The cat men of Gotham

The nineteenth century was a rough time to be a stray cat in New York City. The city’s human residents dealt with feline overpopulation by gassing unwanted cats or tossing them in rivers. But a few lucky strays were found by a diverse array of men—including firemen cops athletes and politicians—who rescued them from the streets and welcomed them into their homes and hearts.This book tells the stories of these heroic cat men of Gotham and their beloved feline companions. Not only does it introduce us to some remarkable men but we get to meet many extraordinary cats as well from Chinese stowaways prowling the Chelsea Piers to the sole feline survivor of the USS Maine explosion. Among the forty-two profiles we find many feline Cinderella stories as humble alley cats achieved renown as sports team mascots artists’ muses and even presidential pets.