ILL TREATMENT OF CATS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3184, 1 April 1911, Page 4

ILL TREATMENT OF CATS.

LEFT ALONE TO STARVE

“The way in which some people treat cats is simply atrocious," said the Rev. J. Reed Giasson at tlie last meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Animals in Wellington. -People left home, lie continued, and left their cats behind to starve. He thought such treatment was abominable. He had observed a person throw a cup cf water over a kitten which was in a starving condition. The chairman. (Mr.. J. Is.GJamieson) suggested that it would be a good tiling if a tax was levied on cats, as it was <m dogs. People allowed their children to treat eats most cruelly, continued Mr. Giasson. They tolerated kittens while they were playful and amusing, but later they turned them adrift. The inspector (Air. Seed) stated that he had taken cats off the street almost blind with disease.

Tlie opinion was expressed that cats were ill-treated more through carelessness on the part of owners than any intention to be cruel. Y\ hen the average person went away for a holiday he left Ins cat entirely unprovided for. and it consequently was reduced to a state of semi-starvation. It was admitted that cats were sometimes a nuisance—particularly at- night—but members eonsideri was no reason why they should be subjected to ill-treatment. After some further discussion the matter dropped.