Police warn public not to board viral cat “ghost ship” after 40 are rescued
A sailboat full of cats has turned into an unlikely local spectacle in Tacoma, Washington. But after officers spent days removing the animals, police are now telling people to stay off the vessel while they keep checking for any hidden holdouts.
A surprising sight off Owen Beach
Tacoma residents got an unexpected scene on August 6 when a boat packed with cats appeared anchored off Owen Beach. The sight quickly earned the nickname of a “ghost ship” because cats seemed to be the only crew on board.
The strange floating cat scene drew attention from people nearby and spread online, turning the boat into a viral curiosity.
Police spend days removing the cats
According to The News Tribune, the cats were first rounded up and caged on August 6 while police tried to figure out who owned the boat. That effort did not seem to lead to an answer.
Tacoma police said on Facebook that Marine Services and Animal Control units spent six days carefully removing dozens of cats from the 40-foot sailboat anchored off Owens Beach. They said they believed all of the cats had been taken off the boat, but also noted that cats are experts at staying out of sight.
Police spend days removing the cats
Why officials want people to stay away
Police say there is still a chance that one cat could remain onboard, which is why they are asking the public not to board the vessel unless they are the legal owner.
They also urged locals to watch for any other cats that may appear near the boat. As police put it, they will keep checking because, when it comes to cats, you can never be too purr-sistent.
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