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+--- Thread: Felicette, the first cat in space (/showthread.php?tid=8526)
Felicette, the first cat in space - Catherine - 04-21-2025
In 1963, France chose to launch a cat into space. They gathered up a group of street cats and prepared them for the mission. Felicette is the one that was chosen because she reacted the best. Her brain activity was monitored continuously during the mission.
She was not recognized for what she had done or in any way treated well. She was killed a few weeks after the mission and her body examined. It told them nothing.
Other animals launched into space have been given some recognition, Felicette has been ignored.
It was only in 2019 that Felicette's story was rediscovered and a statue was installed at the International Space University in Strasbourg.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2025/04/20/the-forgotten-story-of-c341---or-flicette---the-french-feline-who-was-launched-into-space-in-1963/
The statue is too little, too late. Felicette did not volunteer. She did cooperate very well. Without her calm nature this could not have been done.
At very least she should have been given a happy home for the rest of her natural life. It should have been unlimited treats in comfort for as long as she lived.
Killing her was barbaric. Failing to acknowledge her contribution was unacceptable.
It also fits the pattern of how we treat lab animals. They give their lives and we treat them as disposable lab equipment.
It isn't just the cruelty of animal experimentation that is wrong. It is also our attitude towards the lab subjects.
I hope by telling Felicette's story we are at least becoming aware of how we have failed to do what is right.