Cats and Celebrities

In the rise of modern civilisation, cats have always been celebrated. In Ancient Egypt, felines were worshipped as gods and goddesses and held in such high esteem that, on death, their bodies were mummified and buried with their deceased owners. So it seems rather appropriate that many present-day (and even not-so-present-day) people who are widely admired should themselves be avid cat lovers.

Here’s a selection of the great and the good who, like everyone who works for or reads Cat Diaries, are proud to call themselves ‘cat people’.

Pope Benedict XVI – you can’t get much better than the Pope! The current occupant of the Holy See is a passionate feline fancier. Unfortunately for him, pets aren’t allowed in the Vatican, so his cat Chico stays in the Holy Father’s home town of Tübingen in Germany. According to Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, Pope Benedict doesn’t simply love cats, he ‘adores cats’!

Sir Winston Churchill – Britain’s inspirational leader during the darkest days of World War II drew much of his own inspiration from cats. One, Nelson, attended wartime Cabinet meetings, while another, Jock, a marmalade, slept and ate with Churchill. Interestingly, Churchill’s principal opponent during the war, Adolf Hitler, was terrified of cats, a trait shared by many other despots, including Napoleon, Mussolini and Genghis Khan.

Freddie Mercury – had innumerable cats throughout his life. His solo album, Mr Bad Guy, was dedicated to cat lovers the world over.

Abraham Lincoln – the celebrated and assassinated US president was the first to bring a cat, Tabby, into the White House. Many of his successors have followed suit, including Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W Bush. We wonder whether Barack Obama will soon be following suit?

Sir Isaac Newton – the man credited with ‘discovering’ gravity is also the man responsible for the cat flap. Not wanting to be disturbed while working, but also not wanting his cats to have to wait outside, Newton supposedly installed the device at his home. Sweet!

John Lennon – The Beatles genius simply couldn’t imagine a world without cats. Wife Yoko Ono was also a fan. Lennon’s favourite cat was named after the man who had most inspired him to make music: Elvis.

Matthew Flinders – The celebrated seafarer had a cat called Trim, who became the first feline to circumnavigate Australia.

Whitney Houston – the diva’s diva has a cat named Marilyn Miste.

Billie Joe Armstrong – Green Day’s front man makes a hero out of his moggy, Zero.

Emma Watson – just like her character Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter movies, Miss Watson is a cat fan. She has two – Bubbles and Domino.

Isn’t it refreshing to know you’re in such good company!