FAMOUS CATS
‘There are no ordinary cats’
Colette
INDIA "Willie" BUSH
Date: Present (2008)
Place: The White House
India is the much loved black cat belonging to George W. and Laura Bush. Her naming caused some controversy in India and resulted in many dogs in that country being called Bush in protest. India the cat was in fact named after the former Texas Ranger baseball player, Ruben Sierra, who was nicknamed "El Indio".
SLIPPERS
Date: 1906
Place: The White House
A grey cat who reputedly had six toes (hence his name), Slippers was often absent from his post as White House cat, but had an uncanny knack of appearing whenever there was a big diplomatic function. On one such occasion the President was leading a procession of ambassadors and other dignitaries along a corridor from the State Dining Room when suddenly they were all forced to stop. The reason was Slippers, unconcernedly stretched full length on the carpet. On seeing his audience, he started to roll around and purr with delight. Slippers was right in the middle of the passageway but there was no thought of moving him. Instead the President and all his guests simply stepped around him, paying their respects as they did so. (Reference: Slippers: The White House Cat, by Jacob A Riis)
Footnote: Other White House cats have included Miss Pussy (Rutherford B Hayes), Valeriano Weyler and Enrique DeLome (William McKinley), Tom Quartz (Theodore Roosevelt), Puffins (Woodrow Wilson), Tiger (Calvin Coolidge), Tom Kitten (John F Kennedy), Shan (Gerald Ford), Misty Malarky Ying Yang (Jimmy Carter), Socks (Bill Clinton), India (George W Bush).
THOMASINA
Date: 1957
Place: Scotland
Thomasina is a fictional puss but so well portrayed by creator Paul Gallico that part of her is embodied in every living cat. Her story is set in rural Scotland in the 1950s where she is the beloved companion of Mary Ruadh MacDhui. Mary is the daughter of widowed veterinarian Andrew McDhui, a bitter man who has developed a hatred for his calling and his patients. He is resentful of Thomasina's place in his daughter's affections and has her destroyed. As a result, Mary becomes seriously ill with grief and almost dies. Enter the beautiful and compassionate Lori, the Red Witch of the Glen, and the cat goddess herself, Bast-Ra, and you have an enchanting story of redemption, forgiveness and love.
Thomasina the book rightfully deserves to be called a classic. It has been loved by millions since its first publication in 1957. Some cat lovers say that Bast has walked beside them ever since they first read this magical book ....
(Reference: Thomasina by Paul Gallico)
TRIM
Date: 1799-1804
Place: Australia and the oceans of the world
Born aboard The Reliance in 1799 en route to Botany Bay, Trim was the much loved companion of explorer Matthew Flinders. Cat and man circumnavigated the globe between the years 1799-1804 and had many adventures, including being shipwrecked for two months. It was death that finally parted them after Flinders was arrested on the island of Mauritius in 1804. With great reluctance but thinking only of the cat, Matthew agreed to give him to a family on the island. Unfortunately within a fortnight Trim had disappeared, never to be seen again. It was almost certain that he had been eaten by some hungry black slave.
Trim was described by Matthew Flinders as “the best and most illustrious of his race, the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants and best of creatures.” In final acceptance of the cat’s death, he said “Never, my Trim, to take thee all in all, shall I see thy like again.”
On 28 March 1966, Rear-Admiral David Campbell unveiled a bronze statue of Trim in Sydney. It sits on the windowsill of the Mitchell Library in Macquarie Street, just behind the imposing statue of Matthew Flinders himself.
(Reference: Trim by Matthew Flinders)
WASIM
Date: 1982-1999
Place: Queensland, Australia
Wasim was not famous on the world stage but he was truly a "cat of the heart". Read his story ... here >