Quck answer
Throughout history, cats have played a significant role in human society. Here are 10 cats who left their mark on history:
1. Socks – President Bill Clinton’s White House cat
2. Trim – the first cat to circumnavigate the globe with his owner, Matthew Flinders
3. FГ©licette – the first cat to be sent into space by the French government
4. Tombili – a beloved street cat in Istanbul who became a local celebrity and had a statue erected in his honor
5. Larry – the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office in the UK
6. Stubbs – a cat who served as the mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska for 20 years
7. Tama – a stationmaster cat in Japan who helped increase tourism to her station and was promoted to honorary stationmaster after her death
8. Blackie – the richest cat in the world, who inherited a fortune of ВЈ7 million from his millionaire owner
9. Oscar – a nursing home cat in Rhode Island who has a knack for predicting when patients are about to pass away
10. Unsinkable Sam – a cat who survived three shipwrecks during World War II, serving on both German and British ships.
Pets
In the White House press briefing room in 1994, the Clintons’ cat Socks sits atop the podium. JENNIFER YOUNG/AFP/Getty Images
Cats are ruling the internet. If you search for funny pictures online, most of them are of cats. There are numerous websites that are dedicated to all aspects of these furry creatures, and there are many celebrity cats such as Grumpy Cat.
This isn’t too surprising as cats are some of the most popular pets in the world. Morris the Cat was one of the first media-driven animal celebrities. In 1969, Morris the Cat became a spokes-cat for 9Lives cat food and walked into the lives of Americans via TV [source: Elliott].
Cats have done far more than appear in ads, “play” the piano, or fall out of trees. Some of them have made history. Here are 10 stories of remarkable deeds done by cats.
10: F.D.C. Willard, Co-Author of a Physics Paper
A Siamese, much like this one, co-authored a physics paper. BSIP/Getty Images
In 1975, Michigan State professor Jack Hetherington was in a difficult situation. He had just finished typing a physics paper that would later become quite influential. A colleague pointed out that he had used the royal “we” throughout the article. Physical Review Letters, the periodical where he planned to submit the paper for publication, had strict rules regarding authorship. If the article used plural words like “we,” it had to have two or more authors listed.
The situation was complicated because changing all of those “we’s” to “I’s” via typewriter would be a Herculean task. Therefore, Hetherington decided that his Siamese cat, Chester, would be his co-author. However, Chester required a more formal and complete name, so Hetherington named him F.D.C. Willard. The scientist came up with “F.D.C.” from “Felix Domesticus, Chester” and chose the surname “Willard” because that was Chester’s father’s name. Chester was now the co-author of a prestigious physics paper [source: Grundhauser].
Chester’s true identity was discovered when a visitor stopped at Michigan State to meet the authors. University officials weren’t upset over the deception; in fact, they liked the idea of Chester becoming a physics mascot. However, editors across the nation were not amused by the prank, including the editors of Physical Review Letters, who had unknowingly published the piece.
Willard/Chester went on to author another physics paper alone in 1980, although we assume that his owner gave him some help with the typing.
9: Trim, Discoverer of Australia
Trim, a black cat with a white star on his chest and four white paws, was born on board a ship during Capt. Matthew Flinders’ second trip to Australia. Flinders and his crew were enamored with Trim’s energy, intelligence, and remarkable balance. Trim accompanied Flinders on several voyages around the continent, and Flinders even wrote an essay about his many talents. However, tragedy struck when Flinders, Trim, and another officer were imprisoned in Mauritius during the war between England and France. Trim disappeared, and despite Flinders’ promise to erect a memorial in his honor, he died before he could fulfill it. In 1925, a statue of Flinders was erected at the State Library of New South Wales, and a bronze statue of Trim was added behind it in 1996, becoming a popular tourist attraction and lending its name to the library’s cafГ©.
8: All Ball, Raised by a Gorilla
Koko, a gorilla known for learning American Sign Language, asked for a kitten as a Christmas present and was given a stuffed cat. Unsatisfied, she later selected a Manx kitten named All Ball as her birthday present. Koko and All Ball quickly bonded, with Koko mothering and playing with him. Tragically, All Ball escaped the research facility and was killed by a car. Koko was devastated, but in 2015, on her 44th birthday, she received two new kittens named Ms. Gray and Ms. Black and instantly bonded with them, making them her new beloved pets.
