Cats in the Navy 9781682478387

Citation preview

SCOT

CHRISTENSON

NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

Naval Institute Press

291 Wood Road

Annapolis, MD 21402 © 2022 by the U.S. Naval Institute

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or

utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Christenson, Scot, 1968- author. Title: Cats in the navy / Scot Christenson.

Description: Annapolis : Naval Institute Press, [2022] | Includes

bibliographical references. Identifiers: LCCN 2021062236 | ISBN 9781682478387 (hardcover) Subjects: LCSH: Cats—Anecdotes. | Navies. | Ships. | Humananimal relationships. | BISAC: PETS / Cats / General | HISTORY / Military/ Naval Classification: LCC SF445.5 .C57 2022 | DDC 636.8—dc23/ eng/20220118 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021062236 Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992

(Permanence of Paper). Printed in the United States of America. 30 29 28 27 26 25 242322

First printing

987654321

For Carroll To paraphrase T. S. Eliot...

A cat needs a ship that’s particular,

A ship that’s peculiar, and more dignified. Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?

May this book find its perfect (purr-fect) home in Cat Haven

Acknowledgments ...............5eeeeeeee Vili

Part I. A History of Cats at Sea............... 1 Part II. The Many Roles of the Ships Cat ..... ia Part III. Claws of Fame

Vii

owe a round of heartfelt thanks to many people who helped make this book finally happen.

First to my parents, who encouraged me to write more books. They probably did not expect one about cats, but here it is. To Vice Adm. Peter Daly, USN (Ret.), for allowing the Naval Institute Press to publish the book even though he is allergic to cats.

To Jaci Day, Liese Doherty, and Karen Eskew for always being so willing to help me with the tasks that I am too dense to do myself. To Rhonda McIntyre, who would have loved this book. To Tom Grant, Carlton Real, and Ian Bugge for all the pints of spingo at the Blue Anchor. Kernow bys vyken! To the Orange Park gang for the unforgettable days with the grinch. Those stories would make a great book—but no one would ever believe them.

Vili

To Anne Baker: “Double dang,’ you lose the bet! To Lisa Padden, for being one of the few constants in my life. To “PAF” Grant, a gentleman and great storyteller who served as a mentor during an important time. To Caitlin Smith, for not hesitating to keep me in check when I needed it.

To Laural Hobbes, the “president for life” of the Gaithersburg Cat Fan Club. Onbra bopogny 3a TO, YTO OHa KpacMBaA U yMHaA

llapTHepiila 10 TaHiaM. Moum

PYCCKUM

Jpy3bAM,

KOTOpble

Hay4MIM

MCHA

calary OmBbe. VOVAMANIAWWuA Unie luAIsWAMAUUOING

BOTKe

eee

ea

Oise uicaN (ia)

ailors and cats have a special relationship dating back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian

:

seafarers brought cats on voyages for companionship ZNOele _ to protect cargo from vermin. When food Crentsil

.

_ the crew ran low, the Egyptians used NC (0 catch birds in the reeds along the Nile. Over the centuries, cats would

—

continue to prove their value by keeping ships from being overrun with mice and rats that would otherwise eat into

gg hke ie oe te

provisions, chew through ropes, and spread disease.

5

ey

ADLC, T ba a

Hate

Cats in the Navy

ERE

RCT

RNR Serer ce Se MON

Ne

ea

ae Sem

On p Rat

Re ai T ee NIORTAI

COT RMR PRP

On en

eRe AGO ERNE ARN NONE

4 “8

I

Sail, rodents presented

Se

uring the

y erate danger because they would skitter | ae

magazines and track gunpowder throughout

the ship. aartaeey Iameere trail could becomea de facto

ALS CcreKea berm eL a

Cement IE TeV no sysop renal might idecael

:

romero Cocca yecy bby re by lamps or the fires in the eM tae ae hatas modernized,

ede ore

ce me REeR UOTE problems

getting stuck in machinery and SELES

thus putting tee at risk oe cong

Senate

| 7 a

|

ah

RG

A AA PN ON NSAN

La AA A A aN

NaNa a RH a

NNN a a Ni i

Bi

Ne i

ri

ee

1 en

aSPET 5,oeMe yeIe oo

mt

Aa iNMh

ai i

Ta

Ha A HARA

‘

a Ny Baht Re at

,i

Ha AIRia a i eae

Aa

a : a anyaeBe

ee a ee

ce

ai

y

z

a :

