Archive for April, 2021

1899: Tom the Terror, the Brooklyn-Born Ship Cat of the United States Navy

Posted: 25th April 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Mascots, Seafaring Cats
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Tom the Terror was reportedly a noted figure in the United States Navy. He came from a long line of naval cats, having been born on the Cob Deck at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1896. All of his siblings and cousins had also honorably served the United States Navy as rat killers and mascots.

1895: Dolph, the Fine Cat “Goated Into” a Tight Spot at the East Harlem Ice Palace

Posted: 12th April 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Stories, Cats in the Mews
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Dolph the cat could do many tricks, but his skills did not come in handy when a goat led him into the Ice Palace Skating Rink on East 107th Street, where he was stuck without food and water for eight days.

1908: Pete, The Test Pilot Cat of the Junior Aero Club Who Refused to Fly

Posted: 6th April 2021 by The Hatching Cat in Cat Stories, Cats in the Mews
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On April 4, 1908, the members of the Junior Aero Club held a meeting on the roof of 282 Ninth Avenue near 26th Street. This six-story building was then a factory owned by A. Leo Stevens, where he made dirigible balloons. The purpose of the meeting was “to liberate” about 200 rubber balloons and several larger balloons and small airplanes that the young boys had made from tissue paper and canvas.

On this particular day, there was a cat named Pete on the roof. I don’t know how Pete came to be on this roof, but apparently he was the pet of one of the members or organizers of the Junior Aero Club. He was also the club’s unwilling test pilot.