Vintage Suffragette Cat and Mouse Act Tea Towel

The Cat and Mouse Act was the nickname for the Prisoner's Temporary Discharge of Ill Health Act introduced by the British Government during the votes for women struggle. Suffragettes jailed for destroying property to highlight their cause went on hunger strike. When they fell sick due to starvation, they were set free then arrested and sent back to jail to finish their sentence, thus the cat and mouse nickname. The border background is a pattern of my restored version of the original 1913 postcard produced by the Women's Social & Political Union (WSPU) showing a woman in the jaws of a cat. The wording reads: ‘The Cat and Mouse Act Passed by the Liberal Government - The Liberal Cat - Electors Vote Against Him! Keep the Liberal out! Buy and read The Suffragette. Price 1d.’ The front cover of The Suffragette newspaper is in the centre of the design. Edited by Christabel Pankhurst, daughter of leading women's rights figure Emily, it shows an illustration of Joan of Arc, the feminists' ideal woman, carrying the WSPU banner. She is dressed in armour with the word Justice stamped on her tabard. The tea towel would be perfect for feminists and cat lovers, of course! You can change the pink background colour to suit with the customize button.