No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!

Felines have graced the decks of boats and ships back nearly to the beginning of time, roaming freely on passenger ships, war vessels, and merchant schooners, keeping vermin at bay.

- Candilee Jackson

 

Cats and Ships 

Sailors and cats have a special relationship that dates back thousands of years. The US Naval Institute reports that the ancient Egyptians were likely the first seafarers to realize the value of having cats as shipmates.7 “In addition to offering sailors much-needed companionship on long voyages, cats purged ships of rodents. Without cats, a crew might find their ship overrun with rats and mice that would eat into the provisions, chew through ropes, and spread disease.”2 Hieroglyphics show Egyptian seafaring traders brought cats along on trips to the Mediterranean Sea. Their ability to control rodents on vessels is legendary, and since then, it has been essential to have a feline on a ship at all times, whether at the dock or underway.2

Myths and Legends

The majority of a ship’s cats were “polydactyl cats” because of the belief that a cat born with extra toes would have a much better sense of balance on a rocking ship, and their extra toes allowed them to climb higher and faster than typical cats.4 And not surprisingly, felines of the high seas brought a plethora of myths and legends.

1. Ship cats brought good luck, especially black cats.4

2. A cat’s keen eyesight guided ships and kept them safe from shipwrecks because a cat can more easily detect distant lights.4

3. The ship’s cat could predict the weather and start storms with its tail.7

4. If a ship’s cat sneezed, sailors watched for rain.6

5. A frisky feline had the crew bracing for strong winds.6

6. If the ship’s cat licked its fur in the direction opposite of how it grew, a hailstorm was predicted.6