The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-15
PET CAT GOES MAD.
Animal Raised From Kitten Attacks
All Who Come Near 1t.

New York, March 15.-Four women
and one man, of Patchogue, L. l., were
attacked by rabid cat with such
ferocfty that on the advice of the fam
| lily physician and a fellow practitioner
called in consultation they were sent
to the research laboratory of the New
YORK board of health, at the foot of
East sixteenth street, for treatment.
The wisdom of tfis course was shown
yesterday when a report was received
from the laboratory, where the brain
or the cat had been examined micro
ployed by Pasteur to determine the
characteristic disintegration of the
brain matter as 1t appears in hydro
phobia.
The report was specific and positive
in determining that the animal was
suffering from rabies in it's most vio-
lent and dangerous form.
Mrs. Gordon, who lives at Church
street and Railroad avenue. Patchogue,
until last Thursday was the possessor
or one or the handSomest cats In SUI
folk county. 1t was one of a litter of
five born last Septembe Der, and had the
true tiger markings from poll to tail.
The mother of the litter was a splen-
did specimen of the domesticated fe-
line, but when they took her babies
away she became ugly and refused to
purr until one kitten was restored.
The survivor grew rapidly. and by
the latter part of January was as large
as the ordinary cat six months old. By
March she was a beast as large and
powerful as her mother.
Just a week ago Mrs. Frances Law
renee. of Syracuse, who was visiting
Mrs. Gordon, went from the kitchen
into the cellar to look at the furnace
fire. The cat, or kitten, as they called
It, sprung at her as she reached the
foot of the stairs and seized her throat
Mrs. Lawrence threw the animal off,
screamed and fed upstairs, but the cat
followed her, leaped again and buried
it's fangs in her left hand, at the same
time using fore and hind claws with
effect. The woman was so frightened
that she could not call for assistance
When she did recover sufficiently to
tell of her experience Mrs. Gordon be-
lieved at first that the temper of her
pet cat had been libelled. On the fol-
lowing day she went to the cellar, 1oi-
lowed by the cat which was purring
gently and rubbing against the hem of
her dress. Mrs. Gordon gathered some
household supplies and was about half
way up when the cat ran ahead or her
and halted at the top step. The pur-
ring had ceased. The white fangs were
showing az they are shown by tiger
about to leap.
With growl, the cat Jumped straight
at Mrs. Gordon's neck, but she lodged:
The cat landed on her left arm and
bit and clawed her. Shrieking, MIS-
Gordon fed after hurting the maddened
creature from her. In the sitting room,
a ne1ghbor, MISS Grace carter was
playing the plano. Before the girl
could move her hand, the cat seized
and lacerated it with its sharp teeth
and the needle-like claws. The house
hold was in a panic.
The kitten" disappeared after it's at
tack on Miss Carter, but reappeared
later in the day and leaped at Mrs
Harriet Conkling, an aunt of Mrs. Cor
don, tearing her hands and seeking to
reach her throat, but was beaten off.
The woman did not then dare to ven
ture to the cellar again.
James Shand, a. grocer, making his
usual call for delivery. was attacked
the moment he entered the kitchen door.
The cat Ieaped upon him from table.
He seized fhe animal by the back of
the neck, carried it to a snow bank
and exerting all his strength to avoid
the teeth, choked the cat to death.
DR.. A. H. Terry cauterized the
wounds Of the bitten persons.