THE STORE CATS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 85, 20 January 1938, Page 6

THE STORE CATS

KEEPING DOWN PESTS.

VALUABLE ASSET LITTLE KNOWN MANY HAVE DTED LATELY. Guardians of valuable stocks of grain and seeds, there are in the West Street stores dozens of cats, and though in the sight of those Avhose pets grace the slxoav ring they are “less than the dust,” their value is rated much higher than the pampered pussies that purr on cushions and carpets. Unfortunately, a disease has assumed epidemic proportions among the store cats in the last feAV Aveeks and it is estimated that about 50 have died since Christmas. Thb disease caused the fur to fall off, and it is apparently accompanied by a severe itch Avhich causes the cats to stratch vigorously. Indeed, a “Guardian” reporter Avas told this morning that some of the cats had literally scratched themselves to death.

One explanation of the disease is that the cats are in constant' contact with concrete floors, hut as many years have passed since there Avas any such outbreak as noAV, this theory is discredited, in some quarters. NeA’ertheless, tor daj T s on end, cats have been dying in the stores. The young cats have been as badly infected as the older ones.

The loss of the cats is a serious one to the stores, especially at the present time, Avhen the harvest is about to be handled, but it is believed the situation can be adequately met. Meat arid Milk Supplied. Considerable care is taken of the cats that live in the stores, as rats and mice Avould soon deA'astate the stacks of grain if they Avere, given the freedom of the floors. Meat is purchased for the cats every second day, and. at times mihee is provided, this being mainly for the kittens, of Avhieh there is alAvays a lively colony. Milk is supplied to them every day. In some stores the cats have learned to come at a call, Avhile in others they ans Aver to a Avhistle. At the same time, there is no need to summon the cats Avhen a stack is being broken doAvn for they seem to sense the manoeuvre wherever they might be and come eroAvding round, even getting in the Avay of the workmen at times, so anxious are they to get at any mice among the sacks. They dive on their prey Avith lightning speed and this lia‘s been the undoing of many a good mouser, for liea\\y sacks have fallen on them and killed them or injured them to such an extent that they have had to be destroyed. It is common to see a cat Avith five, six or seven mice in its mouth at one time. When they have caught too many to be handled in that Avay, they 7 kill their catch and place them in a heap on the floor while they go back for more victims. When the Avork on the stack has been finished the cats return to the heaps' and partake of a meal. AfteV good catches, the ration of meat is cut doAvn tor a day or two. Trucks and lorries backing into the stores take toll on the cats at times and noAV and again kittens are lost through children picking them up and taking them to their homes.

For years a woman has gone to West Street every evening and placed tit bits for the cats of one of the stores. This little ceremony is carried out wet or fine. If the cats are not out on the path, the woman pushes the food under the door. Cats have lived in some of the stores for 10 and 12 years. Most of them have names and they nearly all an intelligence that the casual observer would not give them credit for. It is the usual thing for the cats in one store to announce the capture of a mouse. They will mew loudly till they have shown the mouse to a workman before they eat the catch. They have been known to carry a mouse all over the store to show it off before consuming it. In another store, all the rodents caught overnight are placed, near one of the doors and are not removed till the -workmen have arrived. The work of the cats means a huge saying to the grain stores, for without them the places would soon be overrun with mice and rats which would slash bags from end to end in very little time.