I know their primary role was to get rid of the rats and mice on board, and as such the need for a cat has probably died out, but wondered if they might keep them on for tradition or somesuch?
Thanks!
2007-01-19 01:22:31 · 9 answers · asked by DaveyMcB 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
DaveyMcB,
If you are referring to the Royal Navy, no, they are not supposed to.
They were formally banned, along with other animals, from HM ships in 1975.
(However, HMS Lancaster famously had a parrot as recently as last year, see below link, so go figure!)
Cats were always the most popular form of pets on board ships, largely for their rat and mice catching ability.
The most famous Navy cat was Simon from HMS Amethyst who won the Dickin Medal for his role in the Yangtze Incident in 1949. See Wikipedia link below for a great story.
2007-01-19 04:03:04 · answer #1 · answered by Dolphin76 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, they no longer keep actual cats on board.
However, most ships have a "ship's cat" which is usually the newest or youngest member on board. They have a ceremonial role at official dinners and such like and also get stuck with most of the worst jobs. A lot of military regiments also have this tradition, notably the Royal Signals.
2007-01-19 04:38:29 · answer #2 · answered by Fifi L'amour 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aus ships have a moist and dry canteen, moist is for off accountability sailors, 2 cans in accordance to guy perday perchance. continuously closed even as military on board for some reason, with accountability loose costs besides.
2016-10-15 10:56:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, in my time at sea (1985-1999) there were no pets allowed aboard US Naval vessels.
My brother though kept Cruiser and Digby (pound-kitties) aboard his 40ft sailboat "Despina" as the vessel's crew. Both cats went around the world and across the equator.
2007-01-19 01:37:59 · answer #4 · answered by mariner31 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Iny my experiences in the Navy, I never saw a cat on any of the ships. Maybe, one this is one tradition not keeping, too big of a nuesence.
2007-01-19 01:26:22 · answer #5 · answered by Eric 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They don't keep cats in the British Navy now either, but I know of one instance where they still had a mouser in 1969 on a British vessel.
I starred your question because it's one of those neat things to know! Good question!
2007-01-19 01:37:03 · answer #6 · answered by Blitzhund 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No cats on board, but occasionaly you will find a service dog, K9 Cop, on board for drug or bomb sniffing, but thats about it.
2007-01-19 12:15:50 · answer #7 · answered by gonavy_wife 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No...Cats haven't been on US Navy ships since WWII. Those sailors have those new-fangled mouse trap thingies now.
2007-01-19 01:31:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. There are more advanced ways of taking care of pests
2007-01-19 01:27:58 · answer #9 · answered by twoskinsoneman 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