Cats in the military?

What’s the first animal that comes to mind when you think about animals serving in the military? Horses? Dogs? Maybe even birds? While cats may not have an official role in the military, they certainly can play an important one!

Historically, cats were often welcomed aboard ships, in military barracks, mess halls and field offices to help with rodent control. As rodent control “officers,” cats could help prevent rodents from raiding food storage, spreading disease and chewing through ropes and electrical wires. 

On military ships, cats also have a long history of being welcome passengers! In addition to pest control, some superstitious sailors believed that cats would bring them good luck and protection while they were out at sea. Cats, with their superior night vision, were rumored to be able to spot the faint light of enemy ships on the darkest of nights. 

Did you know cats were able to warn of incoming danger during wartime? Do they have a sixth sense or can they sense the changes in atmospheric pressure? No one really knows why, but cats were quite good at knowing when a bomb was about to hit. 

With the stress of war, cats could also provide companionship, break up the monotony of a long day and help to keep morale high. Often, abandoned or injured cats and kittens would be adopted by soldiers and sailors. The furry feline then became a mascot! Cat mascots were often given military code names, which brought moments of laughter in otherwise difficult times.

Several cats have become famous over the years for their roles. Check out these military cat tales:

• A Woman’s Army Corps kitten named Glamour Puss was famously cat-napped! Glamour Puss was finally returned after a week for a reward of a steak dinner.
• Tiddles, a large black cat, traveled more than 30,000 miles with the British Royal Navy during World War II!
• Private First Class (PFC) Hammer served in Iraq with American service members in 2004. PFC Hammer eliminated the mice that were getting into the food supplies and provided the troops with comfort and love while they were so far from home. The troops protected Hammer during enemy attacks by tucking him in their body armor. 

The companionship and accomplishments of felines in the military are quite incredible and we’ll never forget what an amazing role they played. 

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