Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-03-21
CATS THAT LIVE in CLOVER
Ninety FeIines Are Supported BY A
Wealth Milwaukee Woman.

NlntV FeIiHeS are supported BY r
/ Wealth Milwaukee Woman.
The story of how a family of cats is
keeping house in fiat right here in
town sounds like one of Hans Ander-
sons fairy tales where royal princes
and princesses are turned into cats by
a wicked fairy and are destined to so
remain until delivered by some person
Of kind, unselfish heart, loving them
for themselves alone. But there is
ljust such cats home in Milwaukee,
where the inmates live like feline kings
and queens, under the protecting care
OF benefactress sufficiently kind and
unselfish to wish to change them back
to their original states, if they ever had
any.
Miss Sarah Hathaway is the kind
friend OF these cats, which number
about 80. and for several years she has
rented the first flat of the house at
5f2 Jefferson street as the home for her
pets. They are, perhaps, the most
fortunate fellnes in the country and
live on the fat of the land. There are
black, white, maltese and yellow cats,
big cats and little cats, but no thin
cats. For while Miss Hathaway had
a room in the same building with the
cats, but she now lives elsewhere and
only goes to the house several times a
day to feed them.
She adds to her collection any poor |
stray cat she may find on the street,
and is constantly on the watch for
them, and the black bag which she
always carries with her for bundles and
packages has transported Elany sick
pussy to the cat home, to be nursed
and cared for until well, ani finally, to
become fixture of the place. Miss
Hathaway pays $16 month for the
pussIes' fiat, and there are three fine,
large stoves, which burn day and night
in the winter time.
Ihe cats breakfast, dine and sup
most sumptuously and six pounds of
chopped beef and a fine round steak,
with milk and dessert, form their or
dinary meals. Boxes of sardines and |
cans of oysters by the dozen are order {
ed from the wholesale grocers. Anoth !,
er item which counts up in the expenses 9
Is the cologne and perfume which is | I
lsed to kill the strong odor inevitably
to Cats. The rooms are kept [
neat and clean and there /
ire transoms, which are kept open all t
he time, at the top of every window /
except the front ones. The cats have
lot only house to themselves, but a | O
ard to play in as we'll, and they 60 and
ome as they please through hole in n
be door. such as Benjam Franklin t
vas said to have had for his cat. Miss f
hathaway has the grass left to grow at
ts will in the yard, as her feline friends
refer it that way. and sometimes IN .
he evening they all stroll out together
0 get the fresh air.
The cats are very fond of their mis-.
ress and show their love by rubbing y
p against her and purring or even =,
llngIng on her shoulder. Just at pre- y
snt there are some young kittens in =.
le home that opened their eyes but y
ew days ago. Sometimes when there "
an increase in the family and the
umber threatens to outgrow their W
uarters doctor is called in to chloro
orm the new arrivals. o.
AS a crowd they are not especially u
'iendly and care for no one but their 81
distress. Most of the animals are of te
rdinary common breed, but there are el
mong them some fine Angoras and VI
ther high bred animals for which she
aid good price. Cats are often tr
rought to her and offered for sale, and W
le sometimes buys, but none of her az
cts is ever disposed of. gl
The cats are usually quite peacably n
isposed. but accidents are liable to M
appen even In the best of families, 10
nd the whole family sometimes en-
ages In wrestling match, which III
,unds like the Cataract coming up the TO
ver. ps
The pussies are quite accomplished pl
the musical line, and in the summer al
me are noted for their al fresco con
erts, with a chorus of 40 or so voices. ca
heir efforts, though. are not always Cd
ppreciated by the neighbors. I'd
There are catterys, cat hospitals and eS
1t clubs throughout the country, but Ia
[iss Hathaway's cat home is the only th
ne of its kind known. Visitors are ia
ot welcome, and the doors are barred ke
everyone but the cats and their mis- OF
ess. 1t is not only to poor animals
lat Miss Hathaway extends her char M
y, but many poor child has been CO
snefited by her kindness. Cats with I'M
sr are hobby in which she is well In
ole to indulge, and which she enioys gr
others enjoy foreign travel or fine 5h
iment. Milwaukee Sentinel. no
o gr