Mrs Thatcher’s Cat Pussikins

Although there is nothing on the Internet (as far as I can tell) about Margaret Thatcher’s cat, I’d like to briefly discuss the topic on her recent death.

The tough side of her softened about ten years after she resigned as Prime Minister. Apparently, she began to behave more like a granny than the iron lady of British politics.

Whatever people think of her, and people are very divided in their opinions, she was a lady and she had some great qualities. She was loved and loathed but never ignored.

She acquired a cat to live with her in five-storey property in Belgravia, central London. She adopted the cat from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, which is not very far from her home. I don’t know the sex of the cat but I’ll guess he was male and he was a fat ginger cat. He was probably a red tabby cat. That would be very suitable for her. Red tabbies are meant to be pretty sold characters.

She named the new resident herself. She called him “Pussikins”. That name tells us a bit about Margaret’s personality. I think it is fair to say the name is a little unimaginative and old fashioned. The name indicates to me a lack of real desire to connect with her cat but that is a big guess. That said Pussikins had his own chair in the drawing room.

We have to credit her for adopting a cat and rescue cat at that. The idea may have come from one of her many friends and visitors. Perhaps the idea behind it was for her to have some company and to slow her down a bit. She was a very energetic lady who only felt right when she was doing something.

So, was Margaret Thatcher a “cat person”? Do you think she really liked cats? I don’t think so. She had a kind side and she was always well mannered. She was photographed petting a dog when sitting in Battersea Park with her carer and police officer not that long before she died of a minor stroke while reading in bed at the Ritz Hotel where she stayed for free.

Once again, this indicates a kind side to her character. She wasn’t unkind, although many people such as the miners would strongly disagree with that.

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26 thoughts on “Mrs Thatcher’s Cat Pussikins”

  1. From my association over the years with “P.O.C”, i seem to be the only regular Indian contributor on subject of cats.Thanks to “P.O.C” have got a idea of life in the Western world through the personal discussions like this controversial subject on former British Prime Minister Mrs Margaret.Thatcher. I have traveled to most country’s including a long stay in England in the 1980’s, the “Margaret Thatcher Years”.

    Marc from Switzerland, a regular contributor to “P.O.C” seems to be a aristocrat with a “Public education” and computer technology for keeping track of his cats. Honestly, as a citizen of a developing Country have learnt volumes through “P.O.C” , besides cats.

    Regarding Politics, in every country there are always a few politicians who will be hated by a section of the Country’s public and that includes my country , India.I wonder how do the average British react when they see a majority of Asians of British citizenship cheering India in a “India V/s England” cricket match rather than England !

    I observed this fact during the recent “England V/s India” ” I.C.C championship trophy at Birmingham which India won narrowly. The stadium resembled a typical Indian stadium rather than distant England ! Definitely, all the spectators were not Indian tourists on a holiday to Birmingham to just watch a cricket match.Strange, the game of Cricket was invented by Britain and exported to its colonies and today the colonies dominate the commercial economy of this sport.

    Politics and sports always throw up controversies.In the “Cat world”, the very fact that there are numerous ‘Cat associations” proves the fact that “Cat Politics” also dominates the setting up of “Cat breed Clubs and Associations”. Its most obvious in India, a country just emerging into the cat fancy world which recently had its first “Cat Show” in the city of Bangalore.It was held under a club called “Indian Cat federation” affiliated to the “World Cat Federation” of Germany. The strange fact was that a portion of cat fanciers in Bangalore boycotted this cat show, reasons unknown.This proves the fact that Politics exist in every sphere of life, including our house-hold pets.

    Reply
    • The cat fancy is very political as you say. I would love to know why the newborn Indian cat fancy is already political. That is starting early. Politics in the cat fancy results in poor decisions just as politicians playing politics rather than making the right decisions is not good for humans.

      There needs to be a greater concern for making decisions based on sound principles and morals not for personal or entirely commercial reasons.

      Brits don’t mind Indians who are British supporting their country. We are tolerant in that way.

      Reply
  2. What on earth is wrong with the name Pussikins? I am seriously thinking of calling my next cat by that name, which is how I came upon this site. I once had a cat named Pussum Boy and he was beautiful, loving and much loved. He was a real character, who could even understand some words as he would react to them when he heard them used in everyday speech. No one would dare to condescend to him! An interesting side light is that he also taught himself to wee down the plug hole in the bath . . .

    I think there is a tendency for some people to read far more into a situation than is warranted, perhaps because they are tripped up by their own mental stumbling blocks !

    Reply
    • What on earth is wrong with the name Pussikins?

      It is a name devoid of imagination. If a person loves their cat they will have the imagination to create a good name that suits their cat.

      Pussikins is a generic name. It is simply not good enough and if you think it is, I would advise you to rethink and reflect.

      Thanks for visiting and commenting.

      Reply
    • Maggikins someone once used to call me Ruthikins, it annoyed me very much! Kins on the end of a name is very childish and think how you will look to your neighbours calling Pussikins in at night!
      lol

      Reply
      • I think it is rather sad that ‘kin(s)’ has died out. I am not completely sure of the etymology but I believe that it came originally from Middle English or even Old English, and was used as a suffix to denote kind, sort, or of possessing qualities belonging to a particular sort, class or kind. Very suitable for the England described above, I would have thought!

        Perhaps I should call my new cat ‘Catkins’ . . . ?

        Reply
        • Call your cat what you like but please don’t come here picking on the English grammar of Marc, because he is one of us who spend our leisure time fighting the abuse of ALL cats worldwide and striving to educate the ignorant about cat welfare.

          Reply

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