Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Félicette, The First Cat in Space: Her Story & Contribution to Science

Felicette.

When you think of space travel, a few names might come to mind, like those of human astronauts, such as Buzz Aldrin. You might even think of animals who have gone to space, such as Ham, the chimpanzee, or Laika, the dog. But do you know about Félicette, the first cat to be sent to space?

If not, you aren’t alone. Most people haven’t heard of Félicette the cat, who was the first cat in space, as her story has been mostly overlooked throughout the years (or credited to a cat named Felix, who never existed in the first place). But in 1963, Félicette the cat went on a brief journey to space after being launched on a rocket by the French version of NASA, the Centre National d’études Spatiales (CNES).

Here’s Félicette’s story!

divider cat faces oct 2024

Who Is Félicette the Cat?

Where exactly Félicette the cat came from is unclear. Some stories have her being discovered on the Parisian streets by the French space program, while others claim she was purchased from a cat dealer. Wherever Félicette was originally from, she ended up being one of a handful of cats trained for a flight to space. Of the 14 felines who underwent training for spaceflight, Félicette was the only one chosen to actually launch into space, supposedly because of how calm and docile she was (though some say it’s because she was the only kitty trained who met the weight requirements).

This kitty wasn’t known originally as Félicette, either. Initially, she was known only as C341 (a name given to help people avoid emotional attachments). The name Félicette was given to this fantastic feline after her triumphant journey to space!

Why Did They Send a Cat to Space?

1963 was still the early days of the space race and research into spaceflight. Scientists the world round were trying to understand how things like the lack of gravity and centrifugal forces would affect a living being while in space. So, scientists used animals for testing to see if living beings even had the ability to survive in space. Félicette was just one of these animals.

To study this with Félicette, scientists carefully monitored her breathing and heart rate while she was on her journey to space via electrodes implanted into her body. By learning how her body reacted to the differences between being weightless in space versus grounded on Earth, scientists could further understand how a human might survive in space.

Félicette’s Journey to Space

On October 18, 1963, Félicette was launched into space via a Véronique AG1 rocket sent off from a base in Algeria. Félicette’s journey only lasted around 15 minutes, but during that time, she flew almost 100 miles over the Earth and achieved weightlessness for about 5 minutes. The Véronique AG1 reached six times the speed of sound, exposing Félicette to 9.5 g-force. After all that, Félicette was safely parachuted back to Earth, where she was met by a recovery team. Pretty impressive for a kitty!

Of course, while Félicette was experiencing all this, scientists were monitoring all her vital signs to discover how her body and brain held up in space. After her return from space, Félicette spent another couple of months being studied by the space program’s lab. Unfortunately, they ultimately decided to euthanize Félicette so they could study the electrodes that had been implanted in her brain.

After all that, you’d think more people would know about the first cat to go to space, but sadly, Félicette’s story has been overshadowed by the stories of other animals in space. Even worse, her story has often been attributed to a cat named Felix—who never actually existed!

Remembering Félicette Today

Though Félicette’s story and contribution to science have long been overlooked, in recent years, this phenomenal feline has had efforts made to commemorate her journey and contributions. In particular, in 2017, Matthew Serge Guy created a Kickstarter to create a Félicette statute. The Kickstarter summary pointed out that many animals who have been to space or made lasting contributions to science, like Laika, the dog, have been memorialized as statues and in other ways, so why shouldn’t Félicette get a statue of her own?

The Kickstarter campaign was successful, and as of 2019, the Félicette statue has been on display at the International Space University in Strasbourg! The statue was created by Gill Parker, a renowned animal sculptor, and features Félicette perched atop the Earth.

divider cat faces oct 2024

Conclusion

And now you know the story of Félicette, the first cat in space! Animals have made many contributions to science, so they should be remembered for what they’ve helped humanity accomplish. Now that Félicette has her own memorial statue, more people will be aware of this fantastic kitty and her contributions to space research!


Featured Image Credit: Illustration by Deborah Lucke.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Space Cats Florida: The Southeast’s Newest Cat Convention Launches This Weekend

Cat lovers, artists, and advocates in Florida are in for a treat this January with the launch of Space Cats Florida, a new...

