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Félicette – The First
Cat in Space
Have You Heard of Félicette – The
First Cat in Space?
Félicette was a black and white stray cat
who lived in Paris. In 1963, she was picked
to be part of the space program in France.
Remembering Félicette

Why Did French Scientists Pick Félicette? A statue of

Félicette can be
French scientists wanted to find out how seen at France’s
being in space affected living things. International
Space University.
It was unveiled
Why Was Félicette a Perfect Cat for Space? 56 years after
• her space trip, in
December 2019.
• Félicette was a calm and
Her statue is 1.5m
happy cat.
tall and it shows
• She did not seem her sitting on top
to mind being inside of planet Earth
small spaces. looking up at
• She did not seem to the sky.
mind being spun around at Félicette was
high speed. the first and
• She was not upset only cat ever to
by the sensors that had go into space.
to be attached to her. What an
amazing cat!

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space

Félicette’s Space Adventure

• On 18th October 1963, Félicette was placed in a capsule attached to a

space rocket.
• The rocket launched from a base in the Sahara Desert.
• Félicette flew about 157km above Earth.
• Félicette’s space trip was short – just 15 minutes in total.
• Félicette’s capsule came apart from the rocket and she parachuted
safely back to Earth.
• Félicette was alive and well!

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space Questions

Questions
1. Who was Félicette?
a black cat
a black and white cat
a ginger cat
a white cat

2. Complete this sentence:

French scientists wanted to find out how being in space affected
.
3. Félicette was a perfect space-cat. Tick two things that made Félicette
perfect for this job:
Félicette was a stray cat.
Félicette was a calm and happy cat.
Félicette lived in Paris.
Félicette did not seem to mind being inside small spaces.

4. How long did Félicette’s space trip last?

Félicette’s space trip lasted 157 days.
Félicette’s space trip lasted 2 weeks.
Félicette’s space trip lasted 15 minutes in total
Félicette’s space trip lasted 56 years.

5. How is Félicette remembered?

A cat’s home in Paris was named after Félicette.
A star was named after Félicette.
A space rocket was named after Félicette.
A statue of Félicette is at France's International Space University.

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space Answers

Answers
1. Who was Félicette?
a black cat
✓ a black and white cat
a ginger cat
a white cat

2. Complete this sentence:

French scientists wanted to find out how being in space affected
living things.
3. Félicette was a perfect space-cat. Tick two things that made Félicette
perfect for this job:
Félicette was a stray cat.
✓ Félicette was a calm and happy cat.
Félicette lived in Paris.
✓ Félicette did not seem to mind being inside small spaces.

4. How long did Félicette’s space trip last?

Félicette’s space trip lasted 157 days.
Félicette’s space trip lasted 2 weeks.
✓ Félicette’s space trip lasted 15 minutes in total.
Félicette’s space trip lasted 56 years.

5. How is Félicette remembered?

A cat’s home in Paris was named after Félicette.
A star was named after Félicette.
A space rocket was named after Félicette.
✓ A statue of Félicette is at France's International Space University.

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Félicette – The First
Cat in Space
Have You Heard of Félicette – The
First Cat in Space?
Félicette was a black and white stray cat
who lived in Paris. In 1963, she was picked
to be part of the space program in France
along with 13 other stray cats. Remembering Félicette

Why Did French Scientists Pick Félicette?
French scientists wanted to find out how
being in space affected living things. First
they sent rats and then they sent cats.
Why Was Félicette a Perfect Cat for Space?
Félicette was a calm and
happy cat. She did not seem
to mind being inside small
spaces and being spun
around at high speed.
Scientists had to make
sure they would know how
Félicette was feeling all
through her space trip.
She was not upset by
the sensors that had to
be attached to her.
A bronze statue
of Félicette can be
seen at France’s
International
Space University.
It was unveiled
56 years after her
incredible space
trip, in December
2019. Her statue
is 1.5m tall and it
shows her sitting
on top of planet
Earth looking up
at the sky.
Félicette was
the first and
only cat ever to
go into space.
What an
amazing cat!

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space

Félicette’s Space Adventure

On 18th October 1963, Félicette was placed in a capsule attached to a

space rocket. The rocket launched her from a base in the Sahara Desert.
Félicette flew about 157km above Earth. All the time, scientists kept a
close eye on Félicette, watching her breathing and heart rate. Her space
trip was short – just 15 minutes in total. Eventually, Félicette’s capsule
came apart from the rocket and she parachuted safely back to Earth.
She was alive and well!

Page 2 of 2 visit twinkl.com

 Félicette – The First Cat in Space Questions

Questions
1. Who was Félicette?

2. Complete these sentences:

French scientists wanted to find out how being in affected
. First they sent and then
they sent .
3. Félicette was a perfect space-cat. Tick two things that made Félicette
perfect for this job:
Félicette was a stray cat.
Félicette was a calm and happy cat.
Félicette lived in Paris.
Félicette did not seem to mind being inside small spaces and being
spun around at high speed.

4. Number the following sentences to put Félicette’s space trip in the

correct order.
Félicette flew about 157km above Earth.
On 18th October 1963, Félicette was placed in a capsule
attached to a space rocket.
Félicette’s space trip was short – just 15 minutes in total.
Félicette’s capsule came apart from the rocket and she parachuted
safely back to Earth.
The rocket launched from a base in the Sahara Desert.

5. How is Félicette remembered?

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space Answers

Answers
1. Who was Félicette?
Félicette was a black and white stray cat who lived in Paris.
2. Complete these sentences:
French scientists wanted to find out how being in space affected
living things. First they sent rats and then they sent cats.
3. Félicette was a perfect space-cat. Tick two things that made Félicette
perfect for this job:
Félicette was a stray cat.
✓ Félicette was a calm and happy cat.
Félicette lived in Paris.
✓ Félicette did not seem to mind being inside small spaces and
being spun around at high speed.

4. Number the following sentences to put Félicette’s space trip in the

correct order.
3 Félicette flew about 157km above Earth.
1 On 18th October 1963, Félicette was placed in a capsule
attached to a space rocket.
4 Félicette’s space trip was short – just 15 minutes in total.
5 Félicette’s capsule came apart from the rocket and she parachuted
safely back to Earth.
2 The rocket launched from a base in the Sahara Desert.

Note: The passage also makes sense if points 4 and 5 are swapped.

5. How is Félicette remembered?

A bronze statue of Félicette can be seen at France's International
Space University. It was unveiled 56 years after her incredible space
trip, in December 2019. Her statue is 1.5m tall and it shows her sitting
on top of planet Earth looking up at the sky.
visit twinkl.com
Félicette – The First
Cat in Space
Have You Heard of Félicette – The First
Cat in Space?
Félicette was a black and white stray cat
who lived on the streets of Paris. In 1963, she
was picked to be part of the space program in
France along with 13 other stray cats.

Why Did French Scientists Pick Félicette?

French scientists wanted to find out how being in space affected living
things. First they sent rats and then they sent cats. Other countries had
done the same. Scientists sent a dog named Laika into space in 1957
while a chimpanzee called Ham was sent in 1961.

Why Was Félicette a Perfect Cat for Space?

Félicette was a calm and happy cat. Félicette had to go through

training before being sent into space. She did not seem to
mind being inside small spaces and being spun around
at high speed. Scientists had to make sure they would
know how Félicette was feeling all through her space
trip. Félicette was not upset by the sensors that had to
be attached to her.
Did You Know...?
The speed of sound is 1235 kilometres per hour.
Travelling at the speed of sound is like travelling
from Inverness to Brussels, in Belgium, in one
hour. Six times the speed of sound would get you
there in ten minutes!

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space

Félicette’s Space Adventure

On 18th October 1963, Félicette was given the code name C341. She was
placed in a capsule attached to a space rocket. The rocket launched
space-cat Félicette from a base in the Sahara Desert. The rocket roared
into space at up to six times the speed of sound! Félicette flew about
157km above Earth. All the time, scientists kept a close eye on Félicette,
watching her breathing and heart rate. Her space trip was short – just
15 minutes in total. Eventually, Félicette’s capsule came apart from the
rocket and she parachuted safely back to Earth. She was alive and well!

Remembering Félicette

A bronze statue of Félicette can be seen at France’s

International Space University. It was unveiled 56 years
after her incredible space trip, in December 2019. The statue
of Félicette is 1.5m tall and it shows her sitting on top of
planet Earth looking up, as though she is studying the skies
she once travelled.
Félicette was the first and only cat ever to go into space.
What an amazing cat!

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space Questions

Questions
1. Who was Félicette and where was she from?

2. Name two other animals who had also made trips into space.

3. Félicette was a perfect space-cat. Tick three things that made Félicette
perfect for this job:
Félicette was a stray cat.
Félicette was a calm and happy cat.
Félicette was not upset by the sensors that had to be
attached to her.
Félicette did not seem to mind being inside small spaces and being
spun around at high speed.

4. Explain what happened on Félicette’s space adventure.

5. The statue of Félicette shows her sitting on top of planet Earth looking up.
Why do you think the sculptor has shown Félicette this way?

6. Félicette was an amazing cat. What do you think about animals being
sent into space? Explain your answer.

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 Félicette – The First Cat in Space Answers

Answers
1. Who was Félicette and where was she from?
Félicette was a black and white stray cat who lived on the streets
of Paris.
2. Name two other animals who had also made trips into space.
Scientists sent a dog named Laika into space in 1957 while a
chimpanzee called Ham was sent in 1961.
3. Félicette was a perfect space-cat. Tick three things that made Félicette
perfect for this job:
Félicette was a stray cat.
✓ Félicette was a calm and happy cat.
✓ Félicette was not upset by the sensors that had to be
attached to her.
✓ Félicette did not seem to mind being inside small
spaces and being spun around at high speed.
4. Explain what happened on Félicette’s space adventure.
On 18th October 1963, Félicette was placed in a capsule attached to
a space rocket. The rocket launched space-cat Félicette from a base
in the Sahara Desert. The rocket roared into space at up to six times
the speed of sound! Félicette flew about 157km above Earth. All the
time, scientists kept a close eye on Félicette, watching her breathing
and heart rate. Her space trip was short – just 15 minutes in total.
Eventually, Félicette’s capsule came apart from the rocket and she
parachuted safely back to Earth. She was alive and well!
5. The statue of Félicette shows her sitting on top of planet Earth looking up.
Why do you think the sculptor has shown Félicette this way?
Learner's own response. Learner’s answers may include that the
sculptor has shown Félicette this way so she could be seen looking up at
the skies or the stars she had once journeyed towards.
6. Félicette was an amazing cat. What do you think about animals being
sent into space? Explain your answer.
Learner's own response with explanation
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