Cat Scratch Fever

Jersey City, New Jersey, December 17, 2007:

Three stray cats attacked two people after they got into a house in Jersey City. "I thought I had seen it all, but I have never seen anything like this," Chief of Police Martin Gutschenritter said Sunday. A call for help Saturday took animal control officer John Pettit to the home of Ronatarian party leaders Ron and Brad, Gutschenritter said. Ron told Pettit he had captured three cats in a bedroom.

"Ron said the cats had gotten into the house when the front door was open," Gutschenritter said, then attacked Brad and him.

Presidential candidate Ron suffered scratches, the chief said, and he was bitten on both ankles, both knees, and on his left calf.

"Ron told the officer it happened when the three cats entered the residence and attacked him for no reason," Gutschenritter said.

After talking to the men, Pettit went to his truck for snares -- his "cat catchers."

Then he heard screaming from inside the house from what he thought was a woman.

"When he ran back, he saw a man with blood over his face," Gutschenritter said.

The cats had attacked Brad who had opened the bedroom door.

"He was bitten on his forehead, nose, left ear, and right cheek," the chief said.

After some first aid from Pettit, the two politicos were taken to Jersey City Free Clinic for more treatment.

When investigator John Stadler arrived and opened the bedroom door, "he saw a gray and white cat baring its teeth in attack mode," Gutschenritter said. "He shut the bedroom door and returned to his car for a dart gun."

All three cats were shot, tranquilized, and taken to the animal shelter, where they were euthanized.

The bodies were sent to Trenton for rabies checks, Gutschenritter said.

Authorities want to find out who owned the cats.

Under city ordinance, cats may run free if they don't become nuisances.

"I'm on the animal commission, and we've never seen anything like this," Gutschenritter said. "We have dealt with dog bites, but we've never had one with a cat."

Posted by Bittle at December 17, 2007 08:24 AM