petMD Pays Tribute to 4 Cats Who Served During a War

Able Seacat Simon

On this Veteran's Day, petMD, a leading online resource focused on the health of pets, pays tribute to four cats who served their countries during war time.

Crimean Tom: During the Crimean War when the French and British armies seized a Russian port in 1854, Tom the cat helped the troops locate a much needed stockpile of food that the Russians had hidden. He was considered a hero and the English brought him home after the war.

Tiddles the Cat on board the HMS Victorious reporting for duty. He liked to play with the bell rope. (Image via Wikipedia)

Tiddles: Was the Captain's cat on the HMS Victorious. He spent his entire life on board Royal Navy aircraft carriers. petMD reports that "he is one of the reasons the black cat is considered good luck in Great Britain."

Simon's burial place

Able Seacat Simon worked as a ratter on the Royal Navy's HMS Amethyst. He was badly wounded when Chinese communists fired at the ship on the Yangtze River, but he survived and went back to his duties. He received two awards for his service including the Dicken Medal for bravery. He is the only cat to have received this medal. He was buried with full naval honors.

Pfc. Hammer: Served in a unit with the US Army in Iraq as a mouser and companion to the troops. The Egyptian Mau cat was made an honorary member of the unit. For his service and dedication, the troops arranged to have Hammer brought home after their deployment. The cat is now living in Colorado with the staff sergeant who worked to bring him to the states.

Credits:
Able Seacat Simon photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Able_Seacat_Simon.jpg
Tiddles photo: Parnall, C H (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Simon's resting spot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Simon_(Able_Seacat).jpg