The Cats of World War I
August 31, 2014 5:52 PM Subscribe
Thousands of cats served in the First World War -- as rat killers, as mascots for troops in the trenches, at sea, and elsewhere. War at its furriest.
It's like seeing photographic proof of Doctor Who's THE SILENCE throughout history
posted by Auden at 6:21 PM on August 31, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by Auden at 6:21 PM on August 31, 2014 [7 favorites]
Equal time for WWII and other critters...
posted by datawrangler at 6:27 PM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by datawrangler at 6:27 PM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
And I might add this. And not to belabor the point there's a book out there on dogs and soldiers in WWII, FYI. Plus there are videos aplenty about the dogs US soldiers have had brought back from overseas, post active duty.
posted by datawrangler at 6:31 PM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by datawrangler at 6:31 PM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
There's a great Animals in War memorial in Hyde Park, London.
posted by andraste at 6:33 PM on August 31, 2014
posted by andraste at 6:33 PM on August 31, 2014
What did the cats do during artillery bombardments?
posted by telstar at 6:41 PM on August 31, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by telstar at 6:41 PM on August 31, 2014 [3 favorites]
No matter how screwed up the human race can be, cats are our loyal enablers...love those pictures all the same...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 7:12 PM on August 31, 2014
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 7:12 PM on August 31, 2014
What did the cats do during artillery bombardments?
Seriously. Any cat I know would have bolted straight to Belgium at the first boom of a nearby artillery company if they were in French trenches.
posted by figurant at 7:14 PM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
Seriously. Any cat I know would have bolted straight to Belgium at the first boom of a nearby artillery company if they were in French trenches.
posted by figurant at 7:14 PM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also in WWI: Cpl. Jackie Marr, who happened to be a baboon.
posted by Maecenas at 7:14 PM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Maecenas at 7:14 PM on August 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
Did someone say they want more war cats?! Australia's National Library search, Trove, has got you covered! That search there should take you straight to the page to start looking through the 300+ freely available photos they have that include the text "war cat" (not an exact string search, just OR'd together). Here's another search for "ship's cat".
posted by barnacles at 7:15 PM on August 31, 2014 [21 favorites]
- Here's a sailor shaking hands with a ship's cat! "How do you do, good sir"
- A ship's cat strolls along the guns of the HMS Elizabeth at Gallipoli. Such balance!
- The captain seems to think this ship's cat wants to smoke a pipe. The ship's cat seems to disagree.
- Got a camp? Need a cat!
- Aircrew, a WW2 RAAF mascot wears his insignia with startled pride.
- Ship's cat, Cinders, sneaks a bite at the dinner table. omnomnomnom
- Ship's cats with their own hammock! Luxury!
- I love this photo so much. I cannot imagine a modern CO of a landing craft daring to pose for such a shot.
- If you've got to wait for an air raid, you might as well have a kitten!
- Image 4: Beardy sailor snuggles a ship's cat.
- The HMAS Lariat had a ship's cat AND a ship's dog (named Judy)!
- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
posted by barnacles at 7:15 PM on August 31, 2014 [21 favorites]
What did the cats do during artillery bombardments?
Nothing. There was no paws in the shelling.
posted by hal9k at 7:18 PM on August 31, 2014 [25 favorites]
Nothing. There was no paws in the shelling.
posted by hal9k at 7:18 PM on August 31, 2014 [25 favorites]
Where are the German tabbies? The Austro-Hungarian pussies? It may well be that history shows us that only the winners loved cute furry animals, but a feline is vicious, prone to unprovoked attacks and irrational outbursts of aggression, of course the Central powers would observe these traits with some empathy?
posted by idiopath at 8:32 PM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by idiopath at 8:32 PM on August 31, 2014 [2 favorites]
'Served' is stretching it. 'Happened to be around' is more like it.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:13 AM on September 1, 2014
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:13 AM on September 1, 2014
Cats serve no one. Also, this post is great.
posted by brundlefly at 1:59 AM on September 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by brundlefly at 1:59 AM on September 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thousands of cats served in the First World War
If by "served" you mean "were eaten" I'd say "thousands" is an underestimation.
posted by pracowity at 4:02 AM on September 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
If by "served" you mean "were eaten" I'd say "thousands" is an underestimation.
posted by pracowity at 4:02 AM on September 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cats as food just sucks. They know it. That is the problem.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:22 AM on September 1, 2014
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:22 AM on September 1, 2014
Seriously. Any cat I know would have bolted straight to Belgium at the first boom of a nearby artillery company if they were in French trenches.
Belgium was full of dogs by then. Both times.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:34 AM on September 1, 2014
Belgium was full of dogs by then. Both times.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:34 AM on September 1, 2014
Where are the German tabbies?
Working undercover, it appears
posted by IndigoJones at 6:42 AM on September 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Working undercover, it appears
posted by IndigoJones at 6:42 AM on September 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
War is hello kitty.
posted by ootsocsid at 6:45 AM on September 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ootsocsid at 6:45 AM on September 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Apparenty not the first to think of that: http://www.metafilter.com/65555/Cats-and-War#1873465
posted by ootsocsid at 6:47 AM on September 1, 2014
posted by ootsocsid at 6:47 AM on September 1, 2014
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posted by 445supermag at 6:05 PM on August 31, 2014 [5 favorites]