
15, Predators, 
Cats, Two observers report having found cats denning and having young 
away from buildings, These cases are importent in throwing light on the 
degree to which cats actually revert to a feral state, 
@ George A. Dunlap of Springfiéid reports that about 1900, in 
Brown County, Illinois, near Sterling, his dog chased a yellow cat into a 
hollow stump where, on opening, he found a nest and 6 kittens. 
Jack Wilson of Marengo reports that about 1924, in the summer, 
he found a litter of kittens in a hollow log in the woods $ miles west of 
his farm, He says he often finds old toms in trees and logs, but seldom 
females. This may mean that the toms "go wild" more readily. 
An effort was made to develop two possible indices to abundance 
of cats: (1) Eye counts along roads; (2) Cats treed in coon hunting, 
Few observers were found who could remember numbers well enough to supply 


good data. 
Cat Counts in lllinois 
Miles Per 
Observer Route & Co. Dates Miles Cats Cut Remarks 
Hi .B, Ward Champaign ? 4 12 0.35 Counted eyes 
Gus Radebaugh Cairo-Champaign oa 150? 5e0 
Ri BB. Miller Petersburg-Spring- 
field May1928 17 6 eae) 
Chas. A Sparks Vermillion 2.0 (Estimate) 
John M. Olin Alton-Fayville Dec. 100 og oad 
1927 
-55= 

