1. Trim the cat was born aboard Matthew Flinders’ ship Reliance, bound for Australia in 1799. Jet black, with four snow white paws and a white star on his chest, Trim was a great favourite with everyone.

2. One moonlit night when Trim and the crew were resting, Trim fell overboard. Trim learned to swim. The clever cat climbed up a rope and was safe even though he had used up one of his nine lives.

3. Trim joined in all the sailors’ tasks. He was very good at climbing the rigging... until it was time to come down!

4. Trim was the finest ratcatcher aboard. He spent days on end in the dark breadroom where the ship’s biscuits were stored. He watched and waited for the greedy rats. Trim chased them away.

5. Trim always had his dinner with Captain Flinders. Trim was such a well-mannered cat that he took his meat from the Captain’s own fork.

6. On Trim’s first visit to Australia, he met a kind aboriginal called Bongaree. Trim saw many strange and wonderful creatures and plants. Mr Bauer, the ship’s artist, sketched and Mr Good, the ship’s gardener, gathered cuttings.

7. Trim and Flinders returned to England. Trim went to live in a house in Deptford. He had never lived in a house before. Oh no……… ! It was just as well that Trim and Flinders were off to sea again.

8. Trim, Flinders and the crew of the Investigator were the first to sail all the way round Australia. It was a long and dangerous voyage. Many of the crew, including Trim, were very sick.

9. On the voyage home, Trim, Flinders and the crew were shipwrecked on a coral reef. Flinders took a ship’s boat to find help. Trim tried to keep everyone’s spirits up. Flinders returned with another ship to continue their voyage.

10. Trim and Flinders set off once more. Their new ship was leaking so they landed on the island of Mauritius. Captain Flinders did not know that Britain and France were at war. French soldiers captured them and put them in prison. A kind lady cared for Trim but one day Trim wandered off and could not be found. Trim was never seen again. A very sad Captain Flinders wrote the story of his dear friend, Trim the cat.