FAMOUS CATS

‘There are no ordinary cats’

Colette

BAST (BASTET)

Date: approx 3000BC

Place: Ancient Egypt

Bast was not actually a cat herself but a cat-headed Egyptian goddess who embodied all things graceful and beautiful about cats and had mythical powers. Felines were revered and worshipped throughout much of the ancient Mediterranean region because of their rodent killing abilities. There are signs from archaeological digs in Cyprus that they may have first established a tenuous bond with humans more than 8000 years ago, but it was not until about 4000BC that much evidence of true domestication appears. This evidence comes particularly from the region of the Nile delta, and coincides with the emergence of permanent settlements based around farming. There are indications that cats were household pets as well as being valued for vermin control.

 

DELILAH

Date: 1980s

Place: Garden Lodge, London

Person: Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group Queen, loved cats and gave a home to many throughout his life, mostly from animal shelters. He hated the close breeding associated with purebred cats, having watched his beloved longhaired blue point Tiffany sicken and die from an inbreeding induced problem.  Freddie's favourite cat was undoubtedly Delilah, subject and title of one of the best known songs on his last album Innuendo, which was released in 1991 when the singer was entering the final stages of HIV/AIDS. After his death, Delilah and the other cats remained in the care of Freddie's long time partner Mary Austin.

DEWEY

Date: 1988-2006

Place: Spencer Library, Iowa

Dewey, or Dewey Readmore Books to give him his full title, was dropped through the book returns chute of Spencer library one very cold winter night in 1988. Staff found him the next morning and adopted him as official library cat, a position he held until his euthanasia due to failing health, nearly 18 years later. Dewey grew into a handsome individual and was loved by staff and patrons alike for his friendliness and outgoing ways. He regularly attended library meetings and was never happier than when greeting people at the front desk. He featured in various books, magazines, films and TV during his long life.

DICK WHITTINGTON'S CAT

Date: approx 1390

Place: London

Several versions of this folk tale exist. One is that Dick Whittington was a poor orphan boy who went to London to seek his fortune. A rich merchant, Mr Fitzwarren, took him in and gave him work as a scullery boy. But Dick could not sleep because of all the rats, so he adopted a cat who chased away and presumably ate some of the rats. This cat ended up being sent to a far off land on one of Mr Fitzwarren's ships as an item of trade. Dick Whittington ran away from his place of employment because of cruel treatment by the cook. On his way out of London he heard the Bow Bells ring out. 'Turn again Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London' chimed the bells. Dick obeyed and went back to Mr. Fitzwarren's employment. There, he learned that his cat had been sold for a great fortune to the King of Barbary whose palace had been overrun with mice. Dick had become a rich man. In time he married Mr. Fitzwarren's daughter Alice, and did become the Lord Mayor of London three times, just as the bells had said.
 

FAITH

Date: 1936-1948

Place: St Augustine's and St Faith's Church, Watling Street, London

Faith was a starving stray who wandered into St Augustine's church and was evicted three times by the verger before the rector, Father Ross, intervened and allowed her to stay. Faith became his special companion in between mouse catching duties, even sitting at his feet in the pulpit while he preached. Four years later, in 1940, she surprised everyone by producing one kitten, Panda. One day about a month later, she kept 'asking' Father Ross to open the basement door for her. When he finally did so, Faith collected her kitten Panda and carried him down into the basement by the scruff of the neck. Concerned, Father Ross carried the kitten back upstairs again where it was warm, Faith protesting all the way. Three times this happened and finally Father Ross gave in and let Faith and her kitten stay in the basement in a space she had selected between stacks of old sheet music.

Three nights later there was a heavy air raid and the church was severely damaged. Father Ross searched frantically amongst the rubble for the cats, despite the risk of the roof falling in. Finally he heard a faint miaow and quickly removed a pile of still smouldering debris to reveal the two cats, dirty but unharmed.  Overjoyed, Father Ross had the following tribute placed beneath a photo of Faith on the chapel wall:

"Faith"
Our dear little church cat of St. Augustine and St. Faith.
The bravest cat in the world.
On Monday, September 9th, 1940, she endured horrors and perils
beyond the power of words to tell.
Shielding her kitten in a sort of recess in the house (a spot
she selected three days before the tragedy occurred), she
sat the whole frightful night of bombing and fire, guarding her
little kitten.
The roofs and masonry exploded. The whole house blazed. Four
floors fell through in front of her. Fire and water and ruin
all round her.
Yet she stayed calm and steadfast and waited for help.
We rescued her in the early morning while the place was still
burning, and
By the mercy of Almighty God, she and
her kitten were not only saved, but unhurt.
God be praised and thanked for His goodness
and mercy to our dear little pet.

