Ship's cat

Captain AJ Hailey with his cat on RMS Empress of Canada, 1920s
Ship's cat on HMAS Encounter during World War I

The ship's cat has been a common feature on many trading, exploration, and naval ships dating to ancient times. Cats have been brought on ships for many reasons, most importantly to control rodents. Vermin aboard a ship can cause damage to ropes, woodwork, and more recently, electrical wiring. In addition, rodents threaten ships' stores, devour crews' foodstuff, and can cause economic damage to ships' cargo, such as grain. Vermin are also a source of disease, which is dangerous for ships that are at sea for long periods of time. Rat fleas are carriers of plague, and rats on ships were believed[a] to be a primary vector of the Black Death.[2]

Cats naturally attack and kill rodents[3] and adapt to new surroundings, which makes them suitable for service on a ship. In addition, they offer companionship and a sense of home, security and camaraderie to sailors away from home.

  1. ^ Greshko, Michael (15 January 2018). "Maybe Rats Aren't to Blame for the Black Death". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  2. ^ "The Black Death". John Martin Rare Book Room. Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  3. ^ Bruzelius, Lars (2005). "Sailing Ships". Stevens: 'Vermin', 1894. The Maritime History Virtual Archives. Retrieved 20 April 2010.


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