THE QUESTION OF CATS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 381, 22 February 1908, Page 4

THE QUESTION OF CATS.

The New York Humane Society has taken action, looking to the destruction ot improper, immoral, and friendless cats, and agents are at wotk capturing the nocturnal prowlers, and turning them over to the proper authorities of the Society, who cause them to be killed. This action cannot but be favourably commented upon by all loyal citizens, and it is only reasonable to suppose that it will not be long before such a {Society will be engaged in the Dominion in cat extermination. There is a great field here for such a Society, and applause awaits the humane people who have banded together to put cats out of their misery. No doubt there are those who will say that cats are not in misery when they give veut to those soul-stirring passages, from unvviitteu opera, under the currant bushes, but one cannot but think that they are in the most crushing misery which it would be a charity to put them out of, or they would not chew their words so, and expectorate imaginary tobacco juice, mingled with hair and profanity. It is well kuown that human beings, when they are enjoying each other’s society, do not groan and samautha around with their backs up, and their eyes sot, and run up board fences, and it is a safe inference to draw that these after-dark cats are in pain. Of course, cats are not human, though they are endowed With certain human instincts, such as staying out at nights, and following other cats, fitting on the sharp edge of a ■board fence for hours, gazing at a neighbour’s cat, and occasionally purmowiug, may be likened by the student of Nature, to human beings, who sit for hours on a cast iron seat in the park with arms a ouud each other —but it is far different. We have got to hear of instances where quantities of hair have been found oii the grounds in the parks, and no young man or young woman, after an evening in the park, comes to his place of business in the morning, with eyes clawed out, or so stiff as to be unable to get .up from under the stove without ■ being kicked. Weighing the matter carefully and ui an unbiassed maimer, the chromo for good conduct, correct deportment and good citizenship, must be given to the human beings who frequent the parks at night, over, the cats who picnic under the gooseberry bushes, and play “ hoof-me-gandy ” on our area fences, when those who have brought them up from innocent kittenhood think they are abed and asleep. So it is plain the Humane Society have got work to do. The New York Humane Society have got tired of seeing a Thomas cat that never paid any taxes, get upon a pile of wood, swell his tail up the Size of a rolling pin, bid defiance to all laws, spit on his hands and say in ribald language to a Mariar cat, of a modest and retiring disposition, “ Lay on Mac Duff, and blanked be he who first cries permew.” This thing, according to the Society, has got to cease. That the war is about to commence is certain, because the President of the Society has resigned. But there are bold men in the Society that are not so tender hearted, and they will fight the cat question to the bitter end. It would be interesting to see one of the members with bis trusty shot gun, going through back alleys at midnight, his white plume always to be found where cat hair is the thickest. Another will meet him after the enemy is driven over the’fence in disorder, and take refuge in, the shrubbery, and compare notes and cats. A couple of other members will go out in the pale moonlight with stuffed clubs and sell cats short, and at the first meeting of members there will be suug a solemn requiem for the repose of the' alleged souls. of the midnight opera performers bn the back fence, and no doubt a grateful people will passl resolutions, of thanks that where once all was chaos and cat hair, ■ all will be peace and goodwill towards morning. . And may grace, mercy, peace and plenty of cat scalps abide with the bold night riders of the New York Humane Society. Scat! '