Elroydb
147357
1849
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Cat on a naval vessel
#1 HMS Hermoine, cat's name is Convoy. 1941
#2 USS New Mexico, year unknown
#3 HMS Shropshire, Thomas the cat
#4 HMS Shropshire ship cat bedtime story part 2
#5 HMS Shropshire bedtime story part 3, Thomas finally getting the rest he deserves
#6 HMAS Kinambla, ship kitten in a hammock at some point during WW2
#7 Aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, ship kitten in 1945
#8 HMS Warspite, 1944, kitten with opinions on sleeping arrangements
#9 HMS Achilles, 1939
#10 HMS Nizam, 1941
#11 HMS Iroquois with its smol mascot
#12 USS South Dakoa, 1917. No that is not Bill Hader to the left
#13 HMS Belfast, replica of the ship's cat
#14 HMS Belfast, replica part 2
#15 HMS Prince of Whales, Churchill meeting the ship's cat Blackie
Source https://twitter.com/Manglewood/status/1410958225713905668
FractalShadows
Vineheart01
The squadron I was stationed at in SKorea has a black cat mascot named Oscar. And he would roam the hangars freely.
Sinmiedo1931
Is it common for ships to have a cat on them? Because that sounds really awesome.
chrisbradshaw954350
What an awesome post!!. TIL something cool. TX
SpottieOttieDopalisciousAngel
Schmaron
Nibbler’s friend died in that uniform.
SpottieOttieDopalisciousAngel
citythatday
This is just like in Scott Lynch's 'Red Seas Under Red Skies' book, I didn't know it was based on something real. That's pretty awesome!
LuciusNeedful
Even the Vikings loved cats. They are the reason orange tabbied spread across costal Europe.
LtColThorin
Do ships have cats any more?
BobaFettApproves
qualitytimewithkay
They’re all good cats, Bront.
therealswanson
USS New Mexico's Battle cat was called 'Saipan'
UnicornCock
Some of those names tho
AdelineThatsMeYo
This is cool! I love seeing pics of animals in history.
Norwegurian
I always get a little bit sad, a warship headed to battle or combat of any sort is no place for kittens :(
AdelineThatsMeYo
Same. I don't like to think of them being in harm's way.
SugaryBonemeal
That's what I was thinking. Then I was thinking "what's it like for a cat to get its sealegs" which cheered me up a bit.
CptnWombat
I wonder what happened to Thomas on HMS Shropshire and the cat on HMS Nizam. These ships were transferred to the Royal Australian Navy.
AllMaktAtTengilVarBefriare
He obviously got himself a couple of Aussie wives when he got there
Cheomesh
Every one of those cats had best be given an officer's rank.
LuciusNeedful
They gave hope, brought joy, pulled the men together, and commanded respect. They deserve nothing less.
FluffykinsTheDestroyer
#1 Do yourself a favor and don't look up what happened to that ship
FluffykinsTheDestroyer
#7 Also as an aside, the HMS Eagle was sunk in 1942, the next ship to take the name wasn't launched until '46.
sQuimby
Y'all need to learn about Unsinkable Sam, aka Oscar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsinkable_Sam. Survived 3 sinking ships!
CosmicThrust
Allegedly.
tigeroftheskies
#15 Don't they know it's bad luck to rename a cat!
NotARabbit
I knew ships had cats, but I didn't know they got hammocks, that's so cute!
Asdfgl3000
This.
sarabear
Are they in hammocks bc those are free to sway & maintain relative equilibrium as the boat rocks? Or just a cute trend?
Kittynomnoms
Probably the former. Looks like that's how the crew was sleeping as well.
travishawkins2199
Do ships still have cats?
EnlightenmentSatori
They God Damned well better.
OtterAvalanche
I too would like to know
therealswanson
Officially no, not since 75, unofficially, you're not stopping a 400 year old tradition with a signed order.
YeOldeImgurian
"Oh that's not a Ship's Cat, it's a stray. We can't catch her." *cat walks up to purr and rub against their legs* "Completely feral."
travishawkins2199
That's a great writing prompt... I'll read the story of the once revered ships cat turned noble stow away
tehpopa
Looks like no. Banned in '75. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship%27s_cat
travishawkins2199
Ah, too bad, that's the year I was born :(
GemsAreOutrageousTrulyTrulyTrulyOutrageous
"The Royal Navy banned cats and other pet animals from all ships on the ocean in 1975 on hygiene grounds; however, cats are still common >
GemsAreOutrageousTrulyTrulyTrulyOutrageous
> on many private ships."
travishawkins2199
That's cool
joemac65
So do military ships still have ships cats?
Frederf
Cats technically had the largest surface navy from 1888 to 1949.
VolcanoHerder
#1 is my favorite because they all look smitten with that kitten and it's adorable
mvfx
this is what I come to imgur for!!!
petitbonsai122718
they were precious and necessary to exterminate vermin.
Bearhug67
An excellent YT channel about warship history, this episode focusing on ship cats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7HIY0GTEC8
somethingsomethingaskingforafriend
#7 omg, he has a pillow and he is holding it!!!!!!11!!
blondebombshell
Why does that one black cat look like Salem from Sabrina teenage witch?
LoneWolfandCub
@op best post I’ve come across in a while! ? Thank You!
mercbrit
I am afeard some of them were not issued with life jackets and went down with the ship!
Sinmiedo1931
Trust me, if that ship is going down, a cat will safely find a way off it. Most likely from a crew member taking it with him.
dartmaster666
Not Unsinkable Sam who purportedly served during WWII with both the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy and survived the sinking of three ships.
AllMaktAtTengilVarBefriare
I like to think he sank the British ships he served on as revenge for them sinking his home.
thekeyislost
purr-portedly
dartmaster666
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsinkable_Sam
quizquare
All of these cats ended up living long happy lives and dying of old age because I said so.
LuciusNeedful
So say we all.
LtColThorin
qazxswedcvfrtgbnhyujmkiol
I believe you.
mercbrit
I hope you’re right.
Carl99
No mention of "Unsinkable Sam" No fair.