Ship's cat facts for kids
A ship's cat is a cat that travels on a ship. These special cats have been popular for a very long time. People have taken cats on ships since ancient times.
Cats were carried on ships for many important reasons. The main reason was to catch mice and rats. On a ship, these rodents could chew on ropes and wooden parts. Later, they also damaged electrical wires. Rodents also threatened the ship's cargo, which are the goods it carried. They would eat food meant for the crew. If a ship carried grain, rodents could eat it, costing money. Also, rats and mice spread disease. This was very dangerous on long sea trips. For example, rat fleas can carry the plague. Rats on ships might have helped spread the Black Death.
Cats naturally hunt and kill these rodents. Cats also get used to new places easily, so they adapted well to ship life. They also offered friendship and comfort to sailors. This was a big help for sailors who were away from home for a long time, especially during war.
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Early History of Ship's Cats
Cats were first tamed about 9,500 years ago. Soon after, people started taking cats on boats and ships. The Ancient Egyptians took cats on Nile boats. These cats would catch birds along the riverbanks. Egyptians also used cats on trading ships to control rodents. Traders from other places soon copied this idea. This helped cats spread all over the world. Cats eventually reached almost every place that ships could go. It is thought that Phoenician cargo ships brought the first tamed cats to Europe around 900 BC.
Cats and Sailor Superstitions
In Ancient Egypt, cats were even worshipped as gods. For many centuries, cats were seen as magical animals. Many sailors believed myths and superstitions about cats. Cats were thought to be smart and lucky. Sailors usually took great care of their ship's cats to keep them happy. Some sailors believed that six-toed cats were better at catching pests. They might have thought extra toes gave a cat better balance at sea. In some places, all six-toed cats became known as "ship's cats."
Sailors believed cats had special powers. These powers could protect ships from bad weather. Sometimes, fishermen's wives kept black cats at home. They thought these cats would use their powers to protect their husbands at sea. Many sailors believed it was lucky if a cat came up to a sailor on deck. But it was unlucky if it came halfway and then turned back. Another popular belief was that cats could start storms with magic in their tails. Other sailors thought that if a ship's cat fell or was thrown overboard, a terrible storm would come and sink the ship. If the ship survived, it would be cursed with nine years of bad luck. Still other sailors thought that if a cat licked its fur the wrong way, a hail storm was coming. If it sneezed, rain was coming. If it was playful, wind was coming.
Some of these beliefs have a bit of truth. Cats can notice small changes in the weather. This is because of their very sensitive inner ears. (Their inner ears also help cats land on their feet when falling.) Cats often get nervous and restless when they sense low atmospheric pressure. This often happens before stormy weather.
Famous Ship's Cats
Blackie, the Prime Minister's Friend
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Blackie was the ship's cat on HMS Prince of Wales. He became famous during the Second World War. Blackie's ship carried Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the Atlantic Ocean in August 1941. There, Churchill secretly met with United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They signed the Atlantic Charter. As Churchill left Prince of Wales, Blackie came up to him. Churchill bent down to say goodbye. This moment was photographed and shared worldwide. To celebrate the visit, Blackie was renamed Churchill. Blackie survived when HMS Prince of Wales sank later that year. He was taken to Singapore with the survivors. He could not be found when Singapore was evacuated the next year. Nobody knows what happened to him.
Chibbley, the World Traveler
Chibbley was the ship's cat aboard the tall ship Picton Castle. She was rescued from an animal shelter. She sailed all the way around the world five times! Since Picton Castle was a training ship, Chibbley met many visitors. She became a celebrity, and people even sent her fan mail. Chibbley died on November 10, 2011, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. She had sailed over 180,000 miles at sea.
Convoy, the Loyal Companion
Convoy was the ship's cat aboard HMS Hermione. He was named "Convoy" because he often went with the ship on convoy escort duties. This is when the ship sails with other ships for protection. Like the sailors, Convoy was listed in the ship's book. He even had a full kit, including a tiny hammock for sleeping. He was killed along with 87 crew members when Hermione was torpedoed and sunk on June 16, 1942. This happened because of a German submarine U-205.
Emmy, the Warning Cat
Emmy was the ship's cat on RMS Empress of Ireland. She was an orange tabby cat who never missed a trip. But on May 28, 1914, Emmy tried to escape the ship. The crew could not get her to return. Empress of Ireland left without her. This was seen as a very bad sign. Early the next morning, Empress of Ireland crashed into SS Storstad. This happened in fog at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Empress of Ireland sank quickly, and over 1,000 people died.