7: Socks, the Cat Who Lived in the White House
In 1991, a stray black-and-white cat jumped into Chelsea Clinton’s arms and was later adopted by the Clintons. They named him Socks and brought him with them to the White House when Bill Clinton became president in 1992. Socks was not a lazy cat and quickly found favorite sleeping spots in the Oval Office and the West Wing. Hillary Clinton often brought Socks with her to visit children and seniors, charming everyone he met. Socks became so popular that he was mentioned in TV shows and even appeared on “Larry King Live” as a Muppet. However, Socks’ peaceful days ended when the Clintons adopted a chocolate Lab named Buddy in 1997. Socks did not get along with Buddy and was given to the president’s secretary, Betty Currie, when the Clintons left the White House in 2001. Socks lived to be 20 years old before passing away in 2009.
6: Snowball, the Cat Who Helped Solve a Murder
Snowball was owned by a Canadian couple on Prince Edward Island. In 1994, their son Douglas Beamish became the prime suspect in the murder of his estranged common-law wife, Shirley Duguay. The RCMP found a leather jacket near the crime scene with Duguay’s blood splattered on it and 27 white cat hairs in the lining. Forensic scientists tested the cat hairs for DNA, which matched Snowball’s blood sample. To prove that no other cats on the island had the same DNA, experts tested 20 others and found that their DNA greatly varied from Snowball’s. Douglas was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Snowball’s case inspired others to look to pet fur for clues in criminal cases.
5: Muezza, the Cat Beloved by Prophet Muhammad
Prophet Muhammad was known for his love of cats and his favorite feline was Muezza. Muhammad was so fond of Muezza that he allowed the cat to sit on his lap while he gave his sermons. He even drank from the same water that Muezza had been drinking from previously. There are many tales about Muezza, including one where the cat saved Muhammad from a venomous snake and another where Muhammad cut off his robe’s sleeve so Muezza could continue sleeping on it. Muhammad also granted Muezza the ability to land on his feet under any circumstances and gave him seven lives. Today, Islam instructs Muslims to revere cats and mistreating a cat is considered a major transgression.
4: Larry, the Chief Mouser of Downing Street
In 2011, a cat was adopted from a rescue home to deal with a mouse problem at 10 Downing Street, the home of Britain’s Prime Minister. The chosen brown-and-white tabby was named Larry and was given the title of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, becoming the first cat to hold the title. While Larry has been of marginal help in dealing with the mouse problem, he is well-suited to his other duties, such as welcoming visitors and finding the best napping spots. Larry has also been known to get into fights with Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat, when they met outside. Despite concerns about his fate after the Brexit vote and the prime minister swap, Larry has kept his job and is considered a civil servant.
3: Oscar, the Cat with a Sixth Sense
Oscar, a gray-and-white feline raised in a dementia unit at Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island, has an unusual gift. He can predict when residents are close to death and stays curled up beside them during their final hours. Although some view his abilities as creepy and liken him to the Grim Reaper, the rehab center staff sees it as a gift as it gives them time to summon family members to say their final goodbyes. The residents also find comfort in Oscar’s presence beside them during their final moments.
Oscar was adopted from an animal shelter to be raised as a therapy cat, however, he didn’t take to people, except those who were ill. He began visiting patients in each room and if someone’s death was nearing, he would stay with them until they passed away, accurately predicting around 50 deaths by 2010. The reason behind Oscar’s gift is uncertain, but he has been recognized for his compassionate hospice care.
Grumpy Cat, a Siamese cat with an underbite and feline dwarfism, became an internet sensation due to her perpetually frowning face. Her owner started a Facebook page and Twitter account for her, leading to millions of followers and several sponsorships such as being a spokesperson for Friskies cat food. Grumpy Cat generated over $100 million for her owner before sadly passing away due to a urinary tract infection in 2019.
When the residents of Talkeetna, Alaska didn’t like their choices for mayor in 1997, they wrote in the name “Stubbs,” a cat that was born that year. Despite being a feline, he was elected and served as the mayor of Talkeetna for 20 years.
