What do you think?
Rate this book
Trim, The Cartographer's Cat: The ship's cat who helped Flinders map Australia
A fun and quirky gift book about a much-loved ship's cat: Trim, who helped Flinders map and lap Australia.
Trim was the ship's cat who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia from 1801 to 1803. Trim, The Cartographer's Cat is a charming ode to the much-loved pet, which will warm the heart of any cat lover. The first part of the book reproduces Flinders' own whimsical tribute to Trim, written while in captivity in the early 1800s, with added "friendly footnotes" to provide some background to Flinders' numerous literary allusions and nautical terms. Next the book discusses where Flinders was when he wrote his tribute and why, and what his letters and journals from that time tell us about his "sporting, affectionate and useful companion." Finally, we learn what Trim's views on all of this might have been, in a fun and fanciful observation on his premature epitaph.
Accompanying this jam-packed fascinating text are beautiful maps, historical photographs, quirky original illustrations by illustrator Ad Long and excerpts from Flinders' original script, showing his beautiful handwriting. This book will make a unique and treasured gift for Flinders fans and cat lovers around the world.
Trim was the ship's cat who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia from 1801 to 1803. Trim, The Cartographer's Cat is a charming ode to the much-loved pet, which will warm the heart of any cat lover. The first part of the book reproduces Flinders' own whimsical tribute to Trim, written while in captivity in the early 1800s, with added "friendly footnotes" to provide some background to Flinders' numerous literary allusions and nautical terms. Next the book discusses where Flinders was when he wrote his tribute and why, and what his letters and journals from that time tell us about his "sporting, affectionate and useful companion." Finally, we learn what Trim's views on all of this might have been, in a fun and fanciful observation on his premature epitaph.
Accompanying this jam-packed fascinating text are beautiful maps, historical photographs, quirky original illustrations by illustrator Ad Long and excerpts from Flinders' original script, showing his beautiful handwriting. This book will make a unique and treasured gift for Flinders fans and cat lovers around the world.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
8 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Flinders
26 books4 followers(For the 21st century political writer, see Matthew^^Flinders)
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was a distinguished navigator and cartographer, who was the first to circumnavigate Australia and identify it as a continent.
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was a distinguished navigator and cartographer, who was the first to circumnavigate Australia and identify it as a continent.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 9, 2019
TRIM The Cartographer's Cat
by Matthew Flinders, Gillian Dooley, Philippa Sandall, and with the visual imagery of Ad Long
My most enjoyable read year to date, and we're already three-quarters of the way through, too.
Britons are said to be a nation of pet lovers. I doubt there's really much difference between them and us, so, on that basis, I make the assumption that few will disagree with me when I rate Trim The Cartographer's Cat a delight.
Matthew Flinders' seafurring companion is one of the most famous felines in history. His story's been told a number of times - and yet I'd make so bold as to declare this new release the definitive work on the subject.
Trim's tale was written in the first place by Matthew Flinders himself while incarcerated on Ile de France (Mauritius). The full, original story is repeated here, including the reproduction of a page in his beautiful cartographic hand. Support is provided by author and editor, Philippa Sandall, and researcher and woman of many parts, Gillian Dooley PhD. Between them they have provided a bright, easy reading insight into the cat who was, in Flinders' words, "...the best and most illustrious of his race."
Much as I've enjoyed Trim's tale over the years, as told by his master and sailing companion, I am similarly well pleased with the words of the modern co-writers. Excerpts are taken from the original manuscript and descriptive passages of explanation (called Incidents), all 'According to Trim', provided to expand on his extraordinary tale.
As an example, Matthew Flinders tells us,
"Playing on the deck in moonlight, the ship lying tranquilly in (Port Jackson) ...he fell overboard; he learned to swim and to have no dread of water."
Trim takes up the story,
"...of course I didn't learn to swim. Felines have natural buoyancy so all we have to do is keep our nose above water, keep breathing, keep paddling, and keep calm." He then did what cats do best, used his climbing prowess to get back on board. So there you have it, straight from the cat's mouth, as it were.