Aa

i

aei

HN

NS as a ai ‘ ii a"

ls SA a Rana a

i

;

Poa

AE

ey ye

ee

mere iat Nu)

eginning in the eighteenth century, ie Us / Bes

purchased lar ge Bas

Os cats :.

- ic be housed near stored materials that ete tecout i. Frerecrt MTCC eRe

Seen et Serene

i

Ror havens for nesting mice and et et were

tae aaetc

to patrol these areas and keep vital documents fr om being damaged or destroyed. Many such cats were

Lo

ead

to both the Army and the Navy.

ee

ole

cone,

6

Pea

_

i

Ng

a ih

Ba

ah

Pee

h

.i ey

ra

-

ae,

= wt

|i

CCI

aia aay

ee

ee ee

ee

a

eee

here were typically two types of cats on ships:

ee? ee fo

permanents and vagrants. A permanent cat

was usually brought on board by a sailor and considered a member of the ships company. eeoiTer

Hee

:

papers were often drawn up, giving the cat a has Roast ncra nt Wceleelare tare

co tee fa) contrast, zl Sera

cal crept onto a ship in port and made nate Ee home.

Like most cats, vagrants AGH Eyre

Ame)est elag te

viewing the ship as their own and the crew as the

duties of the permanent cat but freely changed ships in

ee

cat chose their ship. Vagrant cats performed most of the

ee

interlopers and considered it a good sign when a stray

eesoe

ye

ee

ee

actual stowaways. Yet sailors did not mivniteRanccm eee

ee cae

port when better meals and lodgings could be found with

eee

a different crew. Essentially, the permanents served as

Ra fk

e

Dae

es

eeec

i

‘

thi

alee hd, Ye Me e

“Tet

TIMP mare ees eat ne eaePe,

Ce

a

active-duty crew and the vagrants as contractors.

Ge

2 he

8

A History of Cats at Sea

A Royal Navy ship's cat eagerly waits with the crew « a ration of Bovril beef tea in this advertisement, circa 1916. In the 1942 film In Which We Serve, British sailors are shown drinking Bovril that had been heavily laced with sherry to keep them warm. (Author's collection)

%

9

ot

_

-

.

ernie Ng

8s

9

ermanent cats that wandered Rae

ent failed

to return before the Sitioy got aneto

eo

. considered to a oe Araneae ser If eran

_ arog Pero

trate

not

the case ever

nee

tae

a

:

vie

ToS

punishment. For misconduct, a cat might be sentenced co a term in the brig with reduced rations, or have its Tusa) restricted at the next port.

-

os ne:

usually renter) to

Sieh and sometimes teenie Sate

the commanding officer Perret

ote

o

A History of Cats at Sea

His captain's voice? Reminiscent of the classic RCA logo, the USS McCulloch’s cat sits in the horn of the crew's phonograph, 1909. Recent research has found that cats enjoy music if it is composed using oe tones, and tempos that mimic purring and ee birds. (Author's collection)

%

11

Cats in the Navy

agrant cats were known to disappear in a foreign | port, often hitching a ride on a different ship, only

to greet their surprised crew on another dock Hours

of miles away—perhaps having decided ihe a Oren Seve

M Lala co ars tice ured ts ble eater

ori

crew en patrzatcem

when they were met by their cat in Buenos

aioe

ree

crest

having gone missing just hours before they ei

Liverpool. After checking with other sailors in the local week, having wandered onto a pilots

sailed from occas) ernie

eee

bars, they learned the cat had been waiting there for a ship that had

ery

i ,

an

:

:

