Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-08-28
HE JUMPS
ONTO The
HOUSE CAT
Prof. Fisher of Agricultural De-
partment Points Out That
They Are Menace
to Humanity.

Washington, Aug Sleel
| highwayman, "marauder." and "al
legged mouse killer" are just few o
the low-down, mean, opprobrious cpl
thets which learned scientific ex
pert is now calling that pet of child
hood and solaee of the spinster-the
cat.
Tabby comes in for an awful muck.
raklng in the new year book OF the
department of agriculture. Prof A.
X. Fisher of the biological survey is
the man who destroys those early
idols as to the lovely character of the
cat. He says the animal is a degen-
erate--a thief--a scoundrel-and
ought not TO be tolerated in re-
spectacle household-or at least not
allowed the same liberty as at pres
ent.
1T is safe to say that this ma
rauder (the professor is referring to
the cat when he uses this mean word)
which enjoys all the comforts and
protection of a home, destroys in the
aggregate more wild birds and young
poultry than all the native natural
enemies combined A cat has been
known TO kill a whole brood of chick
ems in a day, a feat unequalled by any
predaceous animal. with the possible
exception OF the mink. Many an in
nocent hawk, skunk, owl and weasel
has been shot for the deeds of that
sleek highwayman, the house cat.
"A well known naturalist estimates
that In the New England states alone
500 .OO0 birds are destroyed annu-
ally by cats
The principal reasons given for
keeping cats are their attractiyeness
as house pets. their usefulness as
companion for children and their al
legged value as rat and mouse killers.
Alleged mouse killer" think of
that insinuation! but the professor
does more than just sneer at Tabby's
rodent killing proclivities. He says
further:
1T Is safe 20 say that few persons
during a normal lifetime run across
more than half dozen eats that ha-
bitually attack rats. II has been the
common experience OF the writer 70
find premises that were we'll supplied
with eats over run with rats and mice.
In q certain ranch house in the west
he trapped in his bedroom IL mice
In week, although eight eats had
access to The place.
Lovers OF the cat should be con-
tent with one. or at the most two. OF
these pets. and should see to Il that
do not run az large on their
premises. Now that cats are known
TO carry I'm their fur the germs not
only OF ringworm but also OF such
dreaded diseases as tuberculosis,
scarlet fever and smallpox
the presence in the household OF
rabby is not without It's dangers"
Isn't that a picture of malignant
And then. too,
think OF these things Professor Fish
er says about the cat. while reading
the pleasant words, the little con
the pats OF encourage
ment and the appreciatiye praise he
gives TO that fragrant animal, the
skunk Here's what the professor
thinks about that smelly beast:
The skunk is another chicken
thief' which renders important sery-
fee by destroying immense numbers
of mice. grubs. grasshoppers aud
other noXious forms Although IL
prefers his kind of food. like the
opossum IL will eat almost any ami
mai matter and also at times certain
wild fruits and berries. II is said
TO be fond of eggs aud young chick
ems; but the writer has known a
mother skunk To make her nest and
rear her young in the inner walls
of chicken yard aud neither egg nor
fowl was molested"
Probable II Uncle Tama jim"
Wilson. who is secretary of agricul-
ture, hadn't been watching closely.
Professor Fisher would have added
TO this eulogy OF the skunk the rec
that that animal be
adopted as a household pet instead
OF the disgraoed cat A skunk as a
household pet, however, would prob
ably NOT be Mithnnf lis hnnrars