19 Famous People In History Who Had A Soft Spot For Cats
History books are packed with people who look untouchable on the page. Great leaders, celebrated writers, fearless artists, serious thinkers.
Then you hear a small detail that changes the whole picture: a cat sleeping on their desk, a favorite pet waiting at the door, a stubborn little shadow that followed them around like it owned the place.
That kind of affection is oddly revealing, because cats don’t care about titles or reputations. They show up, take the best seat, and expect to be adored anyway. Plenty of famous figures fell for that exact routine, and it’s easy to see why.
This list takes a warmer, more human angle on big names, and it all starts with whiskers.
Disclaimer: Examples in the list are based on commonly repeated historical accounts, biographies, letters, and widely cited anecdotes, and some pet stories can vary in detail depending on the source; the content is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes.
1. Ernest Hemingway
Polydactyl cats stole this Nobel Prize-winning author’s heart completely. A ship captain gifted him a six-toed feline, and Hemingway became absolutely obsessed with these unique creatures.
His Key West home became a sanctuary for dozens of these special cats. Today, around 50 descendants of his original polydactyl cats still roam the property as living legends.
Visitors from around the globe come to meet these famous felines. The cats enjoy celebrity status and free reign of the entire estate!
2. Mark Twain
Nineteen cats shared this American literary giant’s home at one point.
Twain gave his feline friends wonderfully bizarre names like Apollinaris, Beelzebub, and Blatherskite that reflected his quirky sense of humor.
He once declared that if humans could be crossed with cats, it would improve people but degrade cats. His love for felines appeared throughout his writings and personal letters.
Twain believed cats possessed superior intelligence and dignity. He found their independent nature absolutely captivating and endlessly entertaining!
3. Winston Churchill
Britain’s wartime Prime Minister found solace in his beloved orange cat named Jock. Churchill refused to dine without his feline companion present at the table, making Jock a fixture at official meals.
Jock provided emotional support during the darkest days of World War II. The cat’s calming presence helped Churchill manage the immense stress of leading a nation through crisis.
After Churchill passed away, his will specified that an orange cat named Jock must always live at Chartwell. Today, Jock VI continues this touching tradition!
4. Charles Darwin
Evolution’s greatest mind spent considerable time studying feline behavior and expressions.
Darwin kept detailed notes about his cats’ emotions, communication methods, and social interactions for his scientific research.
His observations of cats contributed significantly to his groundbreaking work on animal emotions. Darwin recognized that cats displayed complex feelings similar to humans, challenging Victorian-era assumptions.
He particularly enjoyed watching kittens play and learn. These observations helped shape his theories about instinct, learning, and behavioral development across species!
5. Edgar Allan Poe
A tortoiseshell cat named Catarina became this master of macabre’s constant writing companion. Poe’s wife, Virginia, adored the cat, who would sit on her shoulders to keep her warm during her illness.
Catarina reportedly sat on Poe’s shoulder while he wrote his haunting tales. The cat’s mysterious presence perfectly matched the dark, atmospheric mood of his Gothic stories.
Some scholars believe Catarina inspired elements of “The Black Cat.” Though the story is terrifying, it shows Poe’s deep understanding of feline nature and behavior!
6. Benjamin Franklin
America’s founding genius appreciated cats for their practical pest-control abilities and charming personalities. Franklin kept cats in his printing shop to protect valuable paper and books from destructive rodents.
However, he grew genuinely fond of his feline employees over time. Franklin wrote letters mentioning his cats’ antics and the comfort they provided during long working hours.
His scientific curiosity extended to observing cat behavior and reflexes. Franklin found their independent spirit and cleverness remarkably similar to his own philosophical outlook on life!
7. Marie Antoinette
France’s controversial queen lavished attention on her pampered Turkish Angora cats at Versailles. These elegant, longhaired felines received jeweled collars and slept on silk cushions in the royal chambers.
Legend suggests Marie Antoinette attempted to smuggle her beloved cats to America during the French Revolution. While she never made the journey, some believe her cats did, possibly founding the Maine Coon breed.
Her cats symbolized the extreme luxury of French court life. They dined on specially prepared meals and had servants dedicated to their care!
8. Freddie Mercury
Queen’s legendary frontman dedicated his 1985 album to his cats, writing “For Jerry and all the cat lovers across the universe.”
Mercury owned up to ten cats simultaneously and treated them like his children.
He would telephone home from tour stops worldwide just to speak to his felines. His partner held the phone to each cat’s ear while Freddie meowed and talked to them lovingly.
Mercury even wrote a solo song called “Delilah” about his favorite tortoiseshell cat. His London home featured numerous cat portraits and photographs throughout every room!
9. Florence Nightingale
The founder of modern nursing owned over 60 cats throughout her remarkable lifetime. Nightingale found that caring for cats provided therapeutic relief from the emotional toll of her demanding medical work.
Her favorite feline, a large Persian named Mr. Bismarck, traveled with her everywhere. She believed cats possessed healing qualities and often brought them to comfort patients in hospitals.
Nightingale observed that patients recovered faster with feline companionship nearby.