CAME ON BOARD AT MALIFAX_NS. Nov’ (Gil.. ANG PASSED For OC” HE ApS

HAS

NOW

SINCE

BEEN

C.IN.LC. oC

reas tas FY

PROMOTED, AND li

or

vy

14

8 Cats in the Navy

ust like the protagonist of Edward Everett Hale's classic Silent Seah “The Weve , a Country,’ an unknown number

without

i nyectea web ele ei Sea

their thas EMTS guts from Site CoS bron acrum Or Nato car) 2 _ true homeland. Over arco Oa its maritime life, a cat erate sail the seas under several names after Ue

onto new ships ela en differ ant nations.

oe

by crews serving

Teas

A History of Cats at Sea ‘@

_

Polish cats Zaba (Frog) and Tygrys (igen of the feanve ORP Piorun get acquainted with a cat that slipped on board from a British ship, 1940. The Piorun later had a brief duel with the feared sie Bismarck, but neither ship scored a hit. (U.S. Naval Institute photo archive)_

15

Cats in the Na BY

o track cats and identify vagrants that managed

to slink onto ships without a medical exam, the Royal Navy once tried to implement a regulation requiring all mascot cats to wear collars embroidered with the name of the vessel to which they were assigned.

Whether it was due to the cost of the collars or the realization that cats do not follow rules and would continue to change ships at will, the official collar

4%

a=

was short-lived.

os

eercaeueete coy

-

8

Cee eka

16

E

oscsae

ae

18

“@

Cats in the Navy

it Rta

seem odd for an animal with a notable

contempt for water to spend its days traveling

the open ocean, but cats are perhaps more naturally suited for life on the sea than humans. Sailors suffered from scurvy if they did not have access to fresh fruits and — vegetables rich in vitamin C. Cats, on the other hand, can produce their own vitamin C, which enables them to live

[UCM ee ToreyibaronieeeFfer consisting almost exclusively of fish. Cats can also survive with less fresh water because they get some of the moisture they need from their

—

prey. Additionally, their kidneys are effective at filtering salt, giving them the ability to drink limited amounts of seawater

for a short time.

HN

i

ny a ty

| =

a

at

s

. :

ae

i nh i a (i

a

a

a

AAR " Hi \ iM a

a“ ay Hh nhNh HR cae

oe:

i A

AURA a a ie ANNiRavan bia a“

: a aSSE —| a a.

Bh a 1 hti iy

a

a)

.

‘4

a: st A AN

al 5

i

oyoe ce

ae PA a cy A Mi \ cy A NAAN

ot SN a aaah

Hn

a|

ge

Any

Ue

Navy

few cats Katey olearem oyna Com bb CcusNaers eer:Lene olay ee

lost any fear of water and learned to modify their

hunting techniques. The mascot of BAVA act

omne(e

sit on the edge of the deck and dive into the Rec aes itt Sere

fish. One crew member proudly reported that

the aquatic cat rarely returned without a good-sized

catch. Cats that preferred re Semel

alice ventempeyite Cael’

at leaping up from the deck to knock down flying a

Bestel Moco menCrs otis

|

a

a

_a

a

i

a

:

A History of Cats at Sea

‘a 21

Perhaps this cat was too lazy, inexperienced, or unlucky to get its | own fish, so a sailor on the battleship USS California shares his fresh catch, 1931. (Author's collection)

22

8

Cats in the

By

hile many cats became so accustomed to the conditions on a rocking ship aie they quickly became furry four-legged sailors, others were slow to

_

start prowling among the wave tops due to seasickness.

Their human shipmates tried to remedy this by making tiny hammocks modeled after their own. Not only did a hammock help ease the swaying motion of the ship, but it also made the cat seem like a true member

of the crew.

A History of Cats at Sea

A Canadian Volunteer Reserve sailor on board HMCS Rainbow tends to the ship’s seasick cat, circa 1915. Hopefully the cat was well enough to perform its duties for Rainbow’s important mission to transport $140 million in gold from Russia to Canada for safekeeping during the Russian Revolution. (Author’s collection)

@

23

-

oe

erent

Navy

7s mascots, cats were considered more loyal to their ships than dogs, ee

Renae R OMe ite:

territorial and often chose to stay with a ship even as the -

crew changed. Dogs, on the other hand, are inclined to _be loyal to an individual and thus would leave reeeyeh once “their” sailor was reassigned. If a Perle

ent

os ;

was satisfied with the available food, it might choose to remain on a ship longer than any other member of the crew. The Siamese cat Princess Truban Tao-Tai had become so comfortable after sixteen years as the mascot of the British cargo ship Sagamore that a special clause

permitting her to remain was included in the contract when the vessel was sold to an Italian company in 1976.

