This is 'Kat'.
She was Aldgates' resident 'mouser'.
Kat became a crew member at the begining of November 2008, when she was approx 4 months old.
She was signed on for the cost of a bottle of beer, but cost me a bit more over the years.
Kat loved posing for photos, and was a bit of a 'towpath tart' at times.
On a decent size run she would go to sleep in the hold (when it was empty), but had to be put in her travelling box or 'play pen' when I needed to do locks, to stop her 'jumping ship'.
Once we were tied up, and she'd had a stretch and roll on the towpath, she liked to curl up on the battery box in the engine 'ole and go to  sleep.

​Sadly 'Kat' is no longer with me.                                                    
I believe she was attacked by a dog on the night of Monday 10th June 2019 at Church Lawton, on the Trent & Mersey, where we were tied up.
I found her body on the towpath early Tuesday morning.
I have buried her in a nice peaceful place, where I can easily visit her.
​She had many fans along the waterways, and will be sorely missed.                                                 
For more photos of Kat click here