Evening star., 1896-06-11
OV E r RUN BY CATS
Washington Infested by an Army of Feline
Trampa


What to do with the army % stray cats
is a problem that Washington will he called
upon TO solve before great while" said an
old resident TO Star reporter today. The
fact is that the city is oyerrun with tramp
cats, and they make the nights hideous with
their yowls."
Il never could see" he continued why
a municipal government should impose a
tax on dogs and not on cats or rather why
the dogs running at large without license
tags should De caught and taken To the
pound, while the pestiferous felines should
be allowed to run at large. If any one
thinks that Washington IL not infested with
tramp eats let him only make a trip around
the alleys some day and take a census Of
the poor forlorn specimens that ne sees
asleep on back sheds or prowlinR about
back yards between maps. The ma jority OF
them. however, Will be found taking a good
srooZe, preparatory 10 the nights cam
paign. AT nightfal they become very ant
mated and can be seen skylarking up and
down alleys. and even through the principal
residence streets. And how they do Ncll,
AS sleep d!stGrbcrs they are a great sue
cess. MY neienborhood was SO ov,rrun
win them and my sleep disturbed 10y
them, that in self-defense l PROVIDED my
self with parlor rifle. and j have iusi A
dozen Eotches on the stock TO show IN.
number or the enemy slain. And I am
keeping up the good work But IN. .a,s
are just now giving my neig hhor-hooI "a Vii.
berth, and game isn't nearly so ,,lsrt,fIl
as IL was.
Great Increase
The alarming phase Of the matter. how
ever. Is the rema rkaiple annual Increase os
the cat army. Litter after litter of kittens
is pfcueht TO light in out-of-the-way Ilaces.
Nopody owns them and nobo ly takes the
trouble to drown them. They grow and
thrive and soon are able to rustic for them
selves. ard, like their parents make A pre-
carlous hTlns from garbage cans ANA r-iuse
matter OF various kinis.
Where Cats Are Impounslcd.
why can't We do in Washington as they
do in New York;" he continued During
the last year the existence of NOR. han
25.toO cats Was terminated in thai ciiv
and, too, by the Society for the PREY ention
Of Cruelty to Animals. In 1884 laws were
enacted transferring the right to issue dog
licenses and impound strays from IN. CITY
government to the society and the Laws
SO extended as TO allow the humane de-
sFucNon OF such cats, dogs and horses as
were unclaimed and We're diseased or oiher-
wise unnt for use or sale.
How Ii IL Done I'm New yorL
According TO a recent issue of The New
York Journal the society erected a building
at lo2d street and East river, called the
Shelter, in which these poor. homeless ami
iiiai "aAis eilu tlltlT existence, rather.
have ii ended for them
There are four ambulances in the cat
service, and 800 cats are gathered in each
month by the vigorous officers of the Sc
clety. Waits, or homeless felines are
caught in the streets, alleys or anywhere
that the catcher can entice them witnln
catching distance. In the case OF house
hold pets, however, whose mistress.s wish
lhem destroyed. either on account OF an
oVefsupply or for some equally potent rea-
son, a call is left at the societNs head
quarters. The ambulance in due time calls
at the house and the cat is put INTO "A
wicker basket. Each cat is allowed a bas-
ket 10 itself
In sood-sized room at the north end Of
the building is a large compartment or box
which looks as If IT might be a coal bin
Two large pipes run into the box On ON.
end Is an opening which swings on hinges.
This. when opened, discloses a number of
smaller compartments. 1t is the death box
A hundred cats can be killed at once
Inc pipes contain ilCminatin gas The
felines are placed in the box the ga. turn
ed on and for thirty minutes the attend
ants watch the clock. The gas is then
turned off ana allowed TO escape by means
of a pipe placed in the box for the pur-
pose, and 100 dead eats are taken out. 10
be turned over 10 the board of health
winch IN turn transfers the corpses to the
contractor VINO cares for all dead animals"