The Washington times., 1924-08-27
CATS DEFENDED.
but OWNERS
SCORED
Blde-a-Wee Home Founder
saystN. Y. Needs FeIines
to Fight off Rats
BY MARGERY REX.
BY international News Service.

- ~%AN~AA Se-SASAAegA @NOWD Wa vASOe
NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-To estab-
ltsh a curfew for cats was the origi-
nal intent Of this article. To de-
nounce felines for their nightly or
chestratiOns in our street. To give
cats such unpleasant publicity that
they would be glad to subside, at
least vocally.
We hoped that their Attention
would be called" to our story and
Tear would be implanted nine times
In each of their black bosoms. Es-
pecially did we mean to break the
proud spirit of That's, to whose mu-
steal meditations we must listen
from midnight to dawn, and that of
Delilah, who tears fur from other
cats, with loud words on each side
OF the fence, so, to speak.
But then we talked to officials Of
the Bide-a-Wee Home Association
Tor Friendless Animals, who say the
people and not cats are lacking in
consideration.
There are not too many cats in
New York City, the society says
But there are too many thoughtlesS
cat owners. Too many householders
who leave town for the summer and
leave their cats to severe cases of
melancholia.
Dogs, If they lose their masters,
can die of broken hearts. Cats who
lose their homes are just heart
sick, we learn.
Mrs. Harry Ulysses Kibbe, presi-
dent and founder Of the Bide.a-Wee
Home Association, Is authority for
the statement. Mrs. Kibbe does not
believe that New York should have
q cat raid in spite Of the unusually
large feline population large per-
centage Of which is neglected and
therefore ohstreperous.
Although the home is founded to
TAKE care OF horses, cats and dogs,
the felines with true prima donna
instinct have monopolized the CEN
ter of the humanitarian stage in
the society's building at No. 40
East Thirty-eighth street. Mrs.
kibbe says Of the cat problem.
IL we didn't have so many cats
IN New York we would have yer.
min, plague Of rats and mice.
Boston, a few years ago, ordered a
cat raid owing to the large num-
Der OF stray cats that infested the
streets, but worse plague Of rats
and mice followed. A good cat
about the home really protects it
In this way.
I'VE will always have homeless
cats. So many reople close their
homes for tha summer and turn
out the helpless cats, animals that
are supposed to be able to forage
for themselves. People should feel
more kindly toward stray cats-they
are not at all able to find food
when they have been accustomed
TO being cared for. Many Of them
lead miserable lives when turned
out on their own.
FOOD Is SCARCE.
Our city is so sanitary that
there. is no food lying about for
cats. The other night as I was
coming into the apartment house."
Mrs. Kibbe related, II heard
dreadful racket. At the east end
Of the building, where the ash cans
stood, were about a dozen cats try
ing to pull the lids off, When
morning comes I thought, I will
have those cats sent to the homes
but in daylight they had disap-
peared. That Is the problem, to
find by day the cats who make the
noises by night"
Mrs. Kibbe says nothing much can
at night. Noises which If made by
human beings would bring a stiff
fine for disturbing the peace. Cat
owners are the real cause If the
racket and they must be made to
see reason.
IF humans were more considerate
! and remembered sometimes to care
for helpless creatures, if a law pro-
hibited them to leave cats behind,
It would help the situation.
LEAVE CATS BEHIND.
MANY people nave an idea that
It Is bad luck to move the cat to a
new home. So their former pet is
put on the street, unprotected and
wretched. to forage for food ana yell
unhappily."
We shall try, the next time we're
tempted to throw old shoes at these
songstresses of the nights atreets,
to save the missiles until their mas
tiers return to town. But it will
require a return of that self-control
Of which sleepless nights have
robbed us.
Sleep is supposed to knit up the
raveled sleeve of care"
The cat in the electric sign play
ing with yarn must be symbol Of
all her sisters who unraveI that
same sleeve by their midnight sere-
nades.
e0IIEGE E0p ROTH SEXES