There's so much I'd love to tell you about this beautiful little hardcover (it's just 128pp, and measures 190 x 135mm), but I think I ought to let you find out for yourselves. It's a must for cat lovers and for those who enjoy quirky little adjuncts to history.
Flinders spent almost five years a captive of the French on Mauritius, but Trim lived neither well nor long once incarcerated.
Or was that the case...?
by Matthew Flinders, Gillian Dooley, Philippa Sandall, and with the visual imagery of Ad Long
My most enjoyable read year to date, and we're already three-quarters of the way through, too.
Britons are said to be a nation of pet lovers. I doubt there's really much difference between them and us, so, on that basis, I make the assumption that few will disagree with me when I rate Trim The Cartographer's Cat a delight.
Matthew Flinders' seafurring companion is one of the most famous felines in history. His story's been told a number of times - and yet I'd make so bold as to declare this new release the definitive work on the subject.
Trim's tale was written in the first place by Matthew Flinders himself while incarcerated on Ile de France (Mauritius). The full, original story is repeated here, including the reproduction of a page in his beautiful cartographic hand. Support is provided by author and editor, Philippa Sandall, and researcher and woman of many parts, Gillian Dooley PhD. Between them they have provided a bright, easy reading insight into the cat who was, in Flinders' words, "...the best and most illustrious of his race."
Much as I've enjoyed Trim's tale over the years, as told by his master and sailing companion, I am similarly well pleased with the words of the modern co-writers. Excerpts are taken from the original manuscript and descriptive passages of explanation (called Incidents), all 'According to Trim', provided to expand on his extraordinary tale.
As an example, Matthew Flinders tells us,
"Playing on the deck in moonlight, the ship lying tranquilly in (Port Jackson) ...he fell overboard; he learned to swim and to have no dread of water."
Trim takes up the story,
"...of course I didn't learn to swim. Felines have natural buoyancy so all we have to do is keep our nose above water, keep breathing, keep paddling, and keep calm." He then did what cats do best, used his climbing prowess to get back on board. So there you have it, straight from the cat's mouth, as it were.
There's so much I'd love to tell you about this beautiful little hardcover (it's just 128pp, and measures 190 x 135mm), but I think I ought to let you find out for yourselves. It's a must for cat lovers and for those who enjoy quirky little adjuncts to history.
Flinders spent almost five years a captive of the French on Mauritius, but Trim lived neither well nor long once incarcerated.
Or was that the case...?
November 16, 2019
This little book is adorable. It includes "A Biographical Tribute to the Memory of Trim" written by Matthew Flinders when he was imprisoned on Île de France (Mauritius). A map detailing Trim's voyages, contemporary drawings from the time, and a version of Trim's adventures written by Trim himself! We find out more about Trim than his person Matt ever knew.
I borrowed this from the library but I might have to buy my own copy.
I borrowed this from the library but I might have to buy my own copy.
April 28, 2025
I read this one on the recommendation of an Aussie homeschooler who said it was an entertaining read about Matthew Flinders’ circumnavigation of Australia and introduced an important part of Australian history and geography. That’s exactly what I wanted… but it wasn’t our experience. This is essentially a tongue-in-cheek book about how great he thinks his cat is. Not a lot to orient you in history or even in sea navigation because it’s about a cat guarding the stores from mice and climbing up the ropes. If you love cats, this is for you. (I don’t like cats.)
March 18, 2025
A great little book. Matthew Flinders was an amazing, intrepid sailor. The tale of his cat, Trim, and his connection to his cat reach across time. The images and explanations add a lot to understanding the times.
December 1, 2019
A fun and easy read about one of the most famous cats in history. A lovely way to learn more about Matthew Flinders journeys without being bored by incessant dates and details.
June 5, 2023
4 stars for Matthew Flinders' Tribute to Trim. Didn't bother with the rest of the book as quite boring and made up.
July 20, 2024
A lovely endearing tale of Trim, the cataographer who helped Matthew Flinders to map Australia.
I would love to have known this extraordinary feline.
I would love to have known this extraordinary feline.
December 20, 2019
“In playing with his little brothers and sisters upon deck by moon-light, when the ship was lying tranquilly in harbour, the energy and elasticity of his movements sometimes carried him so far beyond his mark, that he fell overboard; but this was far from being a misfortune; he learned to swim and to have no dread of the water; and when a rope was thrown over to him, he took hold of it like a man, and ran up by it like a cat; in a short time, he was able to mount up the gangway steps quicker than his master, or even than the first lieutenant.”
Trim is one of the most famous cats in history due to Matthew Flinders’ heartfelt writings in tribute to him. Matthew Flinders was an English cartographer and navigator who circumnavigated Australia, mapping much of the country’s coastline. He also identified it as a continent and suggested the name Australia. His feline friend, Trim was born in the middle of the Indian Ocean in 1797 and voyaged with his master until they became prisoners on the island of Mauritius about 6 years later, where he disappeared.
In 1809, a year before he is released from Mauritius, Flinders recorded his sadness of the loss of Trim in A Biographical Tribute to the Memory of Trim.
I kindly received Trim: The Cartographer’s Cat from a competition run by The Australian Writers’ Centre. I chose today to publish my review, as today marks one year since we lost our own Trim. Our black and white fur baby boy passed away suddenly, his life left much too short, as was his namesake.
Matthew Flinders’ Trim was named after the character Corporal Trim in the novel Tristram Shandy (published between 1759-1767) by Laurence Stern. He was “Uncle Toby’s honest, kind-hearted, humble companion.” Also very true of our own Trim.
Trim: The Cartographer’s Cat includes Flinders’ biographical tribute as well as corrections in Trim’s own words, an essay by Gillian Dooley, timelines, maps , footnotes, illustrations and photographs of the many statues dedicated to the cartographer and his cat (sometimes just his cat) around the world. I have previously read Matthew Flinders’ tribute, but it was beautiful to have so much additional information (some which had corrected former editions).
It wasn’t just Flinders who had his heart stolen by Trim, but the crew. It was amusing to think about sailors playing with endearing Trim, satisfying his whims and fancies; endeavoring to further his learning of science, nature and sailing.
“…He was, I am sorry to say it, excessively vain of his person, particularly of his snow-white feet. He would frequently place himself on the quarter deck before the officers, in the middle of their walk; and spreading out his two white hands in the posture of the lion couchant, oblige them to stop and admire him.”
Flinders describes that Trim would wait to be given the command to go aloft at times for example, when they were taking in a reef. The sailors then would carry him back to the deck after his inspection of the rigging was complete.
He was also very polite when it came to food.
“…He was always the first ready for dinner; but thought he was commonly seated a quarter of an hour before any other person, his modest reserve was such that his voice was not heard until everybody else was served. He then put in his request, not for a full allowance, he was too modest…by a gentle caressing mew, he petitioned for a little, little bit, a kind of tythe from the plate of each…Without the greatest attention to each morsel, in the person whom he had petitioned in vain; he would whip it of the fork with his pay, on its passage to the mouth, with such dexterity and an air so graceful, that it rather excited admiration than anger…There are some men so inconsiderate as to be talking when they should be eating, - who keep their meat suspended in mid-air till a semi-colon in the discourse gives an opportunity of taking their mouthful without interrupting their story. Guests of this description were a dead mark for Trim: when a short pause left them time to take the prepared mouthful, they were often surprised to find their meat gone, they could not tell how. “
Well, most of the time he was polite to those who deserved it. My Trim lived up to his namesake in this aspect all too accurately.
“Trim had one day missed a fine morsel from the hungry activity of one of the young gentlemen…seeing him, however, talking and eating at the same time, my persevering gentleman did not give it up, though the piece was half masticated and only waited for a period to disappear; but running up the waistcoat of our unsuspecting guest, for Trim was then but a kitten, and placing one paw at each corner of his mouth, he laid vigorous siege to his morsel…”
Two centuries later, Trim is still softening the hearts of humans. It was clear when he went missing in Mauritius that many, many people felt it was a great tragedy. Matthew Flinders’ dream of settling in the country in England with his small “bedfellow” didn’t come to pass. Flinders himself died the day after his book A Voyage to Terra Australis was published in 1814. There are six memorials spread throughout Australia, Britain and Mauritius.
