Posted on 02/11/2010 6:37:07 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Claws bared in row over shelter for Auschwitz cat
OSWIECIM, Poland (Reuters Life!) - A cat living at the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz has caused fur to fly between an animal care group and Polish authorities refusing to allow a shelter to be built for it.
The grey and white cat, known variously as Rudolf or Bruno despite being female, can often be seen sitting near the notorious "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work sets you free") sign at the entrance to the camp.
She has seemed unperturbed by an unusually cold winter in Poland that has seen night temperatures dip as low as minus 34 Celsius (minus 29 Fahrenheit).
The museum that runs the camp has rejected a call from the group For Animals to build a cat shelter, saying other animals also live at the site and that visitors are its main priority.
"All we asked for was to erect a shelter, but we were refused," said Joanna Zaremba of the For Animals foundation.
A museum employee tried in vain to give the animal a home.
"The cat was not used to being indoors and the employee had to let her out to feel free. She came straight back (to the camp) like a boomerang, back to the 'Arbeit macht frei' gate," said Adam Cyra, another member of staff.
The cat is believed to have arrived at the camp about six months ago and started to attract the attention of visitors after Polish newspapers and websites reported on the animal's attachment to the site and the campaign to build a shelter.
"I came especially to see this cat as I've heard so much about it in the local media," one Polish visitor told Reuters Television. "I'm ready to adopt the cat and give her a home."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I would think it would be more stable if it was left upright, or upside-down, and the hole cut in the bin rather than the lid. Doesn’t it rock when the kitties move around?
Not jewish, not german, it’s a Pole Cat.
Boo...
I have a barn cat. Her immediate ancestors were never let into the house, as they were working cats; their role was vermin control. She herself gets antsy inside, and her happiest moments are when I let her out and it happens to be raining, snowing, freezing or otherwise miserable weather.
I also have a regular, normal cat, who does not buy into that nonsense; it's quite a contrast to observe. But they both eat cockroaches, so I love them.
The bin is on the side, which is flat. No, it doesn’t roll around when they are inside or entering or exiting. The hole in the lid is about the size of a cat door and is at one end, making a nice little cat cave where they can curl up together and get out of the direct wind.
Cats eat roaches? I did not know that. That’s even handier than mice chomping.
My little Karelian Bear Doggie never met a bear, never caught a rabbit, was nonplussed by possums playing dead and was outwitted by raccoons but he was a good ratter in his day.
Thus, I assume it was the cat eating them. If you want I'll examine her stool, but I'd rather not.
I hope someone helps it...no cat can survive in temps that low....
Yes, they did, some Swedish guy got arrested, they say he was the leader of the groupe that has stolen the sign.
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