Trim: The True Story of a Remarkable Cat

MATTHEW Flinders is best known for his remarkable voyages around the shores of Australia. These notes are adapted from his papers and diaries kept in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and tell of his faithful and intelligent companion "Trim" on the voyages between 1799 to 1803. "I can never speak of cats without a sentiment of regret for my poor Trim, the favourite of all our ship's company" wrote Matthew Flinders of his beloved cat who had extraordinary qualities.

Trim was born at sea on a ship called Reliance somewhere in the Indian Ocean.. The ship was on a voyage in 1799 between the Cape of Good Hope and Botany Bay. Even as he played with his brothers and sisters on the deck, Flinders noticed that he was a gentle and kind-hearted kitten and gave him the name of Trim, after a kind-hearted and humble cat owned by his Uncle. Trim grew up to be Matthew Flinders adored and faithful friend.

As Trim was brought up by sailors and spent most of his life at sea, he had skills and tricks like no cat on land ever had. He had no fear of the water and could swim. On the occasions when Trim slipped on the deck and fell overboard a rope would be thrown to him in the water, he would simply take hold of it and run up to the safety of the deck again. It wasn't long before he could run up the gangway steps quicker than any of the crew and always beat his master and the First Lieutenant up any stairs.

Trim was a good-natured cat and great care was taken of him by many of the ships company. He grew to be one of the finest animals ever seen, was huge and black, weighing 10 to 12 pounds and had a large bushy tail. He had four white feet like they had been dipped in snow, a white star on his chest and long and graceful whiskers.

His character was possessed of many admirable qualities including intelligence, good naturedness, independence and strength. He was "designed to be the model and Prince of his race" Matthew Flinders wrote and that "Dick Whittington's cat of which so much is said and written, could not have been compared to Trim."

Trim was a favourite with everyone on board and always shared meals with them, sitting at first with the officers and then with the sailors. He was always seated 15 minutes before meals, would beg for small morsels from everyone and ate with faultless manners. He quietly ate all the food he was offered while sitting at the table but only after others had been served.

Trim excelled at athletics and he was always happy doing the many tricks he had been taught from an early age by the sailors. Trim perfected his favourite, the art of jumping and he could jump very high over the sailors hands. There was much pleasure in another game in which he followed a musket ball hung with twine that would twirl endlessly around the deck directed by the sailors.

Practical seamanship was another of his favourites and when things were busy on the decks, ropes and sails being worked, Trim was always there right in the centre of it all offering his assistance. He even helped those who were doing celestial navigation by being out on the decks at night and keeping a check on all the ships instruments. When there were jobs such as furling sails and placing the top mast, Trim was always there to assist and if the order was given "away up aloft," he was the one to reach the top first!

In 1800 Trim and Matthew Flinders returned to England onboard the Reliance, and visited London. They went on a voyage to the South Seas and in 1801 began the three year journey and circumnavigation of Australia. While on that journey and visiting the Gulf of Carpentaria, Trim had an unfortunate experience because of the tropical weather conditions, he lost a lot of weight and his shiny black coat turned to grey. However much to the joy of all his friends and admirers, once the ship had returned to a cooler climate his shiny black coat returned and he resumed his portly figure once more.

In 1803, Trim embarked on his last voyage with Matthew Flinders aboard the ship Cumberland. They were on their way back to England but never arrived, as on August 17th, Cumberland became shipwrecked on a coral reef in the Indian Ocean. Matthew Flinders and Trim were both rescued, but became imprisoned on the French island of Mauritius.

Trim did not survive, he went missing after two weeks and was presumed dead.

From prison Matthew Flinders wrote, "Thus perished my faithful intelligent Trim! The sporting, affectionate and useful companion of my voyages during four years.

"Thy affectionate master and friend promises thee, if ever he shall have the happiness to enjoy repose in his native country again, to erect a monument to perpetuate and record thy uncommon merits. This shall be your epitaph:

"To the memory of Trim
The best and most illustrious of his Race,
the most affectionate of friends, faithful of servants.
and best of creatures.
He made the Tour of the Globe and a voyage to Australia,
which he circumnavigated, and was ever the delight and pleasure
of his fellow voyagers.
Returning to Europe in 1803 he was shipwrecked in the great Equinoxial Ocean; This danger escaped, he sought refuge and assistance at the Isle of France, where he was made prisoner, contrary to the laws of
Justice, of Humanity, and of French National Faith;
and where, alas! he terminated his useful career, by an untimely death, being devoured by the Catophagi of that island.
Many a time I have beheld his little merriments with delight, and his superior intelligence with surprise: Never will his likes be seen again!
Trim was born in the Southern Indian Ocean the Year 1799, and perished as above at the Isle of France in 1804.
Peace be to his shade, and honour to his memory."

If you visit Sydney you can see Trim...

A statue of Trim was erected by public subscription in 1995. It sits on the Mitchell Library window ledge facing Macquarie Street, Sydney. From here Trim is always able to look up at the statue of his master, Matthew Flinders, erected there in 1925.