[Catrancher99]

I read a long time ago that back in the days of the Old West as settlers were beginning to farm the plains for wheat and such, cats were useful for controlling mice and rats. Since the domestic cat was not native to the Hew World, they had to be brought in. So, there were some enterprising souls who loaded up wagons of cats and went around selling them to farmers. The picture I get of wagons full of cats lumbering across the plains is amusing, all that meowing. True history. Imagine some Indians raiding a wagon train for whiskey and firearms only to be confronted with a bunch of kitties.

[ChristineP]

I picture little kitties with little cowboy hats on chasing buffalo and cows. LOL

[Catrancher99]

Not to forget the barroom scene after a hard day on the range. The shots of red-eye milk, the juice from catnip chaw being spit into brass spitoons, the rinky piano in the corner playing "I'm A Yankee Doodle Kitty," the poker game for kibbles and the occaisional spat with chairs and bottles flying. Oh yeah. Love it.

[ExCal]

Lol I got a chuckle out of the post from the 2nd poster. But that is pretty interesting I have never heard about anything like that before.

[kittylover88kat]

Originally Posted by ChristineP

I picture little kitties with little cowboy hats on chasing buffalo and cows. LOL

That would be so cute!LOL

[Lila42]

It would make sense. I once watched an episode of "Flip this House, " where people by houses in need of repair at reduced costs, fix them up, and sell them for a profit. One guy had mice in the yard, and picked up two cats from the pound. They were sacared to death in their little carriers. He dumped them out, and one wouldn't even come out. He had to shake the cat out. He said something like, I guess this one isnt' going to help any. I wrote the show and needless to say I don't watch anymore. Poor cats in a shelter, hoping for a better life, dumped in a back yard. But yes, I can see where cats could have served a purpose in the wild west.

[catlover13]

o my gosh if i could se those people with those kitties in the wagons i would think they were nuts! how did they keep all the kitties in there for that long!!! lol! they had to put up with lots of meowing, scratching, fights, and howling! it would be a scene!