Gillian Dooley, who is a Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University loves to visit the one in London in particular when she is in England. Fellow author, Philippa Sandall has written a book about ships’ cats- Seafurrers: The Ships’ Cats Who Lapped and Mapped the World. I will definitely be checking out this book and her Seafurrers website.
Animals touch our hearts so deeply, many of them living their whole lives in our care. They become loving companions in a way which is different to human friends and relatives. Trim was one of the few who travelled the globe (plus shipwrecked) and will live forever in history thanks to his devoted master.
“…endowed with an unusual degree of confidence and courage, and having never received anything but good from men, he believed all to be his friends, and he was the friend of all. “
Instagram @aholdfullofbooks
www.mareekoenders.com
Trim is one of the most famous cats in history due to Matthew Flinders’ heartfelt writings in tribute to him. Matthew Flinders was an English cartographer and navigator who circumnavigated Australia, mapping much of the country’s coastline. He also identified it as a continent and suggested the name Australia. His feline friend, Trim was born in the middle of the Indian Ocean in 1797 and voyaged with his master until they became prisoners on the island of Mauritius about 6 years later, where he disappeared.
In 1809, a year before he is released from Mauritius, Flinders recorded his sadness of the loss of Trim in A Biographical Tribute to the Memory of Trim.
I kindly received Trim: The Cartographer’s Cat from a competition run by The Australian Writers’ Centre. I chose today to publish my review, as today marks one year since we lost our own Trim. Our black and white fur baby boy passed away suddenly, his life left much too short, as was his namesake.
Matthew Flinders’ Trim was named after the character Corporal Trim in the novel Tristram Shandy (published between 1759-1767) by Laurence Stern. He was “Uncle Toby’s honest, kind-hearted, humble companion.” Also very true of our own Trim.
Trim: The Cartographer’s Cat includes Flinders’ biographical tribute as well as corrections in Trim’s own words, an essay by Gillian Dooley, timelines, maps , footnotes, illustrations and photographs of the many statues dedicated to the cartographer and his cat (sometimes just his cat) around the world. I have previously read Matthew Flinders’ tribute, but it was beautiful to have so much additional information (some which had corrected former editions).
It wasn’t just Flinders who had his heart stolen by Trim, but the crew. It was amusing to think about sailors playing with endearing Trim, satisfying his whims and fancies; endeavoring to further his learning of science, nature and sailing.
“…He was, I am sorry to say it, excessively vain of his person, particularly of his snow-white feet. He would frequently place himself on the quarter deck before the officers, in the middle of their walk; and spreading out his two white hands in the posture of the lion couchant, oblige them to stop and admire him.”
Flinders describes that Trim would wait to be given the command to go aloft at times for example, when they were taking in a reef. The sailors then would carry him back to the deck after his inspection of the rigging was complete.
He was also very polite when it came to food.
“…He was always the first ready for dinner; but thought he was commonly seated a quarter of an hour before any other person, his modest reserve was such that his voice was not heard until everybody else was served. He then put in his request, not for a full allowance, he was too modest…by a gentle caressing mew, he petitioned for a little, little bit, a kind of tythe from the plate of each…Without the greatest attention to each morsel, in the person whom he had petitioned in vain; he would whip it of the fork with his pay, on its passage to the mouth, with such dexterity and an air so graceful, that it rather excited admiration than anger…There are some men so inconsiderate as to be talking when they should be eating, - who keep their meat suspended in mid-air till a semi-colon in the discourse gives an opportunity of taking their mouthful without interrupting their story. Guests of this description were a dead mark for Trim: when a short pause left them time to take the prepared mouthful, they were often surprised to find their meat gone, they could not tell how. “
Well, most of the time he was polite to those who deserved it. My Trim lived up to his namesake in this aspect all too accurately.
“Trim had one day missed a fine morsel from the hungry activity of one of the young gentlemen…seeing him, however, talking and eating at the same time, my persevering gentleman did not give it up, though the piece was half masticated and only waited for a period to disappear; but running up the waistcoat of our unsuspecting guest, for Trim was then but a kitten, and placing one paw at each corner of his mouth, he laid vigorous siege to his morsel…”
Two centuries later, Trim is still softening the hearts of humans. It was clear when he went missing in Mauritius that many, many people felt it was a great tragedy. Matthew Flinders’ dream of settling in the country in England with his small “bedfellow” didn’t come to pass. Flinders himself died the day after his book A Voyage to Terra Australis was published in 1814. There are six memorials spread throughout Australia, Britain and Mauritius.
