# There will always be a ginger cat at Churchill's country home, Chartwell **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 27, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850 "2024-11-27T15:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/1 "2024-11-27T15:55:33Z")
Just learned this. I love the specificity of the Churchill family’s request. > **[Chartwell's Jock the cat | Kent](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/chartwell/jock-the-cat-at-chartwell)** > > Discover why generations of ginger cats have lived at Chartwell in Kent since it was left to the National Trust, including more about the current Jock VII. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/2 "2024-11-27T16:01:06Z")
How very English! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/3 "2024-11-27T16:05:40Z")
Nice. 😺 ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/4 "2024-11-27T16:08:49Z")
Rather like the ravens in the Tower. ‘[Ravens of the Tower of London - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravens_of_the_Tower_of_London)’ If either fail, we are in deep trouble, and all we can hope is that King Arthur will bestir himself to save us… ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/5 "2024-11-27T16:25:02Z")
Ravens at the Tower, monkeys at Gibraltar, ginger cats at Chartwell. What else? ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/6 "2024-11-27T16:31:03Z")
This statue of Hodge always makes me smile when wandering around the back streets behind Fleet Street. > **[Hodge (cat)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodge_(cat))** > > Hodge (fl. c.1769) was one of Samuel Johnson's cats, immortalised in a characteristically whimsical passage in James Boswell's 1791 book Life of Johnson. > Although there is little known about Hodge, such as his life, his death, or any other information, what is known is Johnson's fondness for his cat, which separated Johnson from the views held by others of the eighteenth century. > Most of the information on Hodge comes from Boswell's account. It is in this passage that Johnson is claimed to h... ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/7 "2024-11-27T16:43:09Z")
Official Mouser at 10 Downing Street. Larry currently holds the position. From Wiki: There has been a Downing Street cat mouser and pet since the reign of Henry VIII. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/8 "2024-11-27T16:54:09Z")
Yes, here’s more on that: [Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Mouser_to_the_Cabinet_Office) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/9 "2024-11-27T16:59:01Z")
That works until the Downing Street cat is a Russian Blue named Alexei who is reporting back to Putin what’s going on in Cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/10 "2024-11-27T18:10:43Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I love the specificity of the Churchill family’s request. I must disagree. Discrimination by colour is not cool! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/11 "2024-11-27T18:55:42Z")
The Horse Guards? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/12 "2024-11-27T19:02:12Z")
Is there some superstition about them leaving the palace? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/13 "2024-11-27T19:06:05Z")
🙂 quote=“DPRK, post:10, topic:1010850”] Discrimination by colour is not cool! [/quote] Oh come on. It’s cool for cats… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/14 "2024-11-27T19:31:36Z")
When I hear any cat actually complain about such distinctions, I will of course be ready to change my views. For now, however, I have no objection. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/15 "2024-11-27T20:24:33Z")
We have two- an older grumpy male rescue, and a young female who just showed up one day. We feel sorry for the old guy- his owner to whom he was bonded- had to go to a hospice. Her Kids promised to take care of him- then dumped him at the shelter. No one was gonna take a grumpy, one of the volunteers pleaded with us to take him. He is now bonded to my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/16 "2024-11-27T21:38:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We feel sorry for the old guy- his owner to whom he was bonded- had to go to a hospice. Her Kids promised to take care of him- then dumped him at the shelter. 💔 > [@DrDeth](#): > > He is now bonded to my wife. 😻 Most of my wife’s patients are elderly. One of them has an older female cat named (I think) Fluffy. My wife and her patient think that her patient’s kids will dump Fluffy in a shelter. The patient asked my wife if she will take Fluffy in when she (the patient) dies. Wifey, RN said yes. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/17 "2024-11-27T21:52:06Z")
To really honor Churchill, there should always be someone at Chartwell [hoisting drinks](https://spiritedla.com/drunk-role-models-churchills-drinking/) - Pol Roger champagne, whiskey, claret, martinis, Johnny Walker Red scotch etc. “I didn’t know we had _two_ ginger cats.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/18 "2024-11-27T21:53:19Z")
I’m old and have made a point of adopting only elderly shelter cats in the last few years. We generally don’t have long together when they come to me in their mid to late teens, but it’s great while it lasts. My current two are “seniors” according to the shelter but might be as young as ten, as that’s [MRFRS](https://mrfrs.org/)’s apparent cutoff from “adult”, and they were both strays of unknown origin, so it’s a best guess in any case. At least one of them is likely older. My hope is to outlive any of the oldies I adopt. If I predecease them they’ll go back to the excellent shelter I adopted them from, since I have no relatives that c/would adopt them. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/19 "2024-11-27T22:16:14Z")
When my maternal grandmother went to a nursing home her cat was about six years old. My sister took the cat in. It lived another eight years. And my grandmother was still alive to mourn it when she was informed. Grandma was almost 108 when she passed in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850/20 "2024-11-28T00:01:16Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > … including more about the current Jock VII. Jock VII has got to meet [Uga XI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uga_(mascot)). (Hmm, up to 11 and the first started work in 1956. Vs 7 cats since 1963. About 2 years longer on average for the cats. Bulldog health issues? Don’t have to run around the hedges at the stadium?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-always-be-a-ginger-cat-at-churchills-country-home-chartwell/1010850.md?page=2)