Species | Felis catus |
---|---|
Breed | Domestic short-haired cat |
Sex | male |
Born | c. 1998 |
Died | November 14, 2019 Doulting, Somerset | (aged 20–21)
Cause of death | Euthanisation after pleural effusion and possibly lung cancer |
Nation from | England |
Occupation | Cathedral cat, Mouser |
Years active | 2004-2016 |
Successor | Pangur |
Residence | Wells Cathedral (2004-2016) Doulting (2016-2019) |
Appearance | Ginger Tabby |
Louis, (/ˈluːi/) briefly known as Lulu (/ˈluːˌluː/),[1] and frequently known as 'Louis the Cathedral Cat' or simply 'The Wells Cathedral Cat' (c. 1998 - 14 November 2019)[2][3] was a ginger tabby cat that lived in Wells Cathedral, Somerset, England after being found as a stray by cathedral staff in 2004.[4] He would later[5] retire in 2016 to a house in Doulting, Somerset, in which he would pass away from a short illness 3 years later at an age thought to be over 20.[6]
Louis became a popular attraction in Wells Cathedral, described as one of the cathedral's most photographed features,[6] he had his own range of merchandise at the cathedral gift shop, and a children's story written about him.[7] He had gained national, and international publicity throughout his life through multiple major news networks, and was featured on BBC's The One Show.[4][6]
Arrival to Wells Cathedral edit
In 2004, Louis was discovered as a stray in the Mason's yard south of Wells Cathedral by Mark Rowe who was a member of the cathedral yard team at the time,[8][4][9]: 1 a few days later he was adopted,[8] and the cathedral workers made him a bed in one of their rooms and installed a cat-flap to allow him to come and go during the night.[9]: 1 During this time he was known as the cathedral yard cat.[8]
He would later eventually become accustomed to the cathedral, choosing a specific radiator and a chair in the Sugar Chantry as his place of choice to rest during the day. Now he was known as Louis the Cathedral Cat.[10][9]: 1 [8]
Life at Wells Cathedral edit
Louis often passed by congregations to sit at the front as services were ongoing, he also enjoyed going for a lie in his favourite chair. He was known locally as a terror to visiting dogs which would later develop into somewhat of a controversy contributing to his internation recognition.
Louis also had to compete for attention and food with a cat called Pangur, another local tabby cat which liked to steal food as well as the limelight from Louis.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed vitae orci lacus. Nam dignissim, velit quis aliquam convallis, elit augue dictum neque, nec pellentesque mauris sem non elit. Nulla massa turpis, imperdiet in tristique quis, placerat nec nunc. Donec nec quam magna. Praesent suscipit urna sed vulputate tincidunt. Nunc vel quam urna. Praesent nec finibus turpis, ut pellentesque velit.
Popularity and controversy edit
Louis had a wide plethora of products based off of him at the gift shop in the cathedral such as fridge magnets, pencils, mugs, and other trinkets including paperweights, clocks, bottle stoppers and candle-snuffers
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed vitae orci lacus. Nam dignissim, velit quis aliquam convallis, elit augue dictum neque, nec pellentesque mauris sem non elit. Nulla massa turpis, imperdiet in tristique quis, placerat nec nunc. Donec nec quam magna. Praesent suscipit urna sed vulputate tincidunt. Nunc vel quam urna. Praesent nec finibus turpis, ut pellentesque velit.
Nulla ac risus scelerisque, tincidunt nisl ut, vehicula mi. Phasellus auctor enim sed convallis convallis. Suspendisse purus magna, consectetur ac enim vel, porttitor lacinia metus. Quisque et vestibulum sem. Sed augue sapien, lacinia finibus elementum et, lacinia ut ipsum. Etiam auctor iaculis dolor, eget accumsan dui tincidunt vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse volutpat imperdiet magna, quis cursus felis varius et. Aenean tincidunt in felis a maximus. Nullam at nunc eget lectus porta suscipit. Vestibulum posuere sapien id elit pellentesque, ac ultrices tellus venenatis. Aenean et dolor venenatis, gravida ligula at, aliquet arcu.
