20 Adorable Pictures Of Freddie Mercury With His Beloved Cats

With the huge success of the epic biopic that is ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘ sweeping the world, people are once again realising that Freddie Mercury really was a one-off legend (who could forget!?)

Not only was he the perfect combination of showman and lyrical genius, but he was also a really kind, shy and understated man in his private life, despite all the glitz, glamour and lavish parties that fame thrust upon him.

Now, if all that isn’t enough to cement him into the forever cool and amazing hall of fame, then maybe you’d like to know that he was also a huge animal lover and absolutely ADORED Cats! I don’t know about you, but to me, that would be enough on its own. Who doesn’t love a man who loves cats!?

Freddie thought the world of his felines and treated them like his own children and the pictures that we have to show you are absolutely charming and adorable in equal measure!
They show the sheer love and admiration that Freddie had for his furbabies and whether you not you love cats or just love Freddie himself, these pictures guaranteed to make your heart melt!

1. His love of felines is said to have begun in the 1970s

When his then-girlfriend Mary Austin, gifted him a pair of two gorgeous felines named Tom and Jerry! Which is so sweet in itself, because I’ve never had anyone in my life who has loved me enough to buy me cats!

2. It was love at first sight for Freddie, Tom & Jerry

According to numerous sources, one of which is his personal assistant (Peter Freestone) while Freddie was off touring the world with Queen, he always made sure to call Mary (who would always care for his kitties when he was away) to check up on his newfound furbabies. Take it from me when I say that is definitely the start of a life long cat obsession!

3. His new found best friends were never far from his mind

“He’d get to a hotel, we’d dial through, and he really would talk to his cats,” Freestone explains.
Writing in his memoir about Freddie, he adds,
“Mary would hold Tom and Jerry in turn up to the receiver to listen to Freddie talking. This continued throughout the years with succeeding feline occupants of his houses.”

How utterly adorable is that!? Looks like Freddie always had ‘crazy cat dad’ just waiting to come out of him! Thank god for Tom & Jerry!

4. Cats were always treated like family in the Mercury Household

They weren’t just pets to Freddie or something to claim ownership of, they were his family, his children and his best friends.

5. Who needs children when you can have kittens!?

According to some reports, Freddie eventually adopted a total of ten cats, their names were Tiffany, Dorothy, Delilah, Goliath, Lily, Miko, Oscar, and Romeo. “His cats were his family,” wrote Freestone, stating that Freddie always made sure each cat had his or her own Christmas stocking filled with treats and toys! I can’t handle the cuteness right now.

6. He was the ultimate Cat Dad

Sure, ten cats may seem a lot to some people, but when you’re a worldwide famous rock star which trillions of cash, then why not give something back to something you love!? I think it was an amazing thing to do and it shows how much of a kind and caring man he truly was.

7. Showing kindness to animals is a big indicator of character

Jacky Smith, who was the Official Queen Fan Club leader of 21 years stated that,
“Most of them were from rescue centres. We have a charity in the UK, called The Blue Cross, which takes care of sick animals. Freddie got at least two from them.”

8. They made him extremely happy

People often say that fame and fortune don’t bring happiness, so it would be nice to think that Freddie’s love of cats came from an innate maternal and spiritual need to feel more grounded and loved…and to me, there’s no better thing for that than having animals in your life! The unconditional love they provide is abundant.

9. He loved them so much, he dedicated his music to them

The Queen Archives state that Freddie even dedicated his solo album, Mr Bad Guy, to his cat Jerry, as well as the rest of his cat clan at that time, and even spread the love note to ‘all the cat lovers across the universe.’
I think I may cry right now… I hear you, Freddie! I hear ya!

10. Crazy cat people will always resonate with Freddie

“Innuendo” which the Queen buffs among you will know, was the last album he recorded with the group, and it included artwork of Freddie dressed as a jester with cats on his shoulders! It also featured a catchy song, entitled Delilah. Which of course, would lead you to believe that it’s about a woman…that is until the line about her ‘peeing all over his Chippendale Suite.’ Or least, I hope it’s about one of his cats if that’s the case!

11. Deliah also features a guitar solo from Brian May with harmonies that sound like meows!

Now, you’d think that Freddie would have had some influence on that, but apparently, Brian May is also a huge cat lover and has owned many cats himself over the years, he’s also apparently been quoted as saying that he’s definitely a cat person opposed to a Dog person!
So, it looks like Queen were a total crazy cat loving band…that’ll definitely do for me! Just when you thought you couldn’t love them anymore….

12. There are clues to his cat adoration everywhere if you look for it

Eagle-eyed Freddie fans have found another clue of the rockstar’s love for his cats, on the inside of the Classic Queen CD insert, for what would be his last portrait, Mercury wore a striking vest with cats on it…

13. & It’s beautiful…

Oh my god, I think I’m going to cry…if you’re about to join me in some pathetic, soppy, cat-based bawling, then hold on because we’re done yet…
If this wasn’t cool, sweet and adorable enough already, but on closer inspection, you will find that these aren’t just any old cats…they’re actually Freddie’s own!!
Yes, on closer inspection, you can see that the beautiful, handpainted cats featured on the vest, are his own! He also wore it for his last video, These Are The Days Of Our Lives.

14. Deliah definitely seemed to be at the forefront of his kitty brood!

Delilah was Freddie’s big, tri-coloured tabby, who he adopted in late 1987. As the lyrics to his song for her state (and Freestone’s book confirms), she apparently, completely took over the house and pretty much did whatever the hell she pleased. “She was a real character, that lady!” he stated.
Deliah sounds like my kinda’ cat! & What an adorable chonk of a cat she was!

15. “Delilah was just kind of funny. She was a bit of a bully to the others, but was always first on his lap, first for food.”

Jim Hutton, who was Freddie’s partner of seven years, also recognized their special bond. He has described Delilah as “the little princess” of their home & “the one he’d pick up and stroke the most often.” And if that wasn’t enough, “she’d sleep at the foot of the bed, before slipping out for a nighttime prowl.”
It sounds like she was a total diva and the perfect kitty soul mate for Freddie!

16. “He would constantly fuss over them, and if any of them came to any harm when Freddie was away, heaven help us!”

I totally understand that though, as an animal lover, there’s no worse feeling than when your furbabies are poorly…but when you’re not even there to be with them, then it’s an unbearable, heartbreaking situation!

17. “During the day the cats had the run of the house and grounds, and at night one of us would round them up and bring them inside.”

I’m actually wishing that I could have been one of Freddie’s cats right now, it just sounds like such an idyllic life for them all. What a beautiful man he truly was to give those kitties such an amazing life!

18. His cats were never far from his side

It seemed like with any human being, Freddie craved love and stability in his life…and sadly, with the kind of lifestyle that comes with fame and fortune, that doesn’t always work out very well, as he found out…but at least he could always depend on his cats for trust and unconditional love.

19. They were the biggest love of his life

In one of Freddie’s final interviews, he stated that he had included the cats in his will and that his furbabies and Mary Austin were the greatest loves of his life, revealing ‘I’m leaving it all to Mary and the cats.’

20. &  They were with him until the very end

The cats kept Freddie company and provided him with much-needed love and attention in his final months. It was stated in Rolling Stone magazine that he spent hours with watercolours, trying to paint a portrait of his dear Deliah and when he was dying in 1991, one of his final actions was stroking her soft fur…

We hope you are at peace now Freddie and that your beloved cats have been reunited with you…

We still love you….

All images sourced from and credited to: Bored Panda

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