Purr-n-Fur UK | Cats in Wartime | On Land and in the Air

Cats played important roles in the military during World War 1.

According to research results:

The British army employed 500,000 cats as gas detectors and ratters in the trenches during World War I.

Cats were often welcomed aboard ships and in military barracks to help with rodent control and prevent the spread of disease. They were able to squeeze into tight spaces that humans could not access.

Cats also served as mascots and companions for soldiers, providing comfort and stress relief amidst the hardships of war.

Some cats were even used to carry messages between enemy lines during the Christmas Truce of 1914, though one cat named Felix was executed for this by French officers who saw it as an act of treason.

Cats were able to detect poisonous gas attacks more quickly than humans, alerting nearby troops to put on their protective gear.

Cats played a variety of important roles for the military during World War I, from rodent control to serving as mascots and even gas detectors.