Freddie Mercury's Pets

Freddie Mercury deeply loved cats, and he had many over his life. Peter Freestone, his personal assistant, could name 10 cats Mercury had throughout his 45 years: Dorothy, Tiffany, Tom, Jerry, Delilah, Goliath, Lily, Miko, Oscar and Romeo, the last six of whom outlived their owner.

Friends and bandmates recalled that when Mercury went on tour, he would phone home just to speak to his cats, with whoever was caring for them holding the receiver up so they could hear his voice. His devotion showed up in his lifestyle, too: his London home was filled with cat-themed art and decorations. He ensured rooms were designed for the comfort of his cats, including beds and small furnishings. He even dedicated sections of his wardrobe to feline-inspired designs.

His first cat, a blue-point Siamese named Tiffany, was a gift from his then-partner, Mary Austin, in the 1970s. Tiffany opened the door to a lifetime of feline companions, and soon Mercury’s home became a multi-cat household. Delilah, a tortoiseshell cat, became Mercury’s clear favorite. She was mischievous, affectionate, and often curled up beside him while he worked. He adored her so much that he wrote a playful tribute song, “Delilah,” featured on Queen’s 1991 album Innuendo. The lyrics, full of humor and affection, stand as one of the most personal songs he ever recorded. His 1985 solo album Mr. Bad Guy was dedicated “to my cat Jerry… also Tom, Oscar, and Tiffany, and all the cat lovers across the universe.