SAN SRA KA coe Sa a

‘ a i R AHR a u

a

ren Se a ai

re AA \ aii

BN rn Bie"

a Mh

i Haat 4

a ey Ey ai ea ce

i

es ae a

ae

|\

a : anAANAasanHi

i i Ae Mh A a a LAD AAAN a nia SN AAA f AA } i iiRUAi RRA ih a SN Nt a HA LA Nia BAAR ny pa Sa i aa A A ae A

ae Sa aah

Mi

ce

au

a

iii

i

j

Hh niti

a——— Ni AAA

AAR Y HA i i

AAAHA Wt Aa ih ae

Sa NAN

a

i

RN

a

AARAAAT SARA Na ay RN AAA

NiMH

FR A i AARNE ARCA H iN

a a cA

a My A ANNA SA AR HN

i

i

i ; i NRAARH

nh

RA ae aHh Ae a

}

.

as -y

(ens TAN

(en

:

ecause a Cat usually belonged to the entire ship (or, perhaps more accurately, the entire ship

belonged to the cat), crew members were Floste

_as caretakers responsible for ensuring ni Pree was ent healthy. If the cat was not already on the ship's payroll and earning its keep as an effective mouser, the crew would contribute to a special fund to supply the

mascot with all its needs. Some cats became so spoiled that they enjoyed amenities not afforded the rest of the crew, such as plush private quarters.

|

E

Sr

a, OO an

ca

|

pe OO sO ry SD ga CP gy OO cag OD cg Oy

eg

a AO a

zi

A History of Cats at Sea

A sailor on board the USS New Mexico (BB 40) checks to make sure the new ship's cat, Saipan, is comfortable, circa 1944. The mascot was possibly captured from the Japanese following the Battle of Saipan. (U.S. Naval Institute photo archive)

|

%

27

ay

Cats in ate Nay

et Crap n ee ee eaneET on ee FO OMe sailors, but many commanding officers allowed only cats because the mischievous primates

were a constant distraction ol a ship. Much time was wasted chasing monkeys that had scampered away after snatching sailors hats. Captains also preferred cats to parrots because sailors would teach the birds to curse

PVR Tere areyitecem re tee parrots were prohibited by

the U.S. Navy in 1930 due to concerns over the spread of psittacosis—at least, that was the official reason for the ban, but sailors suspected it was actually due to the Sieg

birds ability to ruffle the officers’ feathers.

i ane a

.

.

nih

Ean Hh ih i i i

ce ac

Mi a a te Pa a

a Ah

BN

uy

AAR

AA

‘

i

PN i ANNAAAHa

a ih a HAAR a

!

i ii

30

YU Ori

TE

the Navy

ig ships might house several cats, who in turn seemed to develop a system of dividing territory

so that each cat had its own deck to patrol. The cats (perhaps the most intelligent oes

ldorlarelbossteamuere

galley did not have to work very hard for food. Spoiled by the cooks, these galley cats often were the fattest on the ship. Other cats reigned over the laundry room, which was warm and filled with soft bedding. A diligent and efficient rat catcher could eventually rise above the

other cats by being promoted to official ship mascot—a position that brought the added benefit of extra attention.

au

a i HtaR si Hii. ve

. De

a ‘i i :-

Ny aN

a u\ ah NN

m

n i

(Courtesy of Dr. Ruth J. Salter)

32

S@

Navy the s in t Ca

ere

Plt

or decades the Brooklyn Navy Yard

NS the

home of neg of dels U. eeONC Vea

Oc

Ist 1,500 feral ate

cr

stalked the SI ie He :

Brooklyn (ec became parce seeitrstetenne ecdcte

need of mascots because, in sre enletoyn io bekabate eed ee rat catchers, they were known to inrem ert eCeelets bY at aa

Peecacercogrle Laceby

team to attack mascots from Site

| ls

onto their yard.