Retirement edit
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed vitae orci lacus. Nam dignissim, velit quis aliquam convallis, elit augue dictum neque, nec pellentesque mauris sem non elit. Nulla massa turpis, imperdiet in tristique quis, placerat nec nunc. Donec nec quam magna. Praesent suscipit urna sed vulputate tincidunt. Nunc vel quam urna. Praesent nec finibus turpis, ut pellentesque velit.
Cras vitae nulla ac lectus dictum laoreet. Quisque pellentesque massa vel convallis rhoncus. Sed interdum mi sed magna rhoncus tempus. Pellentesque porta dolor sed ligula luctus finibus nec id enim. Quisque et odio sed purus bibendum auctor ac at quam. Donec bibendum sem nisl, quis commodo diam porttitor sagittis. Sed non orci quis nulla lobortis imperdiet a bibendum diam. Nam dictum ante ut mollis gravida. Ut id orci in arcu venenatis malesuada. Fusce diam orci, laoreet a mi sit amet, consequat posuere purus. Curabitur egestas erat eu est pretium consectetur.
Death edit
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed vitae orci lacus. Nam dignissim, velit quis aliquam convallis, elit augue dictum neque, nec pellentesque mauris sem non elit. Nulla massa turpis, imperdiet in tristique quis, placerat nec nunc. Donec nec quam magna. Praesent suscipit urna sed vulputate tincidunt. Nunc vel quam urna. Praesent nec finibus turpis, ut pellentesque velit.
Children's Book by Barbara Cooke edit
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed vitae orci lacus. Nam dignissim, velit quis aliquam convallis, elit augue dictum neque, nec pellentesque mauris sem non elit. Nulla massa turpis, imperdiet in tristique quis, placerat nec nunc. Donec nec quam magna. Praesent suscipit urna sed vulputate tincidunt. Nunc vel quam urna. Praesent nec finibus turpis, ut pellentesque velit.
Plot edit
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed vitae orci lacus. Nam dignissim, velit quis aliquam convallis, elit augue dictum neque, nec pellentesque mauris sem non elit. Nulla massa turpis, imperdiet in tristique quis, placerat nec nunc. Donec nec quam magna. Praesent suscipit urna sed vulputate tincidunt. Nunc vel quam urna. Praesent nec finibus turpis, ut pellentesque velit.
Cras vitae nulla ac lectus dictum laoreet. Quisque pellentesque massa vel convallis rhoncus. Sed interdum mi sed magna rhoncus tempus. Pellentesque porta dolor sed ligula luctus finibus nec id enim. Quisque et odio sed purus bibendum auctor ac at quam. Donec bibendum sem nisl, quis commodo diam porttitor sagittis. Sed non orci quis nulla lobortis imperdiet a bibendum diam. Nam dictum ante ut mollis gravida. Ut id orci in arcu venenatis malesuada. Fusce diam orci, laoreet a mi sit amet, consequat posuere purus. Curabitur egestas erat eu est pretium consectetur.
In Literature and the Arts edit
Literature edit
- Louis is the only non-fictional character in the murder mystery novel Murder at the Cathedral by Frances Evesham (official website).[11]
- Louis is featured in Lisa Rogak's book Cats on the Job: 50 Fabulous Felines Who Purr, Mouse, and Even Sing for Their Supper, described as "perhaps the most well-known church cat in Great Britain" (after Doorkins Magnificat of Southwark).[12]
Art edit
- The painting 'Louis, Wells Cathedral' by Celia Pike depicts Louis sitting on the Cathedral Grounds, with Wells Cathedral in the background.[13] Pike describes her work as "Louis Guarding his territory—the beautiful Wells Cathedral".[14]
References edit
- ^ Rose, Simon (14 April 2011). "Louis the Wells Cathedral Cat" (Video). Interviewed by Jason Bryant.
