Bentley

I've seen Bentley around town a few times in the last couple of years but this is the first time I've met him properly (after chasing his owner around the supermarket).

Trim

The best and most illustrious of his race

The most affectionate of friends,

faithful of servants,

and best of creatures

He made the tour of the globe,

and a voyage to Australia,

which he circumnavigated,

and was ever the delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers

Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat

This statue of Trim sits on a ledge on the facade of the State Library, directly behind the statue of his owner, Matthew Flinders. Trim was Flinders' ships cat and accompanied him on his circumnavigation of Australia.

I can never speak of cats without a sentiment of regret for my poor Trim, the favourite of all our ship's company on the Spyall. This good-natured purring animal was born on board His Majesty's ship the Roundabout in 1799 during a passage from the Cape of Good Hope to Botany Bay; and saving the rights and titles of the parish of Stepney, was consequently an Indian by birth. The signs of superior intelligence which marked his infancy, procured for him an education beyond what is usually bestowed upon the individuals of his tribe; and being brought up amongst sailors, his manners acquired a peculiarity of cant which rendered them as different from those of other cats, as the actions of a fearless seaman are from those of a lounging, shame-faced ploughboy; it was, however, from his gentleness and the innate goodness of his heart, that I gave him the name of my uncle Toby's honest, kind-hearted, humble companion. In playing with his little brothers and sisters upon deck by moonlight, when the ship was lying tranquilly in harbour, the energy and elasticity of his movements sometimes carried him so far beyond his mark, that he fell overboard; but this was far from being a misfortune; he learned to swim and to have no dread of the water; and when a rope was thrown over to him, he took hold of it like a man, and ran up it like a cat:

Read Flinders' full biographical tribute to his beloved cat.

Barracks Cats (5)

Nutmeg

Did you HAVE to wake me up?

Barracks Cats (4)

Spice guarding the props used by school groups on their interactive visits to the Hyde Park Barracks museum. They get to dress up as convicts and a couple of the museum staff dress as overseers and yell at them as they move bricks and things around and do other work that the convicts would have done. Museum visits were nowhere near as much fun when I was a kid.

Barracks Cats (3)

Spice

The Barracks Cats (2)

Some better photos of my favourite workmates.

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

The Barracks Cats

Not many workplaces have pets. The Barracks Museum is one that does. A couple of years ago a mother kitten who had recently given birth was found in the grounds. The staff were given permission to keep the mother and two of her kittens (the third kitten was adopted). The cats live in the grounds and brighten the day of many public servants, not only Barracks' staff but those from surrounding buildings. Tourists are fascinated to see them there.

Spice, the mother.

Cinnamon, her daughter.

The other "kitten" is Nutmeg who is extremely shy and, on the rare occasions that I see her, won't let me get close enough to take photos. I'll keep trying and I'll also try and get better photos of these two. Its a fact of life that as soon as you point a camera at a cat they get up and walk towards you.