:

Dato

7 fie Gade ce

|

rH vn Ha i

i} ye

34

Se

eee

aaee:

ometimes the cat Seve

eteterete sence ny coe

so large that they became as ieeea thre Tec a a | 2

_ ships daily operations as the rats. In

PX

Nine

overly amorous mascot of the USS

rere

.

ce

preter —

clowder of female cats and sired so Petey etter ar ante

eae

had to call for all hands to round up the OKeas

rors ‘The crew removed pO Ccue aT MVoeLamecten der nee!

aan a

in meer

os beds, and the ships guns.

:

A History of Cats at Sea @ 35

A photographer's mate with his aerial camera looks a bit overwhelmed as he is swarmed by kittens at U.S. Naval Air Station Sua nm Massachusetts, 1942. (NARA)

Ble

%

ee in a

Navy

eat

|

bored bec

her a

fa boa ibe Mio

dock ios elaerela while undergoing Seton Rea toe eter

:

work, Minnie Praca Sonaa lols ss)

Oa

erg

oe birth to 113 reer

am celta caone -year career. The kittens

Prenat ac

aks Cae

to active ships in the Royal Navy,

mento Monaco

Bs

:

yen much cols her time producing Oigne ing. a the stare Oacaea mnmeenns aie had

Weer NO Co

stares _

ites their connection to Admiral

eicteaiity during ae iseted

]

Om te lerte

|

ih

i

anoiihe

é

uaAt i ny‘ ne

,

Stele

:

Ri

Sailors of oe armored cruiser: HMS Nelson ve with a kitten, circa

cf

ORM

LN

a DY

mages of mascot cats sitting in the muzzles i Seb eky arte

common. Not only did

_

photographers think it was a fitting pose, but many cats also discovered that the gaping opening of a gun was the ideal location for a nap. The ati

provided a quiet,

cool shelter where cats could watch the daily activities of the sailors on the deck or sleep without being -

disturbed.

:

4Ny

at

i)

a

:

a t NWA

a

40

8

Cats in the Navy

iles of ship bunting could be irresistible oetes searching for a comfy Se Raa

roell

sailors told tales about raising bunting and then having to lower the lines Celt

et era

from one of the flags. Other eaeM errLea ee

Reateez! aoa eben yet roti

Sb when they spotted I surprised.

iteigeme ete sere

confines Sreolen

pene Serre across the deck after their

Seas was rudely Titec au anced Oy dete Relies Oe ot

Sites

Se

:

NR a SAA Na ne

PN

Sah nn ca

HhAit

A signal party from the USS San Francisco with the ship’s cat, 1890. (Library of Congress)

42

%@

Cats in the Navy

eA

beloved as ship cats SC Ome CSTE eyecare neey mY skills, their eagerness could prove to be a nuisance.

During a voyage of scientific exploration of the Antarctic on board HMS

Terror in 1842, the captain noted that

they had the good fortune of a strange new species of fish washing onto the deck. Regrettably, before the specimen could be properly documented and Reo micre

cat pounced and ate it.

Menon Tek

sith Ht

§

(

=

a Hi i

i

—a

ah

i

Sailors on board HMS Natal struggle to keep all seven of their passive resisters stationary long enough to be captured by the camera, circa 1914.

| : |

a

Cats in the Navy

oe

o

ORME Tantaceoay lace rayon let

_

Neon oi eTeber-yoy unreal sO eta Meteo ae

ete the Army Rees

and mesure

importance of cats on Navy Sas When

idee

tS equhiar

nce Des Moines deployed PeemeeNen een SLA co eae was despondent because they had eae ee to rte their cat after ite strutted onto an Pen) arsenal

days earlier. The arsenal’s TER ee ar the Des AV Cres VERS UbE Cela rec, PLY Prtrae

Sei

caught iasXe Ne then worked

to locate the cruiser and have the prized COS

by another ship.

