Cats have played significant roles in history, often associated with notable individuals, cultural symbols, and events. Here are some important and famous cats in history:
Historical and Cultural Cats
- Bastet: An ancient Egyptian goddess, depicted as a lioness or a woman with the head of a lioness or domestic cat. Bastet was the goddess of home, fertility and childbirth, and protector of the home from evil spirits and disease.
- Hemingway’s Cats: Ernest Hemingway, the famous American author, had a deep love for polydactyl cats. His home in Key West, Florida, now a museum, houses many descendants of his original cats. Polydactyl cats are known for their extra toes.
- Dewey Readmore Books: A cat who lived in the Spencer Public Library in Iowa, USA, for 19 years. Dewey became a symbol of community spirit and inspired the book “Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World.”
- Trim: The ship’s cat of the explorer Matthew Flinders, who circumnavigated Australia. Trim became a symbol of loyalty and exploration and has statues in his honour in Sydney and London.
- Unsinkable Sam: A cat who reportedly survived the sinking of three ships during World War II: the German battleship Bismarck, the British destroyer HMS Cossack, and the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. Sam became a symbol of resilience and survival.
- Hodge: Samuel Johnson’s cat, Hodge, was much loved by the English writer and lexicographer. Hodge was commemorated with a statue outside Johnson’s house in London.
- Simon: The ship’s cat on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident of 1949. Simon was awarded the Dickin Medal for his courage and ability to maintain morale among the ship’s crew.
Cats of Famous Personalities
- Socks Clinton: The pet cat of U.S. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton during their time in the White House. Socks became a beloved public figure and even had fan mail.
- Larry the Cat: The official Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street, London, serving since 2011. Larry is known for his duties in catching mice and his interactions with political figures.
- Freddie Mercury’s Cats: The legendary Queen frontman had several cats, including Delilah, who inspired the song “Delilah” on Queen’s album “Innuendo.”
- Karl Lagerfeld’s Choupette: The famous fashion designer’s cat, Choupette, is well-known in the fashion world, having her own Instagram account and serving as a muse for Lagerfeld.
- Tardar Sauce (Grumpy Cat): An internet celebrity known for her permanently “grumpy” facial expression. Grumpy Cat became a cultural icon, with a vast social media presence and merchandising deals.
Cats in Literature and Media
- Garfield: The fictional orange tabby cat from the comic strip created by Jim Davis. Garfield’s love for lasagna and disdain for Mondays has made him a beloved character worldwide.
- Cheshire Cat: From Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The Cheshire Cat is known for its distinctive mischievous grin and ability to appear and disappear at will.
- Salem Saberhagen: The talking black cat from the television series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” who was a former witch sentenced to spend 100 years as a cat.
- Mrs. Norris: Argus Filch’s cat in the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling. Mrs. Norris is known for her ability to patrol Hogwarts and alert Filch to student mischief.
Miscellaneous Important Cats
- Oscar the Bionic Cat: One of the first cats to receive prosthetic legs after losing his hind paws in an accident. Oscar’s story brought attention to veterinary prosthetics.
- Félicette: The first and only cat to have been sent into space. In 1963, Félicette was launched by the French government and survived the trip, contributing to space research.
- Towser the Mouser: A Scottish cat who holds the Guinness World Record for catching the most mice, reportedly catching nearly 30,000 mice in her lifetime at the Glenturret Distillery.
- Hachiko’s Friend: In Tokyo, Japan, the famous loyal dog Hachiko was often accompanied by a cat, which became a symbol of friendship and loyalty in Japanese culture.
These cats have left their mark on history, culture, and the hearts of many, illustrating the significant roles that cats can play in our lives.
