The Portland daily press., 1889-05-22
A MANIA FOR CATS.
Mrs. Warren of Market Street Has a
Family of Forty.
Marshal Green Proposes to Abate
This Crying Nuisance.

Instances are not rare of mea and women
who, having no families of their own, and
possessed of large amount of affection, or
sympathy, or whatever one may choose to
call it, have bestowed it upon animals, selec-
ting cats, dogs and other four-legged species
as the objects of their tender care. In some
large cities boarding-houses have been estab-
lished In the summer season for canine and
feline pets, whose owners are called out of
town to avoid the summer heats that oppress
the 'can't get away" Then there are
hospitals that have been established for sick
and manned pets, and they have proved
eminently successful and profitable to their
projectors.
Yesterday complaint was made to Marshal
Green that cat nuisance existed on Market
street.at No. SO, over J. Cooper & Co.'s shop.
What the nature of the nuisance might be
was not fully set forth and so the Marshal,
the Health Agent, and the irrepressible re-
porter. proceeded to look 1t up. Upon ar
rival they found the nuisance was said to be
over the shop, Up a narrow staircase they
stumbled. while, from the dark landings,
and crevices In the walls, cleaned the fiery
eyes of cats, like great tropical fire-fies, or
the uncanny ghost eyes seen in 'Der
Freischutz," accompanied by low growls,
and occasional spits. as If some feline camp
was being invaded. And the smell! Oh
heavensl Talk of the odors of Cologne, the
stencil of Chinatown Familiar as the ex-
ploring party was with smells they gasped
for breath on this occasion.
| OFF the head of the stairs were two rooms.
one abeLt twelve by fourteen feet square,
and the other about ten feet in size, and in
| connection with them was a small sink
room. In one of these rooms was woman
sick in bed, whose name was given to the
| Marshal as Mrs Warren. She was about
| thirty-fye years of age, and was said to be
| sick with liver trouble. 1t would have been
| a wonder if she had been well. She was liv-
| ing in an atmosphere that could be response
BILE for about every known disease And
such filthy condition of things as those
rooms presented. Furniture, dishes, house
hold utensils were all mixed up in dire con-
fusion. Dirt reigned triumphant every
where. At least fortyscats of every age, size
and description-barring the ltters of kit
tens--perched where cat could get foot
hold. There were Maltese, tortoise-shell,
great black Toms, buff and white, and pure
white cats, some perched on the dresser,
others sleeping on chairs. some fighting. and
all, more or less, yowing and purring, and
exhibiting all the various phases Of catdoin.
In one of the rooms was huge platter on
which were strips of liver and kidney and
other meats, at which a huge number of
cats we're feeding, while others were pulling
the pieces Of food, they had taken from the
platter. alli.Over the floor, and growing at
any of the others that approached them.
The woman told the health officer that she
boarded many of the felines for other people,
but Ii appeared evident that she was one of
those who have mania for cats and that
they were all her own. Steps will be taken
at once to remove the nuisance, and the shop
keepers and people in the vicinity will cease
to be troubled by the filth, the noise, and the
predatory incursions of this feline army,