Although as a civilian cat she was not eligible for the Dickin Medal awarded to animals for bravery under fire, Faith still came to the attention of Maria Dickin, who determined she should be presented with a special silver medal. So it was that in 1945 Faith received this medal from Mrs Dickin in the company of no less a personage than the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Citation read:

From the P.D.S.A. to Faith of St. Augustine's, Watling Street, E.C.
For steadfast courage in the Battle of London, September 9th, 1940.

(Reference: Faith, the London Church Cat, Purr-n-fur.org.uk)

FOSS

Date: 1872-1887

Place: San Remo, Italy

Person: Edward Lear

Edward Lear, one of 21 children and famous writer of nonsense verse and limericks, died in 1888, only two months after his beloved cat Foss, whom he'd had buried beneath a large tombstone in his garden.  Foss was a tabby cat who was introduced to the household as a kitten in 1872. He had a shortened tail due to a superstitious servant cutting it off supposedly to prevent him straying. For this and other reasons, Foss was reportedly not an attractive cat, but he became well known because he frequently featured in Lear's cartoons, in particular the whimsical "Edward Lear at 73½. His cat Foss at 16."

When Lear moved to a new house due to their view of the Mediterranean becoming obstructed, he instructed the architects to design it as an exact replica of his previous one. This was to ensure that Foss "would find the rooms suitable for exploring, the shade suitable for sleeping, the gardens suitable for hunting", as he was used to in the old house.

HODGE

Date: around 1750

Place: 17 Gough Square, London

Person: Samuel Johnson

Hodge was the much loved cat of Samuel Johnson, the famous lexicographer. It was at a period, one of several in history, when cats were ill-favoured, in fact were even described at that time as being very lowly examples of the leonine race. Hence Johnson himself used to buy Hodge's favourite food for him (oysters) in case the servants, if asked to do so, became resentful of the cat. James Boswell, great friend of Samuel Johnson but non-cat lover, remarked one day that Hodge was a very fine specimen, a sentiment echoed by Johnson who agreed he was "a very fine cat indeed". Hence the statue of Hodge, unveiled in 1997, bears those very words as part of the inscription.

HUMPHREY

Date: 1989-2006

Place: No. 10 Downing Street, London

Humphrey was a longhaired black-and-white ex-stray who took up his position as Mouser to the Cabinet Office at No. 10 Downing St in October 1989. Maggie Thatcher was still PM and Humphrey was, in fact, to maintain his tenure throughout her successor John Major's term in office. Humphrey was described as a laid back and relaxed cat while still maintaining the aloofness and dignity of his kind, being unphased even by royalty.  He had various adventures, including being mistaken for a stray and 'catnapped' by a well-meaning German travel agent, who duly returned him on discovering his true identity.

Humphrey and the next incumbents of No. 10 Downing St, the Blairs, reportedly did not get on. He was spirited away to retirement at a secret address in a south London suburb where he lived the remainder of his life very happily. In March 2006 it was reported that Humphrey had died peacefully in his sleep at the grand age of 18. 

(Reference: Downing Street Cats, Purr-n-fur.org.uk)

JOCK

Date: 1962-1974

Place: Chartwell, Kent, England

Person: Sir Winston Churchill

Jock was Sir Winston Churchill's final cat, in fact he was only two years old when Churchill died in 1965. Jock always sat in a nearby chair while his boss worked on his memoirs or took his meals and can be seen sitting on Churchill's knee in photos taken at his grandson Winston's wedding in 1964. Jock lived on at Chartwell until 1974 and is buried in the pet cemetery in the grounds.

Sir Winston and Lady Clementine were both animal lovers, but the great British prime minister was described as being "silly" about cats, particularly marmalade (ginger) ones. He requested in his will that there should always be a marmalade cat named Jock at Chartwell, the stately home where Churchill died and which was subsequently left to the National Trust. Jock III is the present incumbent, he is well cared for by the staff and also catches the odd mouse.       (Reference: The Churchill Center www.winstonchurchill.org)

MORRIS

Date: 1960-1978

Place: Chicago

Person: Bob Martwick

There were two famous advertising cats trained by Bob Martwick – Morris I and Morris II. Martwick found Morris I the day he was to be euthanazed in an animal shelter and christened him Lucky; it was only later that he was renamed Morris. Martwick knew immediately that Lucky's rough diamond appearance (added to by a torn eyelid received in a fight) was exactly the 'macho cat' image 9-Lives pet food company were seeking for their advertising campaign. After several other cats had been presented, Martwick sent Lucky into the boardroom alone, knowing that the laidback cat would immediately demand centre stage.

