Jinn Fizz
Jun 27th, 2003, 10:51:21 PM
Postmen put a boycott on house where 'Danger Puss' lies in wait for them
Martin Wainwright
Saturday June 28, 2003
The Guardian
A cat in a quiet Hampshire town has triggered a Royal Mail boycott after drawing blood from seven postmen and women.
The 11-year-old spits, jumps at the throat and digs its claws into anyone trying to deliver to the address in New Milton, say staff. They are now refusing to run the gauntlet. Originally misidentified as a dog in injury reports, the burly black tomcat, called Purrdey, has continued his ambushes despite being tied on a leash.
"I've always thought of him as a lovely old fellow, but it seems he has a problem with postmen and women," said his owner, 79-year-old Alan Rice.
"I was very surprised when I went to collect my undelivered mail and the woman on the counter told me: 'Your cat has a very bad reputation in our office.' "
A postwoman was recently seen running from Mr Rice's garden two weeks after one of her colleagues had been driven back by the animal arching its back and spitting.
"This cat is dangerous," said Alan Booth, spokesman for the Royal Mail. "It is intent on drawing blood from any of our staff who try to approach the house.
"It leaps in the air as if it believes it's a tiger and lands on people, digging its claws in as deeply as possible. This cat has become well known among our workers, and frankly its behaviour is unacceptable."
Mr Rice's post is bulky as he is a councillor on all three tiers of local government, sitting on Hampshire county council, New Forest district council and New Milton town council. Committee agendas, minutes and scores of briefing papers have piled up at the local sorting office because Purrdey has prevented delivery.
"It's all rather embarrassing," said Mr Rice, a retired electrical engineer who has taken chocolates to the local sorting office to try to make amends.
"There's a warning up there saying 'Beware of Alan Rice's cat,' " he added.
Cats have occasionally stopped the mail getting through before: last year an animal named Boo Boo prevented deliveries in the Pontprennau area of Cardiff.
Other boycotts have been caused by geese, seagulls, and, in Gloucestershire, a particularly plucky pheasant.
Martin Wainwright
Saturday June 28, 2003
The Guardian
A cat in a quiet Hampshire town has triggered a Royal Mail boycott after drawing blood from seven postmen and women.
The 11-year-old spits, jumps at the throat and digs its claws into anyone trying to deliver to the address in New Milton, say staff. They are now refusing to run the gauntlet. Originally misidentified as a dog in injury reports, the burly black tomcat, called Purrdey, has continued his ambushes despite being tied on a leash.
"I've always thought of him as a lovely old fellow, but it seems he has a problem with postmen and women," said his owner, 79-year-old Alan Rice.
"I was very surprised when I went to collect my undelivered mail and the woman on the counter told me: 'Your cat has a very bad reputation in our office.' "
A postwoman was recently seen running from Mr Rice's garden two weeks after one of her colleagues had been driven back by the animal arching its back and spitting.
"This cat is dangerous," said Alan Booth, spokesman for the Royal Mail. "It is intent on drawing blood from any of our staff who try to approach the house.
"It leaps in the air as if it believes it's a tiger and lands on people, digging its claws in as deeply as possible. This cat has become well known among our workers, and frankly its behaviour is unacceptable."
Mr Rice's post is bulky as he is a councillor on all three tiers of local government, sitting on Hampshire county council, New Forest district council and New Milton town council. Committee agendas, minutes and scores of briefing papers have piled up at the local sorting office because Purrdey has prevented delivery.
"It's all rather embarrassing," said Mr Rice, a retired electrical engineer who has taken chocolates to the local sorting office to try to make amends.
"There's a warning up there saying 'Beware of Alan Rice's cat,' " he added.
Cats have occasionally stopped the mail getting through before: last year an animal named Boo Boo prevented deliveries in the Pontprennau area of Cardiff.
Other boycotts have been caused by geese, seagulls, and, in Gloucestershire, a particularly plucky pheasant.