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.
posted by heurtebise (23 comments total) 35 users marked this as a favorite
 
I like this so much, that if it turns out to be fake, I'm going to have to invent a time machine, go back in time and make sure that there are plenty of photos of cats lounging in cannons.
posted by 445supermag at 6:05 PM on August 31, 2014 [5 favorites]


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]


Equal time for WWII and other critters...
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]


Blessed art the peacemakers: kittens with soldiers.
posted by cenoxo at 6:32 PM on August 31, 2014


There's a great Animals in War memorial in Hyde Park, London.
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]


War. War never ch-wait, did you say cats?
posted by um at 7:10 PM on August 31, 2014


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


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]


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]




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 [26 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]


'Served' is stretching it. 'Happened to be around' is more like it.
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]


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]


i bet those cats were like 'o these huge guns are better than boxes better go sit in them' and then fall asleep, look around, see no land, and be all 'the hell?'

but seriously, how did they keep those cats in trenches?
posted by angrycat at 4:14 AM on September 1, 2014


Cats as food just sucks. They know it. That is the problem.
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


Where are the German tabbies?

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]


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


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