Gillian Dooley, who is a Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University loves to visit the one in London in particular when she is in England. Fellow author, Philippa Sandall has written a book about ships’ cats- Seafurrers: The Ships’ Cats Who Lapped and Mapped the World. I will definitely be checking out this book and her Seafurrers website.
Animals touch our hearts so deeply, many of them living their whole lives in our care. They become loving companions in a way which is different to human friends and relatives. Trim was one of the few who travelled the globe (plus shipwrecked) and will live forever in history thanks to his devoted master.
“…endowed with an unusual degree of confidence and courage, and having never received anything but good from men, he believed all to be his friends, and he was the friend of all. “
Instagram @aholdfullofbooks
www.mareekoenders.com
August 17, 2022
A small book containing a big story. Matthew Flinders, British navigator and cartographer, sailed to and from Australia between 1795 to 1803 mapping the coastline of a vast and largely unknown continent which he was instrumental in naming Australia. On these precarious and various journeys, he was accompanied by the ship's cat (his cat) with the name Trim, by all accounts a trim and ship-shape feline. I think the nautical term relates to a ship being "trim" for better handling in a seaway. Or alternatively he was named from a character in a 1759 novel by Laurence Sterne. For me, this was a new and fascinating insight into Matthew Flinders who was the world's most accomplished cartographer and first to circumnavigate Terra Australis. Around the world there are statues of Flinders and six memorial statues of Trim including one outside Euston Station in London.
Trim accompanied Flinders on many fur-raising forays, and he developed a taste for fresh flying fish. Sections of the book are "A Biographical Tribute in the Memory of Trim" by Matthew Flinders RN. Second is "Matthew Flinders Trim's Shipmate and Bedfellow" according to Gillian Dooley PhD. And third is 'My Seafurring Adventures with Matt Flinders" from Trim himself, assisted by Philippa Sandall. This section has exciting chapters of real nautical adventures survived by the daredevil cat. By all accounts Flinders and Trim were exceptional characters. The illustrations are wonderful and the research is phenomenal. An enjoyable and readable book which has given me more insight than I learned at school. Suitable for the whole family especially if you are interested in early Australian history or doing a school project. I'd go so far as to say every library should own a copy!
More info with photos my blog https://thoughtsbecomewords.com/2022/...
Trim accompanied Flinders on many fur-raising forays, and he developed a taste for fresh flying fish. Sections of the book are "A Biographical Tribute in the Memory of Trim" by Matthew Flinders RN. Second is "Matthew Flinders Trim's Shipmate and Bedfellow" according to Gillian Dooley PhD. And third is 'My Seafurring Adventures with Matt Flinders" from Trim himself, assisted by Philippa Sandall. This section has exciting chapters of real nautical adventures survived by the daredevil cat. By all accounts Flinders and Trim were exceptional characters. The illustrations are wonderful and the research is phenomenal. An enjoyable and readable book which has given me more insight than I learned at school. Suitable for the whole family especially if you are interested in early Australian history or doing a school project. I'd go so far as to say every library should own a copy!
More info with photos my blog https://thoughtsbecomewords.com/2022/...
February 8, 2020
This edition of Trim reproduces (but with new editing and fixing of errors found in other editions) Matthew Flinders' tribute to his cat, Trim, as well as has sections on Flinders and Trim's life and the context that they were lived in. While the bit written by Matthew Flinders is, as would be expected, somewhat old-fashioned in manner (it was written in 1809), it is a great piece of writing, and well footnoted in this book to help explain to readers references that are not obvious to a reader in the 2020s. The rest of the book, written by modern authors, is accessible, well-written and with a good eye for attention to detail. It also contains many references to European Australia's early history, and Flinders' voyage.
