilege.