How has the cat been used in warfare?

It is common knowledge that dogs have been used quite extensively in warfare while most people probably wouldn’t imagine the domestic cat being used in this way but they would be wrong. The first item in this list refers to the Ukraine war and therefore it shows us that the domestic cat can be very useful in wartime although in this instance the cats were not used to harm anybody but to support the soldiers on one side.

The most common use of cats in warfare is rodent control and companionship
The most common use of cats in warfare is rodent control and companionship. Image: MikeB using a picture from Ukraine available on social media and believed to be in the public domain.

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The Ukraine war 2024: the war affects all of Europe and indeed I would argue the rest of the world. Many cats have been killed with their owners when apartment blocks have been shelled and bombed by Kremlin forces. But on the Ukraine side there has been a brilliant public relations program concerning the support that the domestic cat brings to Ukrainian soldiers in the trenches. You will find many examples on Twitter/X of Ukrainian soldiers being comforted by domestic cats that they have befriended. It’s a symbiotic relationship because these cats would otherwise probably starve. The soldiers gain comfort and companionship together. The cats are also working animals in keeping down the mice/rat population in the trenches which can be a big problem. This example of cats in warfare is very positive and it has probably irked the Russians who have been unable to recreate such a successful public relations programme on their side.

2,500 years ago: I would like now to refer to a time when the Persians were at war with the Egyptians. Many must know that the ancient Egyptians worshipped the cat. Domestic cats couldn’t be harmed and if they were it could result in very severe punishment. Knowing this, the Persian warriors went forward carrying live cats in their arms. Seeing this the Egyptians were unable to attack them because such acts of violence against one of their animal deities was unthinkable. The Persians were able to advance with ease as the Egyptians unable to retaliate.

Christopher of Habsburg in the year 1535: Christopher was an artillery officer. He reported to the Council of One and Twenty at Strasbourg. He described in his report the way in which “poisoned vapours were shed abroad” with the help of cats. They had poison bottles strapped to their backs with the openings pointing towards their tails. They were sent towards the enemy and in their panic they spread the poisonous fumes among the enemy camps.

Pest control: I have touched on this above with the Ukraine war. But it doesn’t stop there. Cats have been valued as ships’ cats to control rodent populations which would otherwise have damaged food supplies and spread disease. Sometimes these cats were polydactyl because the sailors thought that if a cat had more than the usual toes they were better able to keep their balance on deck! This is why, by the way, the Maine Coon cat is often polydactyl. The breed originates in medium-longhaired cats imported from Europe and England some of which were ships’ cats.

Ancient Egypt: I can now refer to another example from those ancient times. The cat was domesticated and kept as a pet but they also guarded granaries and valuable crops from vermin.

World War I: cats were occasionally used in the trenches during World War I to catch rats which were rampant in the highly unsanitary trenches. And of course as mentioned above they provided some comfort to soldiers.

World War II: once again, there are some wonderful stories of ships’ cats from World War II. The most famous of which is Simon. You can read about him by clicking on this link: WW2 cat hero, Simon, died of cold British weather not his injuries. Able Seacat Simon, was the official ship’s cat on HMS Amethyst from 1948, winning two awards in 1949, including the prestigious Dickin Medal (posthumously).

Simon the cat
Simon the cat. Probably the most famous British wartime cat. Image in the public domain.

Cold War: in the 1960s, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly tried to train domestic cats and spies. They were called “Acoustic Kitty”. The plan involved surgically implanting listening devices into the cats so that they could eavesdrop on conversations in Soviet embassies. The project was abandoned because of practical difficulties. The project was cruel by modern standards and you wouldn’t see it happening today.

Of course, compared to other animals like the horse, which was used extensively in World War I, the domestic cat has been used relatively infrequently in warfare but there are, as you can see, some notable instances.

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