“He jumped on the table … and he walked right up to the art director, the big cheese, and bumped him in the head. And then Morris just sat back,” Martwick said in 1995, years after the original Morris died. “The art director said, ‘This is the Clark Gable of cats’. ”

Morris made 58 commercials, featured in two books and traveled many miles making appearances throughout the United States and Canada. He was featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”, and as the presumed model for the cartoon cat Garfield, appeared in public with Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield.


 

MR BISMARCK

Date: 1870s

Place: London

Person: Florence Nightingale

Mr Bismarck was just one of the reputed 17 cats that shared their lives with Florence Nightingale after she returned to London from the Crimean War. She described him as "the most sensitive of cats" and his paw prints frequently marched across her correspondence. Other members of her feline family included Big Pussie, Tom, Topsy, Tib, Gladstone, Mrs Tit, Mr Muff, Quiz. Nightingale was chronically ill in later years and took refuge in her cats who, she said, possessed much more sympathy and feeling than human beings. When she died in 1910, it was no surprise to learn she had made provision for her remaining cats in her will. (Reference: the writings of Mark Bostridge)

MUEZZA

Date: 570-632

Place: Mecca, Medina
Person: Mohammed

Cats were loved by the Prophet Mohammed, and were protected and respected throughout the Islamic world. Muezza was the Prophet's favourite cat. A famous story concerns Mohammed cutting off the sleeve of his robe on which Muezza was sleeping, rather than disturb the cat. Also Mohammed is said to have favoured using water that Muezza had drunk from for performing wudu (partial ablution prior to prayers). Another famous story concerns a female cat who saved Mohammed from being bitten by a deadly snake. The Prophet patted her in grateful thanks, the imprint of his fingers leaving dark stripes which are still visible on the heads of many cats today.

NORA

Date: Present (2008)

Place: New Jersey, U.S.

Visit Nora's site to learn all there is to know about this incredible piano-playing puss. Nora was "adopted from a shelter, taught herself to sit at the piano and play notes, became an internet sensation on YouTube and then went on to become a world-wide media star – all before the age of four". (From Nora the Piano Cat^TM )

OSCAR

Date: 2007

Place: Steere House Nursing Home, Providence, Rhode Island

Oscar is one of the resident pets kept at the Steere House hospice as part of the therapy program for the elderly patients. He has the unusual ability of being able to predict when one of them is going to die. His record stands at more than 25 accurately predicted deaths. He moves from room to room on his daily rounds before selecting a person to curl up beside. Almost invariably this person is at the end stage of their illness and too ill to notice the cat and dies within the next few hours. Vets and other scientists believe there is a biochemical explanation for Oscar's unusual ability, perhaps there is a smell or aura associated with impending death which is only discernible to cats.   (Ref: Wikipedia)

SIMON

Date: 1949

Place: HMS Amethyst

(Reference: Famous Felines. Purr-n-fur.org.uk)

SIZI

Date: 1930s onwards

Place: Lambarene, Gabon, Africa

Person: Dr Albert Schweitzer

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats". So said Dr Albert Schweitzer, German medical missionary and 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. He was friend to and rescuer of many animals during his years at his clinic in Lambarene in Africa, but the cat Sizi was to hold a special place in his heart for 23 years. Rescued from beneath a building being constructed at the hospital, her favourite sleeping place became his desk and she would frequently fall asleep on his left arm, requiring the left-handed doctor to write with his right hand rather than disturb her.

"By ethical conduct towards all creatures, we enter into a spiritual relationship with the universe."

– Albert Schweitzer

SLIPPERS

Date: 1906

Place: The White House

A grey cat who reportedly 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 'First 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).

SNOWBALL and his descendants

Date: 1935 - present

Place: Key West, Florida

Person: Ernest Hemingway

Snowball was a polydactyl (6-toed) cat given to Ernest Hemingway in 1935 by a ship's captain. He was much loved by Hemingway and left a legacy of polydactyl descendants, some of which are amongst the 60 or so cats still living today at the famous author's old home and grounds, now a museum, on Key West. The care and feeding of the cats is paid for by the museum, with some sponsorship from e.g. pet food companies. A vet checks the cats regularly. Most are desexed, but a small number of kittens are bred annually as replacements. They are never sold or given away.

