How Many Cats Were on the Titanic? Historical Accounts

Whether you’re a history buff or a movie enthusiast, the story of the Titanic is one that we are all familiar with. A ship considered to be unsinkable, this maritime disaster in 1912 took the lives of many people as it sank during its maiden voyage.

With a few pets documented to have boarded the ship, you may wonder how many cats were on the titanic? Well, according to some accounts, there was only one adult cat named Jenny, along with her newborn litter—though there are rumors that there may have been other felines onboard as well.

Like many aspects of the Titanic, the story of Jenny and the other possible cats that may have been on board is shrouded in mystery. Here’s what we know about Jenny, the Titanic cat!

A Brief Overview of the Titanic

The Titanic was a British luxury liner and is considered one of the most famous ships in history because of its design and the tragic story that unfolded. Built by the White Star Line, the Titanic was engineered to be the largest and most luxurious ship of its era and was even considered unsinkable due to its design.

In 1912, the Titanic ventured on its maiden voyage and, tragically, failed to live up to its “unsinkable” name. The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean, taking the lives of roughly 1,500 of the 2,200 passengers onboard.

Jenny: the Titanic Cat

Most accounts of the Titanic’s felines report of Jenny and her litter. Most ships have resident cats to keep the rat and mice population under control, and Jenny was exactly that for the Titanic.

Jenny was originally the ship cat for the Titanic’s sister ship, named the Olympic. She was transferred to the Titanic and became the Titanic’s official mascot. Around one week before the Titanic’s voyage, Jenny was reported to have given birth to her litter, the only other cats reported on board the ship. As a ship cat, Jenny was free to roam around the decks as she pleased.

Jenny was reported to have lived in the galley of the ship with her litter, where they were typically fed with scraps from the kitchen by the staff. Jenny was also said to be close to the kitchen scullion, named Jim, who was considered to be her unofficial caretaker.

There are rumors that there were other cats that were smuggled on by passengers and kept hidden in their rooms or in the kennels. This speculation remains a mystery, along with many other aspects about the Titanic’s story.

Did Jenny Survive the Titanic?

As a ship cat, Jenny didn’t have the same treatment as first class pets. Some smaller pets, like a few Pomeranians, were smuggled onto a lifeboat by their owners.

Unfortunately, this suggests that Jenny and her litter of kittens didn’t make it off the boat. There were no reports of Jenny, who is presumed to be one of the casualties when the ship sank.

Jenny’s Rumored Prediction of the Titanic’s Fate

The story of the Titanic continues to fascinate people to this day. There are numerous interesting accounts about the events of the Titanic that may or may not be true, and stories of its resident cat are no exception.

This story of Jenny gives a somewhat happier ending for Jenny, her litter of kittens, and her caretaker, Jim. Legend has it that while passengers were boarding the Titanic, Jim saw Jenny helping her kittens off the ship one by one, and ultimately left the shift before it even set sail. Jim saw this as a bad omen and abandoned ship as well, saving his life.

Whether she boarded the ship or not, the fate of Jenny and her litter remains a mystery to this day.

What Other Animals Were on the Titanic?

Aside from the 2,200 passengers onboard, there were several other animals onboard, aside from Jenny the cat. First class passengers were allowed to bring pets, and there were 12 documented dogs who boarded with them. Most dogs were kept in the kennels on the ship’s F Deck, but most passengers snuck and hid their dogs in their cabins.

There were a variety of breeds reported to be on board, which includes a Chow Chow, French Bulldog, King Charles Spaniel, Airedale Terrier, Pekingese, Pomeranian, and a Newfoundlad Dog.

There were also birds, such as roosters and chickens aboard the Titanic as cargo. There were also reports of exotic birds stored in the kennel in the F Deck as well.

Like most ships, there were also rodents and mice that can be found roaming around the dining halls, which is why the Titanic needed Jenny in the first place!

Due to the lack of evidence, there may have been more cats, dogs, and even other animals aboard the Titanic.

Were There Any Animals That Survived the Titanic?

Unfortunately, most animals aboard the Titanic also did not survive, especially those in cargo or in the kennel. Most pets were also not allowed onboard the lifeboats because of their size.

There were three dogs, however, that survived the Titanic disaster, which is one story of the Titanic with a happy ending. Two Pomeranians and one Pekingese survived the sinking ship because their owner snuck them onto the lifeboat.

The Pomeranian and Pekingese are small breeds of dog, which can easily be carried and concealed. The story tells us of three first-class passengers that were able to smuggle their tiny dogs onto the lifeboats by wrapping them in blankets or hiding them in a basket.

The number of passengers boarding the lifeboats were heavily controlled to keep the raft from sinking due to the weight on the boat. Luckily for the Pomeranian and Pekingese, they were small and light enough to secretly fit on the boats with their owners.

Conclusion

In order to control the rat and mice population on the ship, the Titanic also had a resident cat named Jenny, who lived on the boat with her litter of kittens. As a ship cat, she was free to roam around the ship and had no owner, save for her unofficial caretaker, Jim. Aside from Jenny and her kittens, there may have also been other cats onboard in the kennel.

Depending on the account, Jenny may or may not have been on the Titanic when it set sail. Whether or not Jenny survived, her story remains a fascinating tale as the Titanic at.

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Featured Image Credit: Iryna Kuznetsova, Shutterstock