BLACK JACK, the cat that has become a close companion of the New Zealand Trotting Cup winner, True Averil, has learned a new trick since he appeared on the front page of “The Press” last month. He can now unlatch and open doors. And that makes him “Top Cat” as far as the other cats on Mr C. L. Rhodes’s property at Templeton are concerned. When they want to raid the kitchen they just wait at the back door (upper left) for Black Jack to arrive and leap at the handle (middle). The weight of his body unlatches the door and his friends waste no time in walking in (right). Mr Rhodes said the only way he could) make his house cat proof was to keep the doors locked.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32801, 29 December 1971, Page 14

BLACK JACK, the cat that has become a close companion of the New Zealand Trotting Cup winner, True Averil, has learned a new trick since he appeared on the front page of “The Press” last month. He can now unlatch and open doors. And that makes him “Top Cat” as far as the other cats on Mr C. L. Rhodes’s property at Templeton are concerned. When they want to raid the kitchen they just wait at the back door (upper left) for Black Jack to arrive and leap at the handle (middle). The weight of his body unlatches the door and his friends waste no time in walking in (right). Mr Rhodes said the only way he could) make his house cat proof was to keep the doors locked.