Her pioneering work included recognizing the psychological benefits of animal therapy decades before it became accepted practice!
10. Abraham Lincoln
America’s 16th President was possibly the first cat-loving Commander-in-Chief. Lincoln’s wife Mary once complained that cats were his “hobby,” as he constantly brought strays into the White House.
During the Civil War, Lincoln found three orphaned kittens in General Grant’s camp. He immediately ensured they received proper care and homes, showing compassion amid national crisis.
Lincoln would spend hours playing with and feeding White House cats. When asked about this unusual presidential behavior, he reportedly said cats made better company than most politicians!
11. Queen Victoria
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch elevated cats from barn animals to fashionable companions throughout her empire.
Victoria kept Persian cats as royal pets, making the breed incredibly popular among Victorian aristocracy. Her favorite cat, White Heather, received royal treatment and lived in luxurious palace quarters.
When White Heather passed away, Victoria mourned deeply and commissioned portraits to remember her beloved companion.
Victoria’s love for cats influenced an entire generation’s attitude toward felines.
Cat ownership became socially acceptable among upper classes, transforming cats into cherished household members across Britain!
12. Mahatma Gandhi
India’s peaceful resistance leader extended his philosophy of nonviolence to all creatures, especially cats.
Gandhi believed that how societies treated animals reflected their moral development and spiritual advancement.
He kept cats at his ashram and encouraged others to care for stray animals. Gandhi taught that showing kindness to cats and other creatures was essential practice for developing compassion toward all living beings.
His writings occasionally mentioned cats as examples of natural grace and dignity. Gandhi appreciated their independent spirit while recognizing their need for gentle care and respect!
13. Nikola Tesla
The brilliant inventor’s lifelong fascination with electricity began with his childhood cat named Macak.
Young Tesla was stroking Macak’s fur when he observed sparks of static electricity, igniting his curiosity about electrical phenomena.
Tesla later wrote that this feline encounter prompted him to ask his father about the nature of electricity.
That single moment with his cat potentially influenced his entire revolutionary career in electrical engineering.
Though Tesla became somewhat eccentric in later years, he never forgot Macak’s role. He credited his beloved cat with inspiring humanity’s electrical age!
14. Victor Hugo
The French literary master who wrote Les Misérables kept numerous cats in his Paris apartment.
Hugo believed cats brought creative energy and inspiration to his writing space, helping him overcome writer’s block.
His favorite cat, Chanoine, would sit on his manuscripts while Hugo worked. Rather than shooing the cat away, Hugo worked around him, considering Chanoine’s presence a sign of literary approval.
Hugo wrote that cats understood the artistic temperament better than most humans. He found their quiet companionship perfect for long hours of contemplative writing and editing!
15. Charles Dickens
The creator of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol adored his white cat named Williamina (originally named William until kittens arrived!).
Williamina would snuff out Dickens’ reading candle with her paw when she wanted attention. Rather than getting annoyed, Dickens found this behavior charming and endearing.
He would put down his work to play with her, recognizing that even literary genius needed feline-mandated breaks.
After Williamina passed away, Dickens had her paw mounted with a letter opener. This unusual memorial remained on his desk, showing his deep affection for his demanding but beloved companion!
16. Jean Cocteau
This French artist, poet, and filmmaker surrounded himself with elegant Siamese cats that matched his sophisticated aesthetic.
Cocteau believed cats possessed mystical qualities that connected the physical world to artistic imagination.
His Siamese companions appeared in his drawings, writings, and films throughout his career. Cocteau once stated that he could watch cats for hours, finding their movements more graceful than any ballet.
He considered cats living works of art themselves, perfect in form and function. Cocteau’s Paris studio was essentially a cat palace where felines reigned as artistic muses and creative consultants!
17. Albert Schweitzer
The Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian and doctor had a cat named Sizi who loved sleeping on his arm.
Schweitzer was right-handed, but when Sizi napped on that arm, he taught himself to write left-handed instead.
Rather than disturb his sleeping companion, Schweitzer adapted his entire working method. This perfectly embodied his philosophy of “reverence for life” that extended to all creatures great and small.
18. Cardinal Richelieu
France’s powerful chief minister during the 1600s kept 14 cats in his palace apartments.
Richelieu, known for political ruthlessness, showed surprising tenderness toward his feline companions, personally overseeing their care.
He provided generously for his cats in his will, ensuring they would live comfortably after his death. Each cat had assigned caretakers and received daily servings of chicken pâté prepared by palace chefs.
19. Pope John Paul II
Before becoming Pope, Karol Wojtyła grew up with cats in Poland and maintained his affection for them throughout his papacy.
Vatican staff recall seeing stray cats in the papal gardens receiving food and gentle attention from the Holy Father.
John Paul II believed all of God’s creatures deserved kindness and respect. He would pause during walks to pet cats, showing that even leading the Catholic Church didn’t diminish simple joys.
His compassion toward animals reflected his broader message of universal love and dignity. Vatican cats seemed to recognize him, approaching without fear or hesitation!
