Famous Cat Heroes Who Made a Difference

The heroism of cats are documented in history, but their acts of courage, dedication, inspiration and bravery aren't as well known as the heroism of dogs. Cat heroes touched and inspired the people who knew their story. Because of their actions, people were given hope and lives were saved. The majority of felines are everyday cats that go through life with no major events to elevate them above the rest. But every now and then, a cat hero is recognized because such an event did occur. I learned years ago, it's wise to pay attention to what a cat is trying to tell you. They may know more than you realize.

Faith lived in St Augustine's Church in London. She became a cat hero during a dark period in history for the residents of London. Faith had tried several times to get into the church, but was found by the church attendant each time and tossed back outside. She finally saw her chance and raced past the attendant unnoticed. Not long after making the church her home, Father Henry Ross, the pastor, discovered Faith roaming through the church. Luckily for Faith, Father Ross was a cat lover and he adopted her as the church cat. She would lay at his feet while he conducted his sermons and she became well known to the congregation. Faith had found a home and she received care and attention from everyone.

She gave birth to one kitten named Panda. Born in 1940, Panda's birth was a joyous event for everyone in the church and before long, Faith began bringing Panda along with her to lay at Father Ross's feet while he preached each Sunday. One day, for no apparent reason, Faith moved Panda into the basement which was cold. No one could convince her to come back upstairs where it was warmer. The next night and for days after, London was bombed. Faith patiently waited in the basement with Panda as the church was destroyed around them. Both survived their ordeal and as word of Faith's bravery and devotion to Panda began to spread throughout London, the people were inspired by a cat hero who lived in a church. People found hope through Faith's steadfast loyalty to her kitten and it helped them endure the bombs that destroyed their city during WW II. On October 12, 1945, the Archbishop of Canterbury awarded Faith a special silver medal made just for her to honor her heroism.

Simon is considered to be the most famous cat heroes of modern warfare. In April, 1949, Simon was aboard a British ship as their mascot, the HMS Amethyst, as it sailed up the Yangtze River in China to aid another British ship. The Yangtze Incident was a 101 day siege of the Chinese civil war. While on their way up the river, they were boarded by Communists troops where a battle broke out on deck. Simon received multiple injuries during the battle, but he didn't let shrapnel in his back or legs stop him from his duties as the ship's rat catcher. Simon is credited with protecting and saving the ship's food supply from rats while the HMS Amethyst was held by the Chinese. While on his rounds, Simon added an extra stop and began visiting the wounded soldiers to help cheer them up. Seeing a wounded cat on rat patrol who continued to visit his wounded shipmates helped boost the moral of all the sailors aboard the ship.

As the story of the ship's cat hero spread, Simon became famous and he was awarded the Dickens Award which is given to animals for their bravery. It's considered as prestiges as the Victoria Cross and was the first and only time this award was given to a cat. Simon died in 1949 shortly after the Amethyst returned to it's British port. He was buried with honors at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford, Essex with the rank of able seaman.

Andrew the cat served as a mascot with the Allied Forces Mascot Club. His contribution to the war was well known to those serving with him. He knew when a bomb was about to explode nearby. When he took cover, everyone around him knew they'd better find cover as well.

Oscar was another modern warfare famous cat hero, but he was better known as Unsinkable Sam. Oscar served on three different ships during WW II. The Bismark, Ark Royal and the Cossack. Each of these ships were torpedoed and sank. Oscar went down with each ship, but managed to survive each sinking.

Scarlet was known by cat lovers worldwide. She was a stray cat who had been living in an abandoned garage in New York in 1996. As fire consumed the garage, the firemen noticed a cat who kept going back into the burning building and returning with a kitten dangling from her mouth. Five times, Scarlett braved the flames to retrieve her family. Despite being severely burned and blistered around her eyes and ears and with singed hair and feet, Scarlett never once abandoned her kittens and because of her devotion and bravery, each kitten was carried to safety. Unfortunately, one kitten didn't survive, but the other four were adopted after recovering. Scarlet also survived and was adopted by a family living in Brooklyn where she died October 11, 2008.

In Long Island, an award is given to animals who put their life on the line to help others, whether they are human or animal. Scarlett was a cat hero who touched our hearts and The Scarlett Award for Animal Heroism is presented annually to a deserving animal hero.

Cat Heros, kittens-lair.net

Stoat, Officers' Tribute to Cat Hero, Free Republic

Larry McShane, Scarlett, the cat that saved kittens from 1996 Brooklyn fire, dies, NYDailyNews.com