Production values are great, with good margins, a colour hardcover, many illustrations and a good/clear layout, as well as excellent editing (I didn't spot a single error - something that hasn't happened to me in a many, many books) make this a great all-round package.
I couldn't think of a better book on a ship's cat.
Production values are great, with good margins, a colour hardcover, many illustrations and a good/clear layout, as well as excellent editing (I didn't spot a single error - something that hasn't happened to me in a many, many books) make this a great all-round package.
I couldn't think of a better book on a ship's cat.
July 20, 2024
Every now and then I stumble on a book that I will remember for years to come. This is one of them. The core story - as written by RN cartographer, explorer extraordinaire, and ship's captain, Matthew Flinders - is pure gold five-star reading. The only reason I've downgraded the rating to 4 stars is that modern-day editors/writers added their commentary, which adds bulk to the book but does little else for me. Regardless, I loved this story. Of course, it helps if you have a liking for felines.
If you want a little more taste (with some spoilers) of Captain Flinders' wonderful writing, see my more extensive blog review at https://blog.staadecker.com/2024/07/1...
If you want a little more taste (with some spoilers) of Captain Flinders' wonderful writing, see my more extensive blog review at https://blog.staadecker.com/2024/07/1...
October 31, 2022
Just a crazy cat man talking about how awesome his cat is … what more could you want! Loved the footnotes and commentary of Flinders’s OG manuscript from 1809! Then you get to hear from the perspective of Trim - cute representation of Flinders’s work. As a crazy cat lady I whole heartedly enjoyed this book ❤️
January 20, 2025
An endearing tribute to Trim that has given me a new appreciation of Matthew Flinders. We are lucky to see this tribute come to light after going missing after so many years and possibly forgotten forever. Now, it’s accessible for everyone to read about so that Trim’s memory lives on and is a wonderful reminder of how our feline companions bring us much joy and love and companionship.
April 6, 2025
Przyjemna lektura, przywołanie oryginalnego pożegnania Matthewa Flindersa z jego kotem Trimem zostało wykorzystane do przybliżenia jego osoby i odkryć. Kontr-historyjki z punktu widzenia kota dodają więcej opisów z życia na okręcie i tła historycznego wypraw. Sporo zdjęć i humorystycznych obrazków, reprodukcji obrazów i rycin uzupełnia i uatrakcyjnia tekst.
April 23, 2022
Sweet. Loved the idea that Flinders wrote a tribute...to his cat! The imagined life of Trim is fun too, and educational. Admission, I'm a cat lover, and have always loved the idea of the statue of Trim in Sydney.
Also recognises that Flinders did not 'discover' Australia, but map it.
Also recognises that Flinders did not 'discover' Australia, but map it.
August 22, 2023
An adorable little book where a man just gushes about how amazing his cat is, what's more to like? I was particularly touched by the Dedication Flinders wrote for Trim. I also quite enjoyed the humorous additions of little stories or 'incidents' from Trim's point of view.
March 1, 2024
Short story, developed around the few mentions of Trim by Matthew Flinders.
First part of book is from Captain Flinders pov, then follows from Trims.
Interesting, but I prefer Bryce Courtney's more elaborate version.
First part of book is from Captain Flinders pov, then follows from Trims.
Interesting, but I prefer Bryce Courtney's more elaborate version.
January 22, 2025
Enjoyed Flinders witty recounting his cat’s adventures. The footnotes were helpful but difficult to read. The contemporary expounding upon the events was interesting. Timeline in the back. Good intro to early days of European involvement in Australia.
November 1, 2019
An amusing little story with some imagined commentary from the cat of what life on board ship would have been like
March 1, 2021
Whimsical, quirky and endearing. A fine tribute to "the best and most illustrious of his Race". Definitely a must-read if you regard yourself as a cat-lover.
July 23, 2021
Perfect, quick read for Australian history buffs.
November 9, 2021
matthew flinders is an ailurophile confirmed. he literally talked about his cat the way we talk about cats today, meme-level speech honestly.
January 5, 2026
This was a lovely little book with for me a beautiful main character. Unfortunately the older writing style, though authentic, was somewhat heavy going for me.
January 15, 2024
A precious little gem with wonderful illustrations. Purrfect little book for all ages.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews