Trim (cat) facts for kids
Statue of Trim with Matthew Flinders, in Donington, Lincolnshire, Flinders' birthplace
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| Species | Felis catus |
|---|---|
| Breed | Mixed |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 1799 At sea |
| Died | 1804 (aged 4–5) Mauritius |
| Nation from | England |
| Occupation | Ship's cat, companion |
| Employer | Matthew Flinders |
| Known for | Accompanying Flinders on trips between England and Australia, circumnavigation of Australia |
| Appearance | Bicolour (black with white paws, chin, and a white star on chest) |
| Named after | Character from Tristram Shandy |
Trim (1799–1804) was a brave ship's cat. He traveled with Matthew Flinders on his amazing trips. Flinders sailed around and mapped the coast of Australia between 1801 and 1803.
Trim's Adventures
Trim was born in 1799 on a ship called the HMS Reliance. This happened during a journey from the Cape of Good Hope to Botany Bay. One day, the tiny kitten fell into the ocean. But he was very brave and smart! He swam back to the ship and climbed up a rope. Because he was so brave and smart, Flinders and the crew loved him very much.
Trim sailed with Flinders on another ship, the HMS Investigator. They went on a big journey to sail all the way around the Australian mainland. Trim even survived a shipwreck in 1803 when his ship, the HMS Porpoise, crashed on Wreck Reef.
Later, on the way back to England, Flinders was held captive by the French in Mauritius. Trim stayed with him during this time. Sadly, Trim disappeared mysteriously. Flinders believed he was taken by someone who was very hungry.
What Trim Looked Like
Trim was a bicolour cat. This means he was mostly black, but he had white paws, a white chin, and a white patch on his chest.
Flinders named him after a loyal character in a book called Tristram Shandy. Flinders thought Trim was a very faithful and loving friend.
Trim's Lasting Memory
Flinders wrote about Trim in 1809 while he was still held captive on the Isle de France. He missed his cat very much.
In 1996, a bronze statue of Trim was put up in Sydney, Australia. It was made by a sculptor named John Cornwell. The statue sits on a window ledge at the Mitchell Library. It is right behind a statue of Matthew Flinders. People love the statue of Trim so much that the library even sells things with Trim's picture on them. The cafe at the library is also named after the cat!
The plaque under the statue says:
TO THE MEMORY OF
TRIM
The best and most illustrious of his race
The most affectionate of friends,
faithful of servants,
and best of creatures
He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers
Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat
Memorial donated by the North Shore Historical Society
This is part of a special message that Flinders had promised to write for Trim.
Trim is also shown on the first statue of Flinders in England. This statue is in Donington, Lincolnshire, which is where Flinders was born. There is also a large bronze statue of Matthew and Trim at Euston railway station in London. Another copy of this statue is in Port Lincoln, South Australia. A third copy is at the Flinders University campus in Adelaide, South Australia. A smaller version is on display in Lincoln Cathedral.
In 2002, an Australian writer named Bryce Courtenay wrote a book called Matthew Flinders' Cat. In this story, both Trim the cat and his statue at the library are important characters.
See Also
- List of individual cats
