Cats were well adapted to marine life, and sailors were largely responsible for their spread around the world.
These mascots, which accompanied the sailors at every moment, both because of their superstitions and because of the benefit they provided, also gave them emotional support.
They thought that cats were the most effective remedy against unwanted creatures on board.
Rats and pests; It was a big problem as crews ruined their food, chewed their equipment, and spread disease. Considering the possibilities of the 19th century, the most effective solution that came to mind was cats.
The U.S. government began purchasing cats in the 19th century and supplied them to the U.S. Navy to protect them from rats. Also in the UK, during the First World War, thousands of stray cats were collected from the cities and given to the army.
They believed that cats could control the weather with their tails.
Early sailors thought that when cats’ tails moved in a certain way, it signaled a fierce storm that would soon fall upon the ship, in which they were angry.
The crew began to monitor all the movements of the cats on their ships and saw the unusual behavior as a warning of a storm. In short, cats; They were small, furry barometers.
Cats were also the source of many superstitions.
It was believed that if a cat boarded a ship, it was a lucky charm. On the other hand, they thought that if there was a cat that decided to leave the hemisphere before sailing, it would spell disaster.
In fact, if they see two cats fighting on the pier; It meant that an angel and demon began to fight for the souls of the crew and their fates were sealed.
Cats also boosted the morale of seafarers who were homesick on long voyages.
Seafarers far from their homeland and their families, of course, needed love. Cats, on the other hand, took on this task and gave them mutual affection.
Moreover, as they were mascots loved by all sailors, they also helped to form bonds between the crew.
After the end of the Second World War, the special position held by cats on naval ships began to decline rapidly.
Due to advances in mouse and pest control; The cats’ primary job of deworming ships has become obsolete.
Cat-hating ship captains began to classify them as an ‘unnecessary distraction’, and the presence of cats now sleeping on our pillows on ships is slowly being wiped out.
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