A History of Cats at Sea

Wp

Tailors of the USS New York with their cat and dog, circa 1898. Tailors : often made uniforms for their mascots. The modern U.S. Navy still

has tailors, but their rating is now Retail Service Specialist. (U.S. Naval Institute photo archive)

45

A History of Cats at Sea

Togo the cat on the guns of the revolutionary battleship HMS Dreadnought, circa 1914. After the Dreadnought was launched in 1906, all nations that aspired to be a sea power rushed to build their © own versions. (Q&C McCutcheon Collection)

uring World War I, the British War Office enlisted half a million cats to rid trenches and

ships of rodents. To raise such a large force of cats, the

government awarded contracts to individuals to round up the thousands of strays roaming British cities. Cats

assigned to the Royal Navy were paid 1 shilling and 6 pence every week as a victualling allowance in case they were too efficient in clearing rats and needed a meal from the canteen.

‘i

47

-

|

re

se

Sa

if ae Navy

BEN

ornitcrare act U-boat torpedoed and then

OD

the supply ship SS iocaa ten Dect

:

the frantic merchant sailors pleaded with the German

|

Erceynnterrcnelomcone li CynmdeCon econ irene Conmantal arentam \/ ba coi, before the ship sank. The commander granted their request, and the sailor Penne to find Mickey and get

Brenner Claret cole lifeboat. During the war, an animal rights group awarded cats and other mascots a special torpedo pin if they survived the sinking of a ship caused by a U-boat.

io

if Pet

a

i ui

Pou

a iif iia

dpe

ih

Tian

“ RENOWN.”

Wounded at the Battle of Jutland and now in the care of

our Dumb Friend's League, Chelsea Shelter, 20, Bywater St., King’s Road, Chelsea.

A History of Cats atSea

%§

This postcard from HMS Caroline captures four of the favorite activities of off-duty sailors—gambling, smoking, reading, and playing with the mascot, 1916. (Author's collection)

n the United Kingdom, ships’ cats were granted a special privilege that recognized their importance. Under UK law, these cats were free to disembark and explore the British ports they visited,

unbothered by bureaucratic red tape, whereas all other cats brought into the country by private citizens had to be quarantined for six months.

51

52

Cats in the Navy

n 1929 the American Legion launched the Association of Surviving Mascots of World PON

eaGncceuntcmitarninrderientnoarce OSes

| _ with U.S. forces and were still active. Members of noe

association included dogs, mules, horses, Te

Berta teRvoree Mecca tt are ete

The Pos Cer

icone tit people to submit names Seer

:

sate qualified

for membership, noting that cats had certainly been on Navy ships during the conflict. However, a decade had

passed since the war ended, and it was unlikely that any such ships’ cats were still pl

Prior to 1930 the life

expectancy of a er was eight years. Today, a cat's life expectancy has doubled to almost sixteen years.

Ra

aa i)

SG. WHS

#

Rae CR ae

a

ae a

Ry .

a

i

a

i

a

eRe

a

“

a

i i

ut Ni

Nh a "

NY

— a

hy

i

Lie

“

ai

ah

a

sith

Bn

ay uA ae

i

an ‘ a San

— ce

a

-

a a‘ c . a“ aw a ei a A Hiae

a

2.

i

Na

Se Hi nh

5

aN aN i

a“ Sy a a baa

a

‘

an

CC

i aN

ie

e

ae ae "

r

a

ANA 7a

i

Sie

‘Cats in the Navy

: :

é uring World wera

fe cree Seaman's

oautes

recognized ite role of mascots and aie ero they faced in combat. The Ore Meee

hosted a party

in New York for veteran cats and other animals from : Serle

that had been tor pedoed, bombed, or strafed. eer

mascots’ caretakers were given prizes of war bonds and pet food. Most mascots that received invitations had to send their regrets, however, because they were on duty.

