I have one at home but, if it was for me, I would probably keep one hundred of them.
Enough said about me.
Cats are curious, tenacious and smart but there are certainly just a few cats with a spirit of adventure in this world, but they do exist.
Here in Sydney, most people know the story of Trim, the cat which circumnavigated Australia.
Trim was born on a ship at the end of the 18th century, as the ship was crossing the Indian Ocean. Not only did Trim immediately feel at ease on the ship, but he immediately familiarized himself with all places the ship would visit. He did not even take him long to demonstrate his seafaring nature and his strong spirit of survival as one day, when the ship was in a port, it was thrown off by a wave but he, far from giving in to panic, came back on board climbing a rope that had been thrown at him.
Here in Sydney, if you visit any bookshop, you’ll find his book and story on the shelves together with a selection of guidebooks about the city and the country.
Trim has therefore become part of the Australian tradition.
But let us get back to Trim: eventually, the kitten grew into a cat with black fur spotted with white on the chest and legs and he was loved by the entire crew.
At the beginning of the 1800, at the conclusion of the tour of the globe and in correspondence with the wedding of his ‘main owner’, Trim spent a short time ashore.
They then set sail again aboard a ship which circumnavigated the continent and even when his owner was made prisoner during the War, he remained close to him.
Unfortunately, his owner decided to leave him with a noblewoman on land.
Although the Lady was fond of him and tried to take good care of him, the cat escaped never to be seen again and probably ended up dying somewhere.
He wasn’t so old but the explorer had thought he could have a better chance living on land, in a cosy and warm home rather than on a ship.
Well, he was wrong because Trim was an adventurer and his wild heart could not keep away from looking for his owner.
There are two statues dedicated to Trim in Australia.
Firstly, Trim had the honour of being included in the first statue erected in memory of Matthew Flinders, his owner and explorer, which can still be seen today in Donington, the explorer's birthplace.
Subsequently, he got to have a statue for himself in Sydney.
This second bronze statue, depicting only Trim, decorates a window sill of a small library located in Sydney.
Also the library café bears the name of Trim and the library shop sells many gadgets dedicated to him.
One sign reads:
“In memory of Trim, the best and most illustrious of his race, the most loyal of friends, the most loyal of servants, and the best of creatures.
He sailed the antipodes of the world and circumnavigated Australia and it has always been a source of delight and pleasure for his traveling companions.
Many times I have witnessed delighted at his gestures full of joy, and I was surprised by his superior intelligence.
There can never be a cat like him!
May his spirit be at peace,
and may his memory be honoured.” (cit.)
What became of his spirit we ignore, but certainly Trim has not been forgotten.
