The Ship's Cat, also known under its full title of The Adventures & Brave Deeds Of The Ship's Cat On The Spanish Maine: Together With The Most Lamentable Losse Of The Alcestis & Triumphant Firing Of The Port Of Chagres, is a 1977 children's narrative poem that was written by Richard Adams with illustrations by Alan Aldridge.

[1][2] The book was first published through Jonathan Cape and describes the adventures of an anthropomorphic Elizabethan ship's cat.

The cat frees his shipmates and together they manage to steal a ship, with the intent to sail back to England.

Their acts are soon detected by the gaoler and his friends, who give chase until they come across Sir Francis Drake, who is just starting on his expedition to circumnavigate the globe.

The book ends with the crew returning home, where Queen Elizabeth I knights the cat for his valor.