The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-11-11
TIE ISLANDS, WILD CAT


a family came one summer from Ney
York to spend a few months, bringin,
along with them several dogs an,
pet cats
They left the island early in Sep
TENDER, and when the house was clos
ed up the place was entirely deserted
passed the island late one after
noon, and decided to land for few
moments
The sides of the island were bluff
and rocky, and l scrambled up with
some difficulty. When ! reached the
summit heard the deep baying oil
my hound. r whistled, and in re.
Spouse to it he came tearing toward
me from the thicket.
But what a sight he presented.
Riding on his back and tearing merci-
lessly at his neck and head was the
strangest looking creature / ever saw.
1t was so gaunt that it looked more
liked starved wolf than a cat,
No wonder the hound was frighten-
ed. The half-starved cat was fight
ing fiercely, and actually enjoying
the taste of fresh blood which it's
claws drew from the hounds warm
body. The creature had been a pet
house cat the summer before. but its
lonely, desperate life on the island
had made it fiercer and wilder than
its primitive ancestors.
| examined the island hastily, and
found that the cat had taken possess
sion Of an old dog-kennel for its lone
ly home. There it had gathered the
few bones left behind and gnawed
them half up. A few birds had ap-
parently been caught and eaten, and
the bones of squirrel and several
rats were also scattered around. The
bark of the trees was nibbled as If
the poor thing had in desperation
tried to satisfy its hunger with green
things.
1t had broken through the shutters
of one window and entered the closed
house, but there was nothing to eat
in there. An old fur blanket that
had been left behind was chewed half
up, and an old shoe was also nibbled
and chewed. The marks of the cats
Teeth were on nearly everything
which promised mite of nutriment.
The cats tracks were found in the
snow and on the ice to the very edge
Of the frozen surface. It had con-
,emplated escaping on the ice, but
he channel was too swift and deep
or it.
tried to make friends with the
calling 1t by pet names, and
,rying to coax 1t toward me. Where
aver | went the baleful eyes watch
ID me, but always at safe distance.
had only single biscuit with me,
tut | threw this to the starving ami
nal 1t would not approach near
enough to touch it, but when moved |
lway 1t leaped for the biscuit and |
it at one gulp.
The next day returned to the
sland with an ample supply of fresh
milk, bread, and meat. These III
pread out on the snow and called
Kitty, Kitty" In my most alluring /
dice. But the cat wouldn't come a
tep nearer. 1t backed away and dis
in the thicket. I hunted
round for it, but couldn't find it any
vhere on the island. / was disap-
ointed, and finally returned to my
oat.
Imagine my surprise when | reach
d the place where / had landed to
ee the cat perched in the stern of
he canoe. 1t glared at me, and when
attempted to step in the craft it
pit and Kissed in threatening man
er. 1t had taken possession Of the
oat, and had no intention OF leav- H
lg it. t%| n7c.
Again | tried to make friends with
!, throwing bits of meat toward it,
ut these 1t ignored, still facing me
nd Kissing. Finally tipped the
anoe suddenly and nearly dropped
le creature in the icy water 1t
'uched the water with its tail, and
len with a snarl and hiss leaped to-
ard me. I ducked just in time. |s
went over my head, but before it |
nded on the rocks it gave me such :
dig with one of its claws that the
God spurted out in tiny stream.
Such reception wasn't encourag- I
g. and ] felt a little squeamish q
bout returning the next day. But
d, and took more food. This time t
placed the food on the rocks and t
lShed off (, Atm cafo diCfaroo T | =,