A cunning spy, guardian of the Otherworld, dark spirit, witch, or fairy: these are just a few of the roles that felines play in the legends and tales of Celtic mythology.

The cat was the guardian of the Celtic Otherworld (the Celtic version of the Ancient Greek or Roman Underworld).  To the Celts, cats exhibited a vast intelligence, and were said to guard their secrets for all eternity.

With a reputation for intelligence and secret-keeping, the cats of Celtic mythology supposedly possessed the ability to steal souls – an unfortunate characteristic that contributes to the idea that cats are ‘dark’ or ‘evil’. In order to protect the soul of the recently deceased, Celts would distract the cat with unanswered riddles. The idea was that the curious feline would ponder the riddle, and either forget about the soul or waste the time available to collect it. Another method was to place catnip away from the body to lead the cat away, or to entertain the cat by playing a “coronach” or funeral lament.

One interesting tale is that of the King of Cats. There are numerous stories in Celtic mythology depicting its various incarnations including a brief mention by William Shakespeare, but one well-known depiction is titled, ‘The Farmer’s Cat’. The story goes that one evening a farmer was travelling home when he witnessed eight cats carrying a coffin. The coffin beheld a royal shield, and the cats were chanting that the King of Cats was dead. When the farmer arrived home, he told his wife what he had seen, and their cat promptly cried, “Old Tom is dead? Then I must be King!” And the cat vanished up their chimney.
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Another prominent feline figure of Celtic mythology is Cat Sìth or Cat Sidhe (both pronounced ‘caught shee’). The cat—whose name translates to “fairy cat”—is said to appear in the form of a large black cat with a white spot on its chest. Folklore explains that the cat was in fact a witch who could transform into a cat eight times. Upon transforming the ninth time the witch was trapped in her cat form – a tale that most attribute to the legend of a cat having ‘nine lives’. It was also said that on Samhain (or Halloween) that leaving out a saucer of milk for Cat Sìth would result in a gift from the mythical feline. If Cat Sìth were to pass your house and found no milk the cat would instead curse your cows.

Most speculate that the legend of Cat Sìth is based on a real-life species of cat: the Kellas cat. Native to Scotland, the Kellas cat is a hybrid between the Scottish wildcat and the domestic cat, and was named for the village where it was first found. Originally thought to be pure folklore, the cat features a large stature and black fur – the latter thought to have contributed to its mythical associations. Several specimens of the Kellas cat can be seen today at the National Museum of Scotland.

In the 2013/2014 year 120,000 out of 125,000 cats were left unclaimed in Australian pounds. Over half of those cats were euthanised.

Finding a family can be extremely difficult for a cat, as they are far less likely to be adopted compared to their canine counterparts. Adult and senior cats face further difficulty, as potential owners are more often swayed by the adorable eyes of young kittens.

Many charitable and welfare organisations attempt to encourage animal lovers to adopt adult felines with campaigns and promotions. In 2016 PetRescue launched their, ‘Meow's The Time Cat Campaign’ where adoptions of adult cats came with a reduced fee. A RSPCA shelter in South Australia launched a similar campaign in 2018 with lower adoption fees and extended operating hours.

Another method spreading across the websites of such organisations are articles like this one: that promote the positives involved with adopting an adult cat while raising awareness of the resulting tragic consequences when numerous adult cats are left unclaimed.

While there are many reasons as to why cats are left in or find their way to shelters or pounds some of these reasons include maintaining costs, changes in an owner's life, and the mismatching of lifestyles between an owner and their pet.

These particular reasons are unfortunate considering they are often attributed to the positives of adult cat adoption. For example, while a young kitten requires spaying or neutering, immunisations, and other expensive costs an adult cat has already been given most or all of these procedures. Cats that are older have also had the time to learn good habits such as litter box training – more than one kitten owner can tell you the costs and time involved after your beloved kitty decides to “go” on your carpet.

Adult cats have also long developed their personalities and preferences meaning that the cat you meet in a shelter or pound is most likely the demeanour, size, and personality of the cat you take home. This can come as a relief to potential cat adoptees, as they will be likely matched with a pet that suits their lifestyle.

An adult cat's personality also tends to be on the less energetic side. While a young kitten might run around at night, scratch up furniture out of boredom, or exhibit anxiety from being left alone an elder cat is often quite content to relax or amuse itself, or sleep peacefully at its owner’s feet.

Adult cats—due to their maturity, previous families, and past experiences—are also usually familiar with humans, other pets, and children of varying ages. This means that the usual dramatic changes in an owner's life (such as a new baby or new pet) tend to not affect an adult cat in the same potential negative way the same situation would affect a young kitten. The wisdom and patience an adult cat possesses is also a huge benefit to those with young children – an adult cat will not be as easily startled or prone to accidental incidents (scratching for instance) that are characteristic of a playful kitten.
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Besides these benefits there is of course one final, crucial point. An adult cat often faces its last chance in a shelter or pound. While the number of cats facing euthanasia has gone down PetRescue estimates that number remains in the 100,000s. Countless studies prove that cats have long memories. The trauma and negative experiences of their past or the walls of a pound do not need to be their final memories. Adult cats are waiting to find love and safety: if only given the chance.

