For thousands of years, cats have played an important part in human civilization. Through the ages, they have been regarded as sacred animals, valued for their ability to control pests, and have crawled into the hearts of their owners, forming bonds of familial friendship and love.
Some cats have even caught the attention of the public and risen to fame and stardom in their own right.
1. Ta-Miu, a Famous Cat and Companion to a Prince
It is no secret that the ancient Egyptians had a great reverence for the feline species. One of the oldest of all famous cats, Ta-Miu (She-Cat), was a pet of Crown Prince Thutmose, the son of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye, who lived around 3400 years ago in Egypt. Little is known of the prince’s life save for the fact that he died at a young age. He is better remembered for the fact that his resting place was accompanied by a sarcophagus for the mummified remains of his cat.
Not long before Ta-Miu, another famous cat was Nedjem (Sweetie), the pet of Puimre, a priest of Amun during the reign of Hatshepsut. Nedjem was depicted in relief on Puimre’s tomb and is the oldest cat whose name we know!
2. Pangur Bán, a Medieval Inspiration
In the 9th century, an Irish monk wrote a beautiful poem about his cat, likely the oldest known literature about a feline. In the poem, entitled Pangur Bán (the cat’s name), the author compared the cat’s mouse-hunting activities to his own literary endeavors
Little is known of the cat and the author, but one theory put forth by Professor W. J. Gruffydd suggests that “Pangur” is a version of the Welsh word “pannwr,” meaning “fuller,” which is associated with the color white. Thus, he suggests, the cat may have been white.
3. Unsinkable Sam, a Famous Sailor
One of the most famous cats in history, Unsinkable Sam led a life full of adventure. There is some debate over his origins, and many of his life details are considered apocryphal. As such, the story of Unsinkable Sam is one of legend rather than pure fact. Some pictures believed to depict Sam were actually of a cat named Simon who served aboard the HMS Amethyst and became famous for surviving an artillery attack during the Yangtze Incident. Despite all odds, Simon survived and was awarded the Dickin Medal for gallantry.
Less than three weeks later, the Ark Royal was torpedoed, and Sam was found clinging to a plank and rescued by the HMS Legion, after which he was taken ashore. He spent the rest of the war in a seamen’s retirement village in Belfast and died in 1955.
4. Félicette, the First (And Only) Cat Launched Into Space
There were 14 potential candidates for the flight. The cats were all female and given numbers instead of names to prevent the scientists from forming attachments. They were put into small, confined spaces and subjected to centrifugal experiments. “C 341” was selected due to her calm demeanor and low body weight of just 5.5 lbs. Electrodes were attached to her all over her body, and on October 18, 1963, she was blasted into space in a flight that lasted just 13 minutes
The flight data was sent to the media, and “C 341” was given the name Félix, which was then changed to the feminine form “Félicette.” Like so many animals in the world of scientific experimentation, Félicette’s story did not end happily. She was euthanized two months after her flight so that her brain could be examined.
5. The Right Honorable Larry
Serving as Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office (an official title), Larry has lived in No. 10 Downing Street since 2011, thus being a far more permanent resident than the six prime ministers since Larry took up residency!
Larry was born in 2007 and spent his early life in Battersea Dogs & Cats Home before being adopted. Originally intended to be a pet for Prime Minister David Cameron’s children, Larry stayed on as Chief Mouser after Cameron left and has served in the position ever since, keeping No.10 free of rodents.
Larry is currently 18 years old and a much-beloved figure in British society, with his exploits often reported in the press.
6. Tombili the Street Cat
Tombili was a street cat who lived in Istanbul, Türkiye. Not much is known about the details of his life. Although the media reported his sex as male, even this is disputed. His name, “Tombili,” is Turkish for “Chubby.” The cat first drew attention due to a photograph in which he is seen lounging on the sidewalk in an anthropomorphic fashion.
This photograph garnered the cat considerable fame. After he died in 2016 from kidney failure, the mayor of Kadıköy district in Istanbul received a petition containing 17,000 signatures asking for a statue to be erected in the cat’s honor. Thus, on October 4, 2016, Tombili was memorialized in bronze.
A month later, the statue was stolen, generating a huge outcry around the country. The statue was, however, returned safely a few days later.
7. Lil BUB, the Permanent Kitten
In 2011, Lil BUB was born the runt of the litter in a tool shed in Indiana. She had dwarfism and several genetic deformities, which resulted in her looking like a kitten for her whole life. She had a long body but short legs and a short lower jaw, which meant that her tongue was always sticking out.