Felix, the Mayflower Cat
Felix was the ship's cat aboard Mayflower II. He sailed from Devon, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1957. This trip showed cooperation between the UK and the US after World War II. Felix had his own life jacket for the journey. During the trip, he broke one of his paws. The ship's doctor fixed his paw. After Felix returned to the US, photos and stories about him appeared in famous magazines. The cat and the crew marched in a New York ticker tape parade. They also toured the East Coast that summer. Felix was later adopted by the cabin boy's girlfriend, Ann Berry. He settled in Waltham, Massachusetts. The captain of the Mayflower II wrote a children's book about Felix. It was called Felix and his Mayflower II Adventures. The book was published for the ship's fiftieth anniversary.
Mrs. Chippy, the Antarctic Explorer
Mrs. Chippy was the ship's cat aboard Endurance. This ship was used by Sir Ernest Shackleton for his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The expedition's goal was to cross the Antarctic by land. After about a month, the crew realized that "Mrs. Chippy" was actually a male cat. But everyone was used to the name "Mrs. Chippy," so they kept using it.
The ship became lost, trapped, and then crushed in thick ice. At that point, Shackleton ordered his men to shoot the sled dogs and Mrs. Chippy. He did not think they could survive the harsh conditions.
Simon, the Hero Cat
Simon was the ship's cat of HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident in 1949. This happened during the Chinese Civil War. During the Yangtze Incident, HMS Amethyst was attacked. It was trapped on the Yangtze River for months. The ship and its crew were badly hurt. These attacks killed 25 of Amethyst's crew, including the commanding officer. Simon was also hurt, but he soon got better. He started killing rats again, which was very important. The rodents had been destroying the ship. Simon also did an important job of keeping the crew's spirits up.
After the Amethyst finally escaped the Yangtze River and returned to Britain, Simon was given the rank of 'Able Seacat' Simon. He became a celebrity. However, not long after he returned to Britain, he died from an infection. Many people sent tributes to honor Simon. His obituary appeared in The Times, a major newspaper in London. After Simon's death, he was given the Dickin Medal. He is the only cat ever to earn this award. Simon was also buried with full naval honors.
Trim, the Australian Pioneer
Trim sailed on many ships commanded by Matthew Flinders from 1801 to 1803. These ships aimed to circumnavigate (sail all the way around) Australia. They also created maps of its coastline. Trim became a favorite of the crew. He was the first cat to sail around Australia. Trim stayed with Flinders until Trim's death. A statue of Trim was later built in his honor. It sits on a window sill outside the State Library in Sydney, Australia. Many books have also been written about Trim.
U-boat, the Leaping Cat
U-boat was another ship's cat aboard a Royal Navy ship in the Second World War. Whenever his ship came into port, U-boat would take shore leave. He would leave the ship to explore on shore. He would spend days on shore. Usually, he would return just before his ship sailed away. One day, U-boat did not return in time for roll call. His ship had to sail without him. As the ship pulled away, U-boat was seen running down the dock after the sailing ship. He made a daring leap onto the ship and made it aboard. The crew thought he seemed unafraid. He calmly started to wash himself on deck. The crew members were very happy U-boat had come back. They thought he brought them good luck.
Unsinkable Sam (Oscar), the Survivor
Oscar was the ship's cat of the German battleship Bismarck. When Bismarck sank on May 27, 1941, only 116 sailors out of over 2,200 survived. Oscar was picked up by the destroyer HMS Cossack. Cossack herself was torpedoed and sunk on October 24, 1941. 159 sailors were killed, but Oscar survived again! He was rescued and taken to Gibraltar. He then became the ship's cat of HMS Ark Royal. This ship, too, was torpedoed and sunk in November 1941. Oscar was rescued once more. It was decided it was time for him to have a home on land. By now, Oscar had been renamed "Unsinkable Sam." He was given a new job as a mouse-catcher in the Governor General of Gibraltar's office buildings. He eventually returned to the UK. He spent the rest of his life at the 'Home for Sailors'. A portrait of him hangs in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
Ship's Cats Today
Starting in 1975, the Royal Navy no longer allowed cats or other pets on their ships. This rule was made because of concerns about hygiene (cleanliness).
However, cats still ride on many private ships today. For example, Toolbox is a ship's cat who rides on the second Kalmar Nyckel.
American sailor Robin Lee Graham sailed with many cats on his ships Dove and Return of Dove. He was trying to sail around the world by himself, starting in 1965.
Images for kids
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Melvin Vaniman and Kiddo
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Mrs Chippy, a tiger-striped male tabby ship's cat
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Lieutenant Commander R H Palmer plays with Peebles, the ship's cat, who leaps through his clasped arms on board HMS Western Isles at Tobermory, Mull
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Pooli in uniform on July 4, 1959, her 15th birthday
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Tiddles at his station aboard HMS Victorious. Despite a long tradition, there are no longer ships' cats aboard Royal Navy vessels
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See also
In Spanish: Gato de barco para niños
