On board !

This post is also available in : French German Italian

Meow Like A Pirate Day 2016

Thanks to Ann from Zoolatry for the graphic

bateau pirate

Image Pixabay

polydactyl paw

Image Wikimedia Commons

Today, it’s Talk Like A Pirate Day, and we chose to tell you about pirate cats.

The cat was very useful to eliminate the rats which teemed on boat, but nevertheless, his reputation remained ambiguous.

In Brittany, you should not see a cat before leaving on sea at the risk of seeing your trip cancelled. A black cat brought bad luck to French people, but he was welcome on board by English people. He was common to have also one at home, because we believed that nothing would arrive at the sailor as long as the cat would be fed well and be safe.

If a cat embarked by himself, he was accepted on the ship, because his eviction risked to provoke storms. We also thought that if the cat of the ship was thrown overboard, a storm would get up and a terrible bad luck would follow.

If the cat of the ship approached a sailor, it was a sign of good luck. But if the cat turned back before arriving towards the sailor, this one knew that a misfortune would soon arrive to him.

Pirates thought that cats could predict the weather. A cat who waved his tail announced a storm, a cat who sneezed announced the rain, a playful cat announced a lively wind, a cat who licked himself against the grain announced a storm of hail. Some sailors claimed that a cat was more reliable than a barometer.

Polydactiles cats were considered as very lucky. We believed that their additional fingers made them better mousers and allowed them to have a better balance in case of reeling.

Be ye ready fer boardin’ ?
Zorro is ready for boarding.

29 thoughts on “On board !”

  6. easy rider

    isn’t that crazy that the french sailors refused to have a cat on board, but the most famous piratesse was named La Tigresse – a cat :O) Awwhoy let’s ride all 7 seas and lets have a bottle of rum!

  13. da tabbies o trout towne

    what a fun fun post two day guys !!! thanx for sharin ~~~~~~

    blimey buckoz; a draught two all ye bucaneerz N hearties spesh a lee sum nelsonz folly ~~~ ♥♥♥♥

  17. Nellie (who use to be the cat from hell)

    Wowwzers! and Avast Maties!!!
    What a interesting post about cats on ships! Mes leaned a lot!
    Wes sorry wes not commented a lot over the last week. Mommy has been sleep deprived between work, traveling to get Cinnamon, Kozmo and Jo Jo. Wes gotted behind.
    Kisses
    Nellie, Kozmo, Cinnamon and Jo Jo

  21. Mark's Mews

    TBT here: I loved those. Sailors were superstitious people (humans who are not in control of situations usually are, and few forces of nature are more constantly out of human control than the oceans). The colors and actions of cats (among the more mysterious of animals humans have frequent contact with) as interpreted by humans ranges from good to evil for the same actions and appearances. Shows what WE know, LOL!

    I laughed (in a sad way) about a ship’s cat being thrown overboard causing bad luck and storms. Well, it wasn’t so good for the cat either! So at least whoever threw it offship DESERVED some punishment…

    There are some animals that have similarities to cats. Rats and weasels are intelligent, are hunters, and do well nocturnally. But which would you want curling up on your lap, licking your plate, and trusted to use a litterbox? LOL!

  29. Robin

    I love your pirate photo, Zorro! You make a great pirate. 🙂 It is amazing how superstitious sailors are! At least cats were seen in a favorable light by them.

Comments are closed.