In Talkeetna, Alaska, the townspeople made an orange cat named Stubbs their honorary official, despite the fact that the town does not actually have a mayor. Stubbs was found in the parking lot of Nagley’s General Store and taken in by the store’s owner. He served the town faithfully for 20 years before retiring in 2015 due to old age and passed away in 2017. In literature, cats are often associated with resurrection and rebirth due to their nine lives, and some works have also linked them with magic, mystery, and healing. Many US presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Bill Clinton, have had cats as pets. The most famous cat in the world is a cross-eyed tabby named Nala, who holds the Guinness World Record for a pet with the most followers on Instagram.
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More Great Links
- Explore the world of cats on Purr ‘n’ Fur
- Read about the fascinating impact of 100 cats on civilization
Sources
- ABC 7 reports on Madame Tussaud’s wax figure of Grumpy Cat
- Alaska Public Media covers the 2014 Senate race
- NBC News discusses how cat DNA solved a homicide case
- Business Insider shares the story of a cat running for Senate in Alaska
- Cat Eyes lists the 21 most famous cats in history
- CCTV captures Grumpy Cat’s visit to New York City
- The New York Times talks about Morris the Cat’s return to advertising
- Encyclopedia.com profiles Snowball the cat
- Fox News reports on a cat who predicts nursing home deaths
- Reuters shares new research on how some cats can predict death
- Atlas Obscura tells the story of a cat co-authoring a physics paper in 1975
- The Islamic Information Portal explores the love and importance of cats in Islam
- Popular Science covers Koko the gorilla’s adoption of kittens
- Smithsonian Magazine reports on the fate of 10 Downing Street’s “Chief Mouser” after Brexit
- The Los Angeles Times writes about Koko the gorilla’s mourning of a pet kitten’s death
- Animal Shelter discusses the rise of cat pictures on the internet
- Only In Your State recounts the story of Stubbs the cat, honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska
- Presidential Pet Museum profiles Socks the cat, pet of the Clinton family
- Purr ‘n’ Fur gives the history of Matthew Flinders’ cat, Trim
- New York Magazine interviews Ben Lashes, the manager behind Grumpy Cat’s fame
- Yahoo News reports on an animal rescue center advising Downing Street on cat fights
FAQ
1. Who were the most famous cats throughout history?
Some of the most famous cats throughout history include Socks, the cat of former US President Bill Clinton; Morris the Cat, the advertising mascot for 9Lives cat food; and Grumpy Cat, a viral sensation thanks to her permanently grumpy expression.
2. Did cats play any role in ancient history?
Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years and have played a significant role in many ancient cultures. In ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped as deities and were believed to protect their owners from evil spirits. They were often mummified and buried with their owners.
3. Which famous historical figures were cat lovers?
Many famous historical figures have been cat lovers, including Ernest Hemingway, Abraham Lincoln, and Sir Isaac Newton. Hemingway even had a six-toed cat named Snowball, and Lincoln was known to have several cats throughout his life.
4. Are there any famous cats in literature?
Yes, there are many famous cats in literature, including the Cheshire Cat from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” the Cat in the Hat from Dr. Seuss, and the cats from T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” which inspired the musical “Cats.”
5. Have any cats won awards or medals?
Yes, some cats have won awards or medals. For example, in 1949, a cat named Simon was awarded the Dickin Medal for his service during World War II. He was a ship’s cat on the HMS Amethyst and helped to kill rats that were threatening the ship’s food supply.
6. Are there any famous cats on social media?
Yes, there are many famous cats on social media, including Lil Bub, Grumpy Cat, and Nala Cat. These cats have millions of followers and have even spawned merchandise lines.
7. Have any cats been used for scientific research?
Yes, cats have been used for scientific research in the past, particularly in neurological and ophthalmological studies. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards using non-animal models, such as computer simulations, to avoid animal testing.
8. Are there any famous cats that have saved lives?
Yes, there are many stories of cats saving lives. For example, a cat named Tara saved a young boy from a dog attack in California in 2014. The incident was caught on video and went viral.
9. Is it true that cats were once accused of being witches’ familiars?
Yes, in the Middle Ages, cats were often associated with witchcraft and were believed to be the familiars of witches. Many cats were killed during the witch hunts of the time.
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