Cats were taken on ships as far back as the ancient Egyptians, so that they could hunt birds in the coastal thickets of the Nile. And later they found a practical use for them. Merchant ships transporting grain, suffered losses from the invasion of mice and rats, that's when they remembered about fluffy mousetraps. After all, rodents not only destroyed grain and spoiled rigging, but also were carriers of infection.

So it turns out that cats, destroying mice and rats, saved the lives of sailors. And besides, they were a living reminder of a warm and cozy home.

A black cat is a symbol of good luck

Over time, cats became constant companions of sailors on long voyages. It was believed that these animals could influence the fate of people and ships. Therefore, seafarers tried to create good living conditions for them. Especially in sea wanderings valued polydactyl cats, that is, those with more than five toes on their paws. It was such cats that were originally called ship cats.

It should be said that in the history of seafaring at different times, cats were exalted to sainthood and then lowered to the hell of hell.

In the X-XI centuries, English sailors were especially popular with black-colored cats: they were like a guarantee that the voyage would be safe. And if, God forbid, the ship was in distress, first of all cats were saved, and then everything else. Sailors' wives also had black cats at home to protect their husbands from death.

Sailors have many omens and superstitions connected with cats. In Russia, for example, on a new ship the first cat was launched: it cleansed the ship from the unclean force. In China, the character Mao ("cat") depicted on the sails and other equipment of ships, as it was considered a symbol of longevity. But in Japan, on the contrary, the word "cat" sailors were forbidden to say - it could anger the wind gods.

Japanese sailors also took cats on the voyage, but only red ones and only as a sacrifice. If there was a storm, it was necessary to throw a red cat overboard to get the raging elements indulgence.

But for sailors from other countries it was considered bad luck to see a cat or a cat that had fallen overboard. It was thought to cause a terrible storm. And even if the ship survived the fight with the elements, it would be cursed for 9 years.

Often the ship's cats served as meteorologists. A whiskered one washes his face against his fur, it's hail. If he sneezes, it's rain. He runs too fast on the deck - get ready for a hurricane.

Careless mom

In May 1914, the Canadian passenger liner Empress of Ireland wrecked on the St. Lawrence River. The loss of life surpassed the infamous Titanic. After the Titanic tragedy, the ship was equipped with special equipment capable of timely detecting the threat from icebergs. A special device of the hold provided protection from flooding. It would seem that everything was provided, but... the ship perished, and with it 1,032 passengers. Due to the fog that thickened during the night, it collided with a Norwegian dry cargo ship carrying coal to Montreal.

Maybe the tragedy could have been prevented if people had paid attention to the strange behavior of the ship's cat. Emmy, a red striped cat, had lived on the ship for two years and loved traveling. Shortly before her last voyage, she gave birth to kittens. Emmy was a good mother and never let her cubs out of her sight. But on that May day, half an hour before sailing, the animal went crazy. With a frantic meow Emmy rushed down the gangway to the shore, forgetting about her kittens. One of the stewards, thinking that the cat was frightened by someone, brought her back to the ship. But soon she was sitting on the dock again. There she also met rescuers carrying the bodies of those killed in the shipwreck.

On the Empress of Ireland, Frank Tower (Lucky Tower) served in the engine room, earning his nickname for his extraordinary luck. He managed to survive the disaster of the "Titanic", he survived and this time, and later rescued from the torpedoed "Lusitania". Sailors are superstitious people, and they could not help but be concerned about the strange behavior of the ship's cat. They did not dare to report it to the captain, but Tauer was asked why the cat had left the ship. Frank replied that it did not bode well, but, on the other hand, a cat is not a rat. And people should not run away from the ship, it will be difficult for panic-stricken people to find work. Besides, you can't escape your fate. These words turned out to be fatal for the majority of passengers and crew.