Feline Fun is written/compiled by
Patrick Roberts
Copyright © 2003-12 Purr 'n' Fur UK

Certain features on these pages use JavaScript

As of the second half of 2006 the Cat and Fiddle in the delightful country village of East Rudham, not far from King's Lynn in the East Anglian county of Norfolk, had a new and whimsical sign (left) to replace the more traditional earlier one from mid-2005.
Older sign 1980, courtesy Inn Sign Society.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Oct 2006

This Black Cat is not far from the Buckinghamshire town of Chesham, in the village of Lye Green. It is a small and friendly pub, where they are staunch England football supporters!
Older sign 1991, courtesy Inn Sign Society.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Jun 2005

This Cat Inn is to be found in the quiet village of West Hoathly, near East Grinstead in the county of West Sussex.
Older sign 2005.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed 2011

Cat and Fiddle: this pleasant and busy pub lies a short distance from the village of Clyst St Mary in Devon, south-west England, near the cathedral city of Exeter. A sign outside proclaims that it dates back to the 16th century — or, at least, there has been a pub on the site since that time. See also old postcard photos (dates unknown).
Older sign 1997, courtesy Inn Signs Society.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Sep 2005

Our twelfth Cat and Fiddle is near the centre of the town of Bodmin, which lies on Dartmoor, that somewhat mysterious area in Cornwall, the most south-westerly county in England. In summer 2005 there was no pictorial sign; however, Brian Curtis has kindly sent from his archives a photo of how the pub looked, with its sign, in 1991. As we write in November 2005, there will soon be this new and very fine sign created by Graeme Robbins.
Older sign 1984, courtesy Inn Sign Society.
Picture of the pub
Sign image © Graeme Robbins, 2005

The Dick Whittington, or 'Whittington's', is close to the cathedral in the centre of the city of Gloucester, in south-western England. Presumably it marks the connection with Gloucester in the story of Dick Whittington. As well as the sign with Dick and his cat, the rather fine building also boasts a separate sign for its Black Cat bar.
Picture of the pub
Signs photographed Sep 2005

Cat & Wheel: the only pub we know of with this name is not far from the centre of the south-western city of Bristol. Our request about the origin of the name brought a reply from Graeme Robbins, who paints inn signs. He says it is a corruption of 'Catherine Wheel', which was a medieval instrument of torture — our thanks to Graeme, who has an informative and attractive website. Older sign 2005.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Aug 2011 by Brian Goodliffe, courtesy of the Inn Sign Society
Many thanks also to Dave Tylcoat who has sent images of the Cat and Wheel as it was in 1904, taken from a postcard.

This Red Cat is in eastern England, not far from King's Lynn in Norfolk. It is a comfortable-looking hotel as well as a free house. The hotel is noted for having a mummified red cat in an illuminated glass case above the bar (thanks to Stuart Grant for the photograph).
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Jun 2005

The Owl & Pussycat in the Walton district of the important North Sea port of Felixstowe, on England's east coast, seems to be an adjunct to a large Morrison's supermarket — certainly it's right next door. When I visited in 2005 there was no pictorial sign, but now there's a new one, kindly sent to us by Peter Crosby.
Older sign 1990, courtesy Inn Signs Society.
Picture of the pub (Oct 2005)
Sign photographed Jan 2011

The Star Inn at Beeston, in Nottinghamshire, is an example of a sign that would not be an obvious one to show a cat. However, there is Puss looking out over the rooftops, rather similarly to the Black Cat in Bedminster. Many thanks go to Brian Curtis of the Inn Sign Society for supplying this image and giving permission to use it here.
Picture of the pub (Jul 2005)

This Fat Cat is to be found in the East Anglian city of Norwich, and has won a CAMRA award (Campaign for Real Ale). The sign is the same as for the Fat Cat in Ipswich, in the neighbouring county, so presumably the two pubs have the same owners. This one has an extra fat cat at the side of the building (pictured with sign enlargement).
Picture of the pub
Signs photographed Oct 2005

The Owl and Pussycat, claiming to be the original one of that name — we don't know with what justification — is a large pub on the northern fringe of the East Midlands city of Leicester. The owl and pussycat are seen setting out to sea in their 'beautiful pea-green boat'.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Oct 2005

Formerly called the West End Inn, the Kilkenny Cat at Llanelli, south Wales, was renamed when it was taken over by an Irish landlady and repainted in a suitable emerald green. There isn't a pictorial sign as such, but the cat appears on the signboard and on a window. The name 'Kilkenny Cat' has a story behind it, which you can read here.
Photographed Dec 2005

The sign for the Live and Let Live gives an interesting interpretation of the name. This pub is in Cotmanhay, Derbyshire. Thanks to the Inn Sign Society for bringing this one to our attention.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Aug 2004

The Three Legged Stool is situated near the Nottinghamshire town of Worksop in central England. This is a comparatively new sign, but it's nice to see that the cat has been retained. The pub is on the site of a former dairy, so the name refers to an old three-legged milking stool.
Previous sign Jan 2005, courtesy Inn Sign Society.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Apr 2007

The Red Cat at Whittle-le-Woods in Lancashire now has just this maroon-coloured cat outline, forming part of a larger sign; there is no longer a traditional sign as such.
An earlier 'proper' pictorial sign can be seen here dating from Oct 1992, courtesy Inn Sign Society.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Apr 2007

Ye Olde Boote Inn: this fine sign showing Dick Whittington and his cat belongs to a pub situated just across the road from Whittington Castle, in Shropshire. The castle has possible links to Dick Whittington's story — see note 2 at the end of our account of the tale.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Jun 2007

The Forest Home is, as its name suggests, on the edge of the New Forest in the southern English county of Hampshire and is near the large oil refinery at Fawley. The 'homely' sign has a contented-looking white cat on the rocking-chair in front of a roaring fire.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed Aug 2007

The Snickleway Inn is in the medieval city of York and is an old pub, with parts dating back to around 1500, although this name has been used only since 1994. The pub is said to be haunted; one of its ghosts is a woman who has been seen with a cat walking at her feet, so maybe that is the cat shown on the sign. Some customers claim to have felt the cat rubbing against their legs.
Picture of the pub
Sign photographed May 2009

This Owl and Pussycat is in Basildon, a large town in Essex, east of London, and we understand it is situated on a large housing estate. This is another pub and sign kindly brought to our attention by Peter Crosby, to whom many thanks.
Sign photographed May 2009, Peter Crosby