A History of Cats at Sea %

U.S. Navy aviators play with the ship's cat while awaiting instruction in the briefing room of a carrier in the Atlantic. As with many photos released during World War II, the name of the ship was not disclosed, but it was probably the USS Ranger (CV 4), 1944. (U.S. Naval Institute photo archive)

57 —

OTST the Navy

2 es A_/

some of the more remote bases where the local | cat population was too small to supply Stree)

e

recruits, the U.S. Navy resorted to deploying press gangs to shanghai strays in other ports. When an officer noted

that the Naval Operating Base at Grondal, Greenland, ETC U COREE put on patrol, six strays were matic! te in Newport, Rhode Island, Pn! shipped north. Unlike the sailors stationed in Greenland, who could expect to be

reassigned within a year, for cats a tour of duty was for life.

at Sea % A History of Cats

Two shore pabolmien recruit a volunteer for duty in Greenland, where there was a cat shortage in 1949. Press gangs may have gathered cats for service, but the US. Navy never used the practice to find sailors. (VU. 5; Navy)

59

oie)

ORM

aeN (i

RecaAVoreCMNIATUE cats lost their most important = (. ited ee

role on ships due to greatly ier

muy on rexzbeC ODE)

Chart eee UeceRt treet population. With fewer

rats to chase, cats began to draw the Arona

e ra

ey

preying on other small pets such as birds, rabbits, and reptiles. New and stricter ReTe Mer

uenC also made cats

a FeVosttt oe A captain could face substantial fines if a cat managed to sneak off the ship in a rota

port and was

caught by local authorities. The once-ubiquitous ship

mascot had become feles non grata.

A History of Cats at Sea % 61.

A sailor attached to utility leanne VJ-4 la. ah bem that were

- discovered hiding in an equipment room at U.S. Naval Air Station Squantum in Massachusetts, 1942. :

(NARA)

—

62

8

Cats in the Navy

n 1947 further controls were enacted for cats — and other mascots. Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal issued a general order prohibiting any animals on ships that lacked documentation proving they were

disease-free. Forrestal himself was known to be fond of his own cat, Mrs. Whiskers, but he was compelled by the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery to issue the order.

A History of Cats at Sea YY

It was not until they were in the air that the crew of this U.S. Coast Guard PBY noticed that Salty the cat had crept on board with her kittens, 1945. (NARA)

63

64

“#

Cats in the Navy

n the 1950s, during Ch SO ee :

Le

Myc: appropriations bills, proponents of major

Sete eet

eerereat cuts would cite dere continued patos ships in an attempt to embarrass the Navy. The

Navy was ridiculed rye peng et Se aCe cs Wetee ees datctasneoyolaiaccbevem Clore mai aucn el abet expended. ope) aya elocuntceBiehie terete ne

OPl voy

|

cceitrtor cpt Seb lony

cats. The Navy responded by placing tighter restrictions

on all pets, a practice that continues to this day.

A History of Cats at Sea

A kitten wears a custom U.S. Navy Cracker Jack uniform in 1950. The traditional uniform got its nickname when the Cracker Jack snack food mascot, Sailor Jack, became ubiquitous during World War I. (NARA)

_

_

@

65

66

@

Cats in the Navy

ap

:

trace Oise Navy policy “NO PERSON

|

POSSESSION

SHALL erU Ae BN sucecii

OR BRING ABOARD

ANY ANIMALS

oT etaa Kee A NAVAL

LO 5 ANY PURPOSE

Nia

MSEWB EAs

WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COMMANDING Oe Gch

:

|

emai stltante ae N als possible for a Navy ship to

have a cat, it is unlikely that a commanding o}isrecs ann colet cous fee-tovenyeceemelaupebtns(eye

A History of Cats at Sea

A Navy hospital corpsman has a hat full of kittens on the transport USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey, 1951. The ship was used to transport _ the families of servicemen who were stationed overseas, so the cats may have provided entertainment for children. (NARA)

@ 67

68

Be

on TT

ae Cn DY

n the other side of the Atlantic, the Rabies (Control) Order 1974 SSosee vb Soares

Rouen

aa

ete

oy mreteB Tem ebLee CONC A Even SNe

Benreatnivacate ones allowed i) enter the 1Ohivicerl a eer

na without being placed in quar Aieteta House

itceroitorl Council of British Shipping followed suit

ordering the UK's merchant vessels to retire all cats

1977 ae

A History of Cats at Sea

%&

A Royal Navy petty officer on HMS Howe obviously needs some sleep, but his bunkmate looks bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, 1946. {Author's collection)

69

70

@

Cats in the Navy

Kelty, Mollie . | Sing a ele

a

ee URGE te cae Pere

I love them, every ae They re so good to me.

