Mike (c. 1908 – January 1929) was a cat who guarded the gates of the British Museum in London and was so famed that Time magazine devoted two articles to him upon his death. Egyptologist E. A. Wallis Budge's biographical work describing Mike's life has been regarded as a notable example of such writing.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | Felis catus |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | c. 1908, Great Britain |
| Died | January 1929 (aged 20–21), London, England |
| Known for | Guardian of the British Museum |
Early Life
In the spring of 1908, "Black Jack," the house cat of the British Museum, approached E. A. Wallis Budge, the Keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, carrying a large object in his mouth, which he deposited at the Keeper's feet. The object was a kitten, later named Mike. The following year, Mike began to study under Black Jack, who taught the younger cat to stalk pigeons by pointing like a dog. Under Black Jack's guidance, Mike would corner pigeons, daze them, and bring them to the housekeeper, who would exchange the bird for food and milk and release it unharmed.
Later Life
Mike spent twenty years at the British Museum, during which he gained a reputation for avoiding women and disliking dogs. He would only accept food from those "who treated him as a man and brother." Interest in Mike spread such that Time magazine described him as "probably the most famed British feline of the 20th Century."
Mike retired from official duties in 1924 but continued to take an interest in the comings and goings at the Museum, remaining especially active in chasing off wandering dogs, who reportedly "fled in terror" when he attacked.
In 1927, Mike was featured in an article in The Star, which stated: "He eyes the scholars—famous men from all countries—as philosophically as the later stream of mere curiosity-hunters. High School girls in trim uniform; London street urchins, who make the portico a playground; black-robed monks, gaily sari-ed Hindu ladies, dapper little Japs, and horn-spectacled tourists, are all alike to him."
Death and Legacy
When Mike died, Wallis Budge contributed an obituary to the Evening Standard, which became the basis of his monograph "Mike," the cat who assisted in keeping the main gate of the British Museum from February 1909 to January 1929. This work includes an ode composed by F. C. W. Hiley, which ends:
Old Mike! Farewell! We all regret you,
Although, you would not let us pet you;
Of cats the wisest, oldest best cat,
This be your motto — Requiescat!
Mike's tombstone was erected near the Great Russell Street entrance of the British Museum. The inscription reads: "He assisted in keeping the main gate of the British Museum from February 1909 to January 1929."
