Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-03
CATN|P PACIFIES
VICIOUS zoo CATS
All But One Proves SuScep-
tibIe to Proposed
panther" Lure.

The lion, like the lesser cats, likes his
little nip when it's catnip.
The cat family, from the little bob
cat to old Brutus, the king of them all,
went on a grand spree at the Zoo
on a small bagful of catnip, and
thereby proved that the cat beast of
the Northeast section of Washington is
susceptible to the weed and might thus
be captured.
The catnip, an effective lure for
panthers in the West, is being seriously
considered by big game hunters here,
who are f1guratively itching for a shot
at the elusive "varmint" that has har-
raised Northeast Washington and near
Maryland residents.
But something will have to be done
about the catnip market, the entire
available supply having been cornered
for yesterdays experiment on the Zoo
cat beasts.
Puma Proves Susceptible.
With the sanction and in the presence
of Dr. William NJ. Mann, director of the
Zoo, the catnip first was offered a small
mountain lions in the park Awakened
from a mornings sleep for the catnip,
the puma at first showed no reaction to
the weed, but purred a 40-catpower
purr when DR.. Mann and a newspaper
man rubbed its ears. Then Whit of
the catnip reached Mr.. Puma, and the
purr developed to 60-catpower Slow
ly he got down on the floor of his cage
and luxuriously and contentedly shifted
in the odor
The bay lynx, or common bobcat, a
still smaller animal, was next visited
with the catnip. Here the reaction was
the same. The bobcat looked like it
was having glorious time.
Next two big mountain lions, or
panthers, were visited. The female for
about five minutes spurned the proffered
catnip.
Just as DR.. Mann was explaining
that the wind was wrong for the cat
nip scent, an Grant breeze waited to
the ioness' nostrils the promises of
cat-heaven that seem to go with cat
nip. She ambled over to the weed
strewn on the floor of the cage. Like
kitten playing with a ball It tossed
the sprigs into the air and slapped at
them as they came down. Then she
got down in the ice and snow for a
grand "wallow."
FerociOus OcelOt is Tanned"
The male lion, about twice the size
OF its mate, sleepily came out of the
box to see what all the excitement was
about. 1t was hard to interest him,
too, but when fully awake, and
stretched, he, too, entered into the fun
Next the catnip was tried on the most
ferocious beast in the ZOO, an ocelot.
The small, sleek, spotted animal was
In a Snarling rage when DR.. Mann and
the newspaper man arrived with the
soothing catnip. Carefully for the
ocelot had two paws armed with vicious
long claws ready for any unwary visi-
tor, sprig Of catnip was pushed into
tie cage. The ocelot paved over it for
a moment, splitting and snarling, then
Gained down, Smelled the catnip and
succumbed. The ocelot was as gentle
as lamb when the catnip bag sought
new fields to conquer.
William H. Blackburn, head keeper
OF the Zoo was added to the party
when it reached the lion house. He
first gave the weed to the male lion of
the pair presented the Zoo by Presi-
dent Coolidge. This young lion, father
OF a Few days, was in a towering rage
and has been ever since the Zoo keep
ers took his mate away from him to
guard against his destroying the two
newest lion cubs. He reared and clawed
at the bars of his cage at the approach
of Mr.. Blackburn, recognizing the man
who took away his mate. The catnip,
however, turned his roaring to a purr
and his clawing to gentle fondling of
the weed.
Old Brutus Enjoys IL.
Old Brutus, the oldest lion in the Zoo
and king of all beasts there, was the
next subject for the catnip experiment.
His reaction was all that could be de-
sired
Brutus got one Whit of the catnip
and rolled over on his back, all four
giant paws In the air. On his face
there came as near a look of supreme
contentment as ever adorned a lions
countenance. For a long time Brutus
lay thus enjoying the perfume of catnip
So 1t went with the huge Bengal
tigers, the leopards and all the rest of
the cat tribe Of the Zoo. Only one
failed to pay any attention to the weed.
1t was Mitzi, the cheetah, or Indian
hunting leopard. Mitzi is a tame ami
NAL, pet, for all her being as big as
lion. She differs from the rest of the
cats only in the respect that she does
not have prehensile claws. Her claws
stick out like q dogs. Nevertheless,
she Is q true cat, according to DR..
Mann. But she cares not for catnip.
Both DR.. Mann and Mr. Blackburn
expressed the belief that catnip woIld
be mighty potent lure for any cat
that might be roaming the woods and
fields of Northeast Washington and
Southern Maryland. just where the
weed is coming from. since yesterdays
orgy used up the available supply in the
city, they did not vouchsafe.