Even The Smallest Had Their Role

Cats were the perfect companions not only in the trenches of WWI, but onboard ship as well. While dogs and horses are often portrayed as wartime workers and companions, cats also played vital roles. It was a cat named “Simon” who won a Dickin Medal, the highest honor for Animal Military Gallantry in Britain.

In the military, animal mascots were used to provide friendship and a happy distraction to Canadian soldiers. Various animals such as “Mike” the Saint Bernard, or “Batisse” the goat gave soldiers comfort and affection. Animal mascots were often given military code names which often brought flashes of laughter among soldiers as they shared silly names from childhood pets.

Cats found a niche job in military barracks, trenches, and aboard ships. Not only did they protect the limited rations, but they were able to squeeze into tight spaces and prevent rodents from gnawing at important communications wiring and chewing through ropes and planks on ships. By controlling the rat and mouse populations, cats were also able to curtail the spread of disease carried by rodents.

Some superstitious sailors even believed cats would bring them protection at sea. With their excellent eyesight, cats were rumored to spot even the faintest of lights on the darkest and stormiest nights. Tiddles, a large black cat, traveled more than 30,000 miles with the British Royal Navy during World War II.

Soldiers experienced grueling stress under the most perilous of conditions. Cats provided stress relief and a bit of fun in tense situations. Prior to flying into battle pilots on aircraft carriers often relaxed by playing with the ship’s mascot.

The act of caring for these lost animals gave the servicemen comfort and many found entertainment and stress relief in a furry mascot at the end of a hard day. A Women’s Army Corps kitten named “Glamour Puss” was famously cat-napped, but the offer of a delicious steak dinner prompted his safe return.

Unofficially, cats were also welcomed in barracks and military field offices to help with rodent control. A good ratter could help preserve precious food stores, help in preventing the spread of diseases, and again keep rats or mice from chewing through wiring.

Life in the trenches of WWI was absolute hell. If an enemy bullet, artillery shell, or gas canister didn’t kill you, then the cesspool of diseases that formed at the bottom of the trenches would. To make matters worse, the damp and dirty environment made for the perfect breeding ground for rats that carried and spread deadly diseases.

Thousands of cats were dispatched to the trenches during WWI to keep rodent numbers down and act as early warning detectors for mustard gas. It was speculated that there were an estimated 500,000 cats in the trench systems running along the Western Front. Primarily, cats were used to cull the rodent population, but troops found comfort in caring for the little rascals. No one knows how many cats survived the trenches.

As heart-wrenching as it was, cats were very susceptible to the near-odorless and near-invisible toxic gas used against the Allies. Cats felt the effects of the gas attacks almost immediately. Like canaries in mine shafts, their reaction to the gas would alert the troops to put on their gas mask and head to safety. It’s unknown how many cats died due to chemical warfare, but their losses saved countless GI lives.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the cats, though. Many troops loved and cared for the cats in between battles and made them part of their unit. They served at mascots and troops shared their rations. The cats gave them something to play with between conflicts. Cats had a way of breaking up the monotony of any long day. Their services though not always considered heroic were certainly great contributions to those around them who benefitted from their companionship, mouser skills, and entertainment.

The cats were also able to freely cross no man’s land. During the famous Christmas Truce of 1914, many soldiers wished for peace and friendship between the troops of warring factions. So, they would tie messages around the collars of some of the free-roaming kitties and the message would get across to the enemy fortifications.

Unfortunately, not everyone thought such communication was to be taken lightly. One cat by the name of Felix was caught by French officers and put in front of a tribunal. This cat, trying to carry messages of peace and love in exchange for treats, was found guilty of treason and executed by firing squad.

The cats were known to be fiercely loyal to the troops with whom they served. One Belgian officer and scout, Lt. Lekeux of the 3rd Regiment of Artillery, came across a litter of kittens whose mother had perished before the young could open their eyes. Lekeux nursed the kittens back to health, but unfortunately only one survived — he named the cat Pitoutchi.

The cat followed the lieutenant everywhere he went and jumped on his shoulders when trenches were too wet. “One night, as Lt. Lekeux was scouting out the German position and drawing their location on a map, German troops almost spotted him. Alerted by some noise, the troops surrounded the artillery crater in which Lekeux took cover. He was trapped; the Germans were sure to shoot him if he fled or bayonet him if they found him in there.

Suddenly, Pitoutchi jumped from Lt. Lekeux’s shoulder and dashed out of cover. The Germans spotted the little kitten and opened fire, but his cat’s reflexes proved too quick. The Germans attributed the noise they heard to Pitoutchi and gave up searching. This gave Lekeux the window he needed to mount an escape, with the maps and Pitouchi in hand.”

Cats were also thought to be able to detect bombs ahead of time, like dogs sniffing out explosives. Soldiers theorized it was due to cats being attuned to atmospheric pressure, or possibly just their “sixth sense.” During World War II, some families would rely on their cat’s senses to alert them ahead of a bomb being dropped and would retreat for safety to air-raid or bomb shelters.

The most famous of these fearless felines was aptly named “Bomber”. It was claimed that he could identify the difference between German aircrafts and planes in the British Air Force.

Cat Man Chris wrote the following to honor these small heroes: “Paws At The Ready - The cats of World War One had significant role in all the campaigns, we must honour their bravery too. Give thought to all the kitties who served in World War One. A battalion of the finest who never fired a gun. What was their role?

Whether hunting rodents out at sea, or loyal friends to men, these many cats had vital roles, time and time again. The food was saved. A common sight in trenches deep, dispatching mice and rats, the soldiers had a special bond with many of these cats.

Many were treasured mascots. Five hundred thousand cats were sent to serve in the Great War. Some detected mustard gas, whilst others were off shore. Some of the feline heroes - Togo was the Dreadnought’s cat, The Swan had their lad Ching. Pincher was the Vinex’s mog, it was luck they hoped they’d bring.

‘Martinpuich’ was aptly named, by The 9th battalion chaps. Pitouchi was the orphaned kit, who’d survived on army scraps. Spark Plug, Tabby and many more were companions to the troops.

The feline unsung heroes, those cats who became recruits. We’ll never truly realise just what these cats went through. So spare a thought and give some thanks for what they did for you! Lest We Forget.”