This week we have another famous cat lover for you: Freddie Mercury, late frontman of the rock band Queen, who was a huge cat person. Freddie’s cats were as important to him as any human. He had as many as six cats at one point, and along with being his close companions and friends, they also inspired his music and style.
Most of Freddie’s cats were adopted from rescue centers and they all lived in his London home. He loved to lavish affection on them – they had fresh chicken and fish prepared for them, were each given their own stocking full of treats at Christmas, and had full run of the house. While away on tour, Freddie would even call home to talk to them.
Delilah, a tortoise shell cat with a bold, assertive personality, was undoubtedly the most famous of all Freddie’s cats. Queen’s song “Delilah” was written for this beloved feline. At first the song sounds as if it could be a love song – until it mentions Delilah peeing on the furniture! The interlude also includes a chorus of meows. The lyrics show Delilah’s bold and affectionate personality that endeared her to Freddie, and most of all, they show how dearly Freddie loved his cats. You can listen to the song HERE.
Along with writing a song for Delilah, Freddie also publicly showed his love for his feline companions by dedicating his first solo album, “Mr. Bad Guy”, to his cats Jerry, Tom, Oscar, and Tiffany. The dedication was extended to ‘all cat lovers across the universe’. If you’re reading this, we bet that means you! Freddie’s love for his cats was so well known that Queen fans would even send in toys for Freddie’s cats.
From all this, it’s clear that Freddie’s cats held an incredible importance to him. The last portrait of Freddie before his death shows Freddie wearing a vest with hand-painted pictures of all his cats on it. Just as they had throughout his life, Freddie’s cats sat with him and brought him comfort even in his last days, and he made sure they would continue to be well cared after his passing.
Is there a famous feline you’d like to see featured in one of our Famous Friday posts?
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Congratulations to one of our past Black Cat Contest winners - Bandit! Click 