Space Cats Florida Launch

We Chat With the Co-Founder of NYC’s First Cat Cafe

Ever since I learned that cat cafes existed, I dreamed of visiting one. It might seem odd, since my own home could be...

25 Top Cat Movies for Kids: The Purrfect Picks in 2025

Cats are fascinating and interesting animals, so it’s no surprise that there are numerous movies that feature them. Many films with cats are...

Cool hipster cat with vintage sunglasses holds popcorn

When Will My Kitten Start to Purr? The Origin Story

The sound of a cat purring is one of the most relaxing and soothing noises you’ll ever hear. If you’re about to bring...

grey scottish fold kitten

More related

We Chat With Illustrator Sunny Eckerle About Her Bodega Cats

A few years ago, the illustrator Sunny Eckerle walked into a bodega in Brooklyn and found herself greeted by a cat. After assuming...

Cats in Comics: Feline-Focused Graphic Novels

A few years ago, the novelist Margaret Atwood decided to write about cats. Her revered bibliography includes The Handmaid’s Tale — a dystopian...

We Interview a Creator of Mousr, the World’s First Artificial Intelligence Cat Toy

In 2015, a crowdfunding effort for a product claiming to be the world’s first artificial intelligence cat toy hit Kickstarter. Named Mousr, the...

cat with prosthetic legs

Prosthetics for Cats: Vet-Verified Info & Success Stories

Prosthetics help restore mobility to pets who’ve lost limbs, by allowing them to walk, jump, and run more naturally. Cats do fine with...

Keep reading

Can Cats Eat Pastrami? Health Advice & Alternatives

We come back to our plate to find that our precious kitty has helped themselves to our pastrami sandwich, and we have no idea whether it’s toxic to them. Unfortunately, this happens often to cat parents. It feels nearly impossible...

Can Cats Eat Pastrami

Can Cats Eat Carob Chocolate Substitute? Vet-Reviewed Facts & FAQ

Chocolate is well-known for being toxic to dogs, and most cat owners know it is toxic to cats, too. If you are familiar with carob, a natural substitute for chocolate, you may be wondering if it also comes with those...

Can Cats Eat Carob Chocolate Substitute

Purina ONE Cat Food Review of 2025: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary Purina has been a popular pet food company since it was founded in 1894. Since then, its recipes have changed dramatically. New research has come to the forefront of pet care that has defined healthy and unhealthy ingredients...

Purina One Cat Food Review

How Much Water Does a Cat Need per Day? Vet-Approved Facts & Health Tips

Like humans, cats require access to fresh drinking water, which is essential for proper body functioning and optimum health. Water helps cats maintain good health and flush out toxins from their systems while aiding their digestion and circulation. Without enough...

cat dipping its paw in water bowl

What Do Cats in Heat Sound Like? (With Audio Examples)

Unspayed female cats will go into heat a few times a year. During this period, the feline will be receptive to mating. To draw in a mate, nature has given the female cat many tools, one of which is meowing—loudly!...

tricolor cat in heat

My Older Cat Is Losing Weight: 10 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

​​The average feline lifespan has increased over the years, and today, it’s not uncommon to meet cats that are 18, 19, 20, and even 20+ years old! And while they are considered “seniors” at the ripe old age of 11-14...

sick skinny cat in the veterinary clinic

6 Tuna Popsicle Recipes for Cats You Can Make Today (Vet Verified)

Many of us turn to frozen treats to escape the summer heat. However, most ice cream and popsicles contain ingredients that aren’t safe for cats to eat. Fortunately, your cat can enjoy their own versions of popsicles that will also...

Tuna Popsicle Recipes for Cats You Can Make Today

10 Best Litter Boxes for Maine Coons in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

If you have a Maine Coon, no one needs to tell you how large these cats are. Of course, when you have a large cat, you basically need to supersize everything, particularly their litter box! Most litter boxes are made...

blue tabby maine coon near litter box_Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock