Ships' animals as a source of crew morale

If either ships' cats or the grog ration could return, which should the Royal Navy reintroduce?

Ships' animals, especially cats, because they can support morale and become part of a ship's shared identity.

A choice between restoring ships' cats and restoring the grog ration favours shipboard animals, especially cats. They can lift morale rather than merely revive a drinking tradition. The public following around a cat associated with HMS Queen Elizabeth shows how an animal can become part of a ship's identity. Morale and shared symbolism are small but useful parts of life in a naval institution.