Other name(s) Tibs Owner Alf Talbut Sex Male | Years active 1950–1964 Species Felis catus | |
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Died December 1964
London, England Occupation British Post Office's "number one cat" | ||
Tibs the Great (November 1950 – December 1964) was the British Post Office's "number one cat" and kept the post office headquarters completely mouse-free during his 14 years of service. He was the son of Minnie, and on his death, several newspapers ran an obituary.
Contents
Background
Cats had been officially employed by the Post Office to catch rodents since September 1868, when three cats were taken on for a six-month trial period at a rate of one shilling per week, in the London Money Order Office. On 7 May 1869, it was noted that "the cats have done their duty very efficiently". By 1873, the cats were being paid 1s 6d, and were being employed in other post offices.
Early life
It is thought that Tibs was born in London in November 1950. His father is unknown. His mother was Minnie, another "fine cat" also owned by Alf Talbut.
Career
Tibs worked at Post Office Headquarters in London for 14 years, and was officially employed and paid 2s 6d per week. He worked in the basement and his job was to catch rats. He was cared for by Alf Talbut, cleaner at St Martin's-le-Grand throughout his life. During his 14 years, Tibs kept the Post Office headquarters completely mouse-free.
In 1952 there was "public outrage" that the cats had not had a pay rise since 1873, and the next year there was a question in the House of Commons, asking the Assistant Postmaster-General, David Gammans, "when the allowance payable for the maintenance of cats in his department was last raised?"
Gammans replied,
There is, I am afraid, a certain amount of industrial chaos in The Post Office cat world. Allowances vary in different places, possibly according to the alleged efficiency of the animals and other factors. It has proved impossible to organise any scheme for payment by results or output bonus ... there has been a general wage freeze since July 1918, but there have been no complaints!
In media
In 1953, Tibs was featured in a book titled Cockney Cats by Warren Tute and Felix Fonteyn. He also appeared at a "Cats and Film Stars" party.
Death
Tibs died in December 1964. He had been suffering from cancer of the mouth. He received obituaries in several newspapers. By the time of his death he had grown to 23lb in weight, probably due to living in one of the staff dining rooms, rather than from eating rats.
The last cat employed at Post Office headquarters was Blackie, who died in 1984, which coincided with cloth sacks being replaced with rodent-resistant plastic sacks.