29 Cats In Her Room

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30715, 2 April 1965, Page 14

29 Cats In Her Room

“The Press” Special Service HAMILTON, April 1. An elderly woman tenant of a State rental flat in Peachgrove road, Hamilton, at one time had 29 cats in her room, a witness told the Magistrate’s Court. The witness was giving evidence in a claim for possession of the flat by the landlord, the State Advances Corporation, against Hilda Jane Ellis, a widow. The case was adjourned for a week. Mr V. R. Jamieson, for the corporation, said Mrs Ellis was creating a nuisance by keeping an excessive number of cats in her room. He told Mr L. M. Inglis. S.M., that several attempts had been made to reduce the nuisance. The Magistrate: By knocking off the cats?—l believe that has been done on occasions. Mrs Catherine Tapp, a tenant of a flat in the same block, said she was suffering from nervous tension because of the smell and noise of the cats in Mrs Ellis’ room. The cats, she said, made a mess in the communal corridor, bathroom, toilets and wash house. Not Seen Mrs Gwendolyne Florence Robinson, another tenant, said she had heard cats in Mrs Ellis’ room but had not seen them. Mr J. Dillon (for Mrs Ellis): You know Mrs Ellis

claims to own only one cat. Is it not true that the block of flats is overrun by wild cats? —By cats, yes. Mrs Robinson agreed that she had threatened to pour boiling water over Mrs Ellis “because I was annoyed with her.” Mrs Adele Jean Donovan, of 2 Pinfold avenue, said the greatest number of cats she had seen at Mrs Ellis’ flat was 29. There were only eight or nine now. Fed Strays Mrs Ellis said she owned only one cat—Ginger. She sometimes fed strays that roamed around the flats. The Magistrate told Mrs Ellis: “These cats accumulate at your flat. It seems the best solution is to get rid of the cats. “I don’t want to turf you out. But you will have to

stop feeding these cats if we are to clear the problem up. “I am prepared to meet officers of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to see if we can arrange to get rid of these cats. That should clear things up."