=

ne Reteove eterna at great big boat, | :

MANGA ote UeroKey When

CR

: ump

Brie eer

grvbre tol nee

ennCo UeTy oreo Perea

|

to eG a ride,

kaa trace) oes aerate back I slide;

- And after Billie's butted, why, we just aTecmey eae Wearsie

PIANO SOLO by

Elinor Colby ee =

mS

ROMO

-

74 %

Cats in the Navy

Lost Contral

4 of |

first and foremost role of a ship's cat _ was to exterminate the rodents that spread

_ disease and threatened the food supply. Cats have been (very efficient at pest control since they first became

_

domesticated around 10,000 years ago. A study of

cat DNA revealed that the first wave of domesticated cats accompanied farmers from the Middle East and stretched across Eurasia.’ The same study showed that the second wave originated in Egypt but was boosted over the centuries by the Vikings. The Vikings valued the mice-catching skills of cats and brought them on far-reaching journeys, introducing them to many

regions in both the old and new worlds.

ESSE

RCE

a

ai

w

oo

-

ap

ape ae

aga nenanni

a ag stemming

eae

76

8

Cats in the Navy

ae

OWNoralbe

~ailors deployed for months—sometimes years— Cy _

a ship that was thousands of miles from home

could become demoralized and slip into depression.— Cats and other mascots offered affection and a bit of |

serenity in an environment that was otherwise somewhat comfortless. Mascots could remind sailors of childhood

pets and ease homesickness. Because the mascot was shared among the crew, it helped create a bond between sailors across all sections of the ship.

78

8

Cats in the Navy

:

:CP

|

(Stom OWarning

articularly superstitious old salts used to say,

“Every cat carries a gale in its tail” —a gale that

would soon be unleashed when a cat became irritated (which is why the tailless Manx cat was a favored mascot). In reality, though, cats simply were reacting when their sharp senses detected shifts in atmospheric pressure. Sailors noted that cats would become agitated even before the barometer dropped to indicate an _ approaching storm. This is why changes in cats’ behavior were closely observed. Scratching and licking the wooden deck, unusual grooming routines, and increased

twitching of ears were interpreted as warnings of impending squalls.

ie

“ iY

ne iAN i

“i

a

a“ Aa

a ni

:

co

ayant

ae a in 4 i

a

‘

80

%@

Cats in the Navy

Ghin-Raid Uparning ) O

ith the evolution of warfare, sailors were _ discovering new benefits of having

a ship’s cat. During World War II, cats could function as effective early-warning air-raid alarms because their acute hearing enabled them to detect the faint whines and drones of approaching aircraft. The crew learned to scan the skies when they saw cats flinching before hurriedly seeking cover deep within the ship.

Ihe Many Roles of the Ship’s Cat

found

aye EY ele

a secur e spot tac

et duri

land and was sunk see Grousscien: ships

for British ships.

with

{ a Cc ht ba

@

81

82

“@ Cats in the Navy

Comp arionship

CA”

a sailor on long voyages was hard and often

lonely work, so cats were a welcome distraction during quieter times. Because of the affection and respect given to cats, early animal rights groups lauded sailors for their humane treatment of their mascots. Sailors

became so attached to their feline friends that they were

willing to risk their own lives for their cats’ sake. It was considered bad luck to abandon a mascot, and there are “numerous accounts of sailors refusing to leave sinking or

_ burning vessels until they had found their feline friends. ‘The Our Dumb Friends League awarded silver medals to _ the sailors who had saved cats from HMS Ark Royal after the aircraft carrier was torpedoed in 1941.

84