​With the first cat appearing on YouTube in 2005 the accomplishments of famous felines extend far beyond the well-known humour of the simple cat video.

In September 2012 a cat named ‘Tartar Sauce’ rose to fame when her owner’s brother posted the cat’s picture on Reddit. Dwarfism and an under bite gave the cat a trademark scowl, and after a YouTube video proved her expression’s authenticity the cat's fame—known thereafter as, ‘Grumpy Cat’—grew from countless memes and newspaper articles to television and talk show appearances, sponsorships, and even a job at Buzzfeed.

While social media continues to propel the modern cat to stardom famous cats have long made headlines by other means.

In March 1996, the story of Scarlett—a cat with five kittens—made international headlines when she carried each of her kittens out of a fire that had broken out in an abandoned garage in Brooklyn, New York. It was reported that Scarlett’s eyes were so severely blistered from the fire that after rescuing her kittens she touched each of them with her nose, “to ensure they were all there”, and then promptly collapsed.

Other cats made famous by their bravery and bizarre circumstances include Simon of the HMS Amethyst as well as a cat known as Unsinkable Sam.  In World War Two the remarkable Unsinkable Sam allegedly survived the sinking of not one, not two, but three ships over the course of six months. Whilst ship's cat, Simon protected the food stores from rats aboard the HMS Amethyst while the ship remained trapped in enemy waters and under fire for over two months – a feat that made Simon the only feline to earn the PDSA Dickin medal for bravery.

As incredible as the thought of a cat in a sea-battle is, cats have also found appointments in equally astounding positions all over the world.

Since the 1500's the English government has kept a ‘Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office’ (Larry), in order to quell their recurring rodent problem. In 1963, Félicette was the first and only cat to successfully go into space. Appearing on Time magazine’s website, Cooper from Seattle has claimed fame for becoming a photographer – a digital camera on his collar allowing the cat to document his adventures. Finally this year Buzzfeed hailed the character of the cat ‘Goose’ as the star of Captain Marvel – the release of a video depicting the feline readying himself for the red carpet premiere only furthered the cat’s popularity.

It seems the ability to capture the interest and admiration of the ever-curious public is a talent the feline species has down to an art form. And as for that simple cat video? Fret not. For as of 2015 the combined view count of all of YouTube's cat videos comes to a grand total of over 24 billion.

The RSPCA estimates that there are 3.9 million pet cats across Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare from 2017 to 2018 approximately 229,000 people, “began using aged care services” with two thirds of that number receiving residential care.
When entering such care, it is a sad truth that many pets are not permitted to accompany their beloved owners. Sabine Kloss, spokesperson for the Animal Welfare League, stated that one of the hardest responsibilities that falls to their organisation is to assist elderly pet-lovers in surrendering their furry companions.

Besides the obvious companionship that a pet provides, studies have shown that animals—such as cats—have had profound positive effects on both mental well-being and the often tragic symptoms of aging.

The Australian Companion Animal Council’s report, ‘The Power of Pets’ found that professionals had been examining the positive affect pets can have on humans since the 1960's. This report—and others like it—have demonstrated the direct positive impact cats and other pets can have on a person’s quality of life.

One example is the simple act of petting a cat. Doing so stabilises the heart, which prevents the rise of blood pressure – a common health concern among the elderly. Pets have also been proven to increase morale and reduce mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, and depression.

With an estimated 49% of Australian aged care residents suffering from depression it is a wonder that more facilities do not allow their residents to reap the benefits of pet care or (at least) pet visitation.

Seasons Aged Care, a pet-friendly aged care home in Queensland, has seen these benefits in action. Pet care alone requires elderly residents to groom, bathe, walk, feed, and otherwise physically care for their animals. These actions maintain joint flexibility and increase exercise and even social interaction, as reluctant residents begin to interact with other pet-lovers both in conversation and physical activity.

For those residents who are nonverbal, immobile, or without visitors, the mere presence of a gentle pet (such as a cat) can distract residents from chronic pain and loneliness. Welcoming pets into residential care facilities is one of the only permanent ways to, “deliver a noticeably improved atmosphere”, as the Animal Welfare League attests.

At Villa Maria Catholic Homes in Melbourne, dementia sufferers have also found comfort and distraction in cats and other familiar animals. As Dementia Australia explains, their organisation’s namesake can result in behaviour changes including aggression, anxiety, and resistance. Staff at Season Aged Care have reported the incredible improvement pets have had on their residents. One elderly female—who had kept cats as pets—began smiling, eating, and talking after once again interacting with the familiar species. She had previously refused to eat or drink.
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Cats and other pets can anchor residents by providing familiarity, structure, and companionship. For the family member forced to watch a loved one’s decline, the confused dementia sufferer, or the lonely resident unable to leave care: the countless benefits a pet can provide is surely an invaluable resource to aged care facilities everywhere.