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Museum Cats 1

Canadian Rodent Control Officers

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax, Nova Scotia

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Canadian Wendy Findley, a visitor to Purr 'n' Fur, mentioned that the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has two cats that perform mousing duties. We contacted the Museum and received a reply from Richard MacMichael, Coordinator of Visitor Services, who confirmed that there are indeed two Rodent Control Officers, to give them their correct title, and kindly sent some details.

CSS Acadia is a retired hydrographic survey vessel that was moved in 1981 to the museum's wharves, where she is now on permanent display, and the ship provides a base for the cats. The story began with Nannie, a beautiful black female who was the first holder of the post shortly after the Museum opened in the early 1980s. She gave birth to a litter of kittens on board Acadia, which guaranteed her and the museum some great media publicity! However, Nannie later went missing during an 'Atlantic Bowl' weekend (regional semi-finals of the Canadian University Association's football championships) in November 1984 and was never seen again. She loved prowling the waterfront, so maybe she was picked up and taken home by a student; anyway it's hoped that's what happened and that she did not suffer some more sinister fate. 'We've made a complete search of the piers and even the Acadia lifeboats twice . . . she hides there sometimes when there are a lot of people around. This is the first time she's ever gone away from the ship,' said the museum curator at the time. Even her long-time 'beau' — a scruffy tomcat called Seaman Stumpf — was said to have been looking for her, but all to no avail, and what became of her remains a mystery.

Nannie was succeeded by a black-and-white cat resembling Sylvester of cartoon fame — or some felt, says Richard, that with his snaggle tooth and purposeful swagger he could be the feline reincarnation of Elvis Presley! He came from the local animal shelter, and was all set to be named 'Lady Bilgewater' when someone noticed that he was definitely male! He therefore became Bertram Q. Bilgewater — or just plain Bert to all and sundry. Bert was a champion hunter of vermin and pigeons — even the odd seagull — and defended his patch vigorously against canine intruders, but enjoyed having a fuss made of him, too. He became quite a local celebrity, at one time the most photographed cat in Atlantic Canada — and he loved the regular snacks from visitors that his fame brought him.

Sad to relate, Bert was found on deck one morning having had some kind of seizure; his fight for life was followed day by day in the local newspaper, the Chronicle Herald, but he died a week or so later. A tribute was written to celebrate his years of service to the Museum and the pleasure he had given to the people of Halifax. The photo shows him relaxing on the quayside on one of his occasional trips ashore.

Enter Clara, one of the present RCOs, who came also from the animal rescue centre but seems to be more interested in food than in hunting! She spends quite a lot of time at a café near the museum, where she's given many treats, but folk at the Visitor Information Centre feed her too. As a result, says Richard, 'She is now quite huge, but still attractive in a Marilyn Monroe/Diana Dors sort of way.' Her photos certainly show her looking very glamorous.

Erik the Red, the second of the current RCOs, arrived appropriately enough on Canada Day 2000, during the Tall Ships Regatta, which was being held that year in Halifax. He was a little ginger kitten, probably only some three months old, who was 'hanging around the gangplank looking thin and a little dirty and grungy'. Calls to local animal shelters gave no clues and no one claimed him, so as Erik seemed to have decided he liked the place, he stayed and was given a new yellow collar and identity tag. Stephen Read, assistant shipkeeper who lives on board, took on responsibility for the new arrival, who soon started to earn his keep by catching and killing a rat that had been annoying the crew — and he then deposited it in Steve's shoe!

However in early August 2000, just five weeks after joining, Erik disappeared and it was thought he had been 'cat-napped'. The story has a happy ending, though. It turned out that he had been found, meowing, hungry and minus his collar, outside the Bank of Montreal building in downtown Halifax early on the morning after he had vanished. How he got there is a mystery, but it's thought someone probably picked him up and left him there, for whatever reason. He was found by a lady parking her car as she came into work; thinking he seemed lost or abandoned, she took him to her office in the Department of Justice, where he curled up on the photocopier and slept. 'He was just waiting,' she said. 'He seemed so desperate; I couldn't just leave him there.'

He went home with her at the end of the day and met her partner and their cat Stanley. It wasn't until some days later that a secretary at the Department of Justice heard about Erik's disappearance from the Museum and put two and two together. After a phone call in which Erik 'spoke' to Steve and had his 'meow' recognised, the cat was reunited with his delighted owner some ten days after his adventure had begun. 'It's wonderful,' said Steve. 'It's like a family reunion'. The pair are shown in the photo, with the CSS Acadia in the background (photo courtesy of Darren Pittman/Herald Photo). Photos of Erik are rare, as he's a demon hunter with real 'attitude', and is usually much too busy for photo opportunities!

Erik and Clara tolerate each other most of the time, except when he wants to sit in her sunny spot, and bites her — she retaliates by eating his food as well as her own. In 2007 Clara was reported to be 'bigger than ever'!

These two museum cats have even had a short video film made about them which, courtesy of YouTube and with the permission of the museum, can be viewed below (just click on the arrow inside the still to begin playback).

Latest adventure: Early on the morning of 14 December 2007, arriving museum staff were greeted by the news that a member of the public had reported that a cat had been seen in the water in the harbour. Boatbuilder Eamonn Doorly rapidly launched a small boat, and with the aid of security officer Jason Muise managed to fish out the cat — which turned out to be Erik! As it was below freezing at the time, Erik has used up at least one of his nine lives. He seems to have been investigating some work on the waterfront when he fell in. Once ashore he 'took off', and a search party found him recovering at the offices of the Daily News, where staff know him well and were drying him off and comforting him. For this story and an excellent account of all the museum's mascots, see this page. Thanks again to Richard for keeping us informed.

With many thanks and acknowledgements to Richard MacMichael of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax, NS.

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Our featured feline at the head of the page is Socks, pictured in 2003 surveying his 'estate' in the early morning sunshine. Affectionately known as Soxy, he blossomed from a thin and hungry stray into a substantial and handsome cat who loved life and company, and his gentle ways endeared him to many friends. He is now no longer with us, but you can read more from his human companion here.

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