THOMASINA

Date: 1957

Place: Scotland

Person: Paul Gallico

Thomasina is a fictional puss but so well portrayed by creator Paul Gallico that fans of his writing believe her to be 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 MacDhui, 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. Many cat lovers will say that Bast has walked beside them ever since they first read this magical book ....    (Reference: Thomasina by Paul Gallico)

TOWSER

Date: 1963-1987

Place: Glenturret Distillery, Crieff, Scotland

Towser was a longhaired tortoiseshell who for almost 24 years held the position of chief mouser at Glenturret distillery, where Scotland's renowned Famous Grouse whisky is made. Towser's kill tally of mice was so remarkable that she is in the Guinness Book of Records. Her exploits are commemorated on a plaque below her statue at the Glenturret visitors centre.

The inscription reads:

Towser - 21 April 1963-30 March 1987
Towser, the famous cat who lived in the still house, Glenturret Distillery, for almost 24 years.

She caught 28,899 mice in her lifetime. World mousing champion, Guinness Book of Records.

There is a story that Towser's amazing  hunting skills were assisted by a wee dram of Famous Grouse in her milk each day. Dylan, a ginger from Forfar, and Brooke, a black and white female from Cardyke, have proved worthy replacements for Towser. They were selected from several cat protection society candidates, the runners-up also finding good homes. (Reference: Famous Felines. Purr-n-fur.org.au)

TRIM

Date: 1799-1804

Place: Australia and the oceans of the world

Person: Matthew Flinders

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)

UNSINKABLE SAM

Date: 1940s

Place: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (portrait)

Oscar was ship's cat on the German battleship Bismarck. His job, like others of his ilk, was to keep the rodent population under control. Ship's cats were also valued as companions and reminders of home for sailors, who were often at sea for long periods. When the Bismarck was sunk in 1941, Oscar was rescued along with the survivors and became ship's cat on HMS Cossack. This ship was also torpedoed some months later and again Oscar, now known as Sam, was amongst those rescued. He had yet another posting as ship's cat, this time aboard HMS Ark Royal, but she too was torpedoed and sent to the bottom. Sam/Oscar was rescued yet again. Now rechristened Unsinkable Sam, it was decided to give him a safer job ashore, hence he found himself in charge of rodent control in the Governor General of Gibraltar's office. From there he was eventually retired to the Home for Sailors in Belfast, where he died in 1955. (Reference: Unsinkable Sam, Wikipedia)

WASIM

Date: 1982-1999

Place: Queensland, Australia

Wasim may not have been famous on the world stage but he was a true "cat of the heart".

Read his story ... here >

WHITE HEATHER

Date: Late 1800s

Place: Buckingham Palace

Person: Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria is usually portrayed as having been an austere woman in keeping with her reign and lacking in humour ("we are not amused"). However, she was a noted animal lover and she and her dearly lamented late husband, Prince Albert, offered a warm and loving home to many cats. She truly doted on her last cat, White Heather, who, on her orders, remained living in the lap of luxury at Buckingham Palace long after the queen herself had died. White Heather is variously described as having been fluffy, black-and-white, persian or angora.

WILBERFORCE

Date: 1970-1988

Place: 10 Downing St, London

Wilberforce was the cat with the longest tenure at No. 10. He served as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office under successive prime ministers Edward Heath, Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher. He was a black-and-white refuge kitten who took office with Tory PM Edward Heath in 1970 and died at Downing Street in 1988. Margaret Thatcher is said to have bought him a tin of sardines in Moscow. Humphrey, the next Downing Street cat, arrived towards the end of the Thatcher reign in 1989.

WILHELMINA

Date: 1860s

Place: London

Person: Charles Dickens

The famous author Charles Dickens was a great cat lover. One of his favourites was William, a stray he and his wife took in. The name change to Wilhelmina (or Willamena) occurred when William produced a litter of kittens. Dickens kept at least one of the kittens and named her Master's Cat. The desk he wrote at daily is on display to the public and shows small claw marks – the result of either Wilhelmina or her daughter's efforts to get the great author to take more notice of them. Master's Cat would also snuff the candle he was working by if she wanted his undivided attention. One of many famous Dickens quotes is: "What greater gift than the love of a cat?"

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