- ^ Rayner, Gordan (16 March 2015). "Saint or sinner? Louis the Wells Cathedral cat accused of a string of savage attacks on dogs". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "@WellsCathedral1 on Twitter". Twitter. Wells Cathedral. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "RIP Louis: Wells Cathedral Cat". englishcathedrals.co.uk. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ McGrail, Ben (16 December 2018). "Meet Pangur - the Wells Cathedral cat...sort of. After lovely Louis (who was the Cathedral cat for many years) retired to a loving home-". Facebook. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Wells Cathedral's resident cat Louis dies". BBC.com. BBC News Somerset. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ Morris, Steven (2015-03-17). "'Semi-feral' cathedral cat suspected of attacking dogs in English city". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ a b c d Taylor, Michael (16 November 2019). "Much loved Louis the Wells Cathedral Cat has passed away". SomersetLive.co.uk. SomersetLive. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d Cooke, Barbara (1 April 2012). Louis the Cathedral Cat. Printed by St Andrew's Press of Wells Ltd. Close Publications, Somerset. ISBN 9780957239302.
- ^ Roberts, Patrick (2011). "Church Cats 11". Purr 'n' Fur, Featuring Felines. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ Evesham, Frances (11 May 2020). An Exham-on-Sea Murder Mystery, Murder at the Cathedral. Boldwood Books. p. 148. ASIN B08592T6S6.
- ^ Rogak, Lisa (2015). Cats on the Job: 50 Fabulous Felines Who Purr, Mouse, and Even Sing for Their Supper. Designed by Omar Chapa. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 167–169. ISBN 9781250072375.
- ^ Pike, Celia. "Louis, Wells Cathedral". Celia Pike. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Pike, Celia (24 April 2017). "Louis, Wells Cathedral". Facebook. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
List of church and cathedral cats edit
Image | Name | Sex | Church/Cathedral | Region | Active during | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Louis | Male | Wells Cathedral | Somerset, England | 2004-2016 | ||
Pangur | Male | Wells Cathedral | Somerset, England | ????-present | ||
Basil | Male | Wells Cathedral | Somerset, England | ????-present | ||
Doorkins Magnificat | Female | Southwark Cathedral | London, England | 2008-2019 | ||
Hodge | Female | Southwark Cathedral | London, England | 2020-present | ||
external image | Inigo | Female | St. Pauls, Covent Garden | London, England | 2011-present | |
external image | Jones | Male | St. Pauls, Covent Garden | London, England | 2011-present | |
external image | Captain | Male | Salisbury Cathedral | Wiltshire, England | 19??-1980 | |
Wolfie Mozart | Male | Salisbury Cathedral | Wiltshire, England | 2004-2011 | ||
external image | Pushkin | Male | Birmingham Oratory | West Midlands, England | 2008-2018 | |
Budge | Male | Norwich Cathedral | East Anglia, England | 2018-present | ||
Stapledon | Male | Exeter Cathedral | Devon, England | ????-present | ||
external image | Laptop | Male | Cantebury Cathedral | Kent, England | 2008-2013 | |
external image | Fred | Male | Edinburgh Cathedral | Edinburgh, Scotland | 2003-???? | |
Tom | Male | St. Mary. Redcliffe | Bristol, England | 1912-1927 | ||
Tiddles | Female | St. Mary. Fairford | Gloucestershire, England | 1963-1980 | ||
Tiddles 2 | Female | St. Mary. Fairford | Gloucestershire, England | ????-2009 | ||
external image | Reverend Red | Male | St. Mary. Clapham | West Sussex, England | ????-2010 | |
Faith | Female | St. Augustine, Walting Street | City of London, England | 1936-1940 | ||
external image | Miss Macavity | Female | St. Hubert, Dunsop Bridge | Lancashire, England | 1999-2004 | |
external image | Ko-Ko | Male | St. Hubert, Dunsop Bridge | Lancashire, England | 2004-2008 | |
external image | Mungojerrie | Male | St. Hubert, Dunsop Bridge | Lancashire, England | 2008-???? |