OLDEST CAT IN WORLD DEAD AT BILLINGS

Thomas Patriarch, 24 Years Old, Mascot on Train, Has Unique History

Billings, Mont., Dec. 27.—Thomas Patriarch, the oldest cat in the United States and possibly in the world, was dead here today, aged 24 years and three months, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Sample. He had grown quite feeble and would cry plaintively when his mistress left his sight, which was failing.

Thomas was born in Northfield, Minn., in 1898, and for a long time was mascot on the Northern Pacific trains between Mandan and Glendive. Owing to the loss of his teeth he ceased to bother mice and lived on condensed milk during his final year.

Thomas' claim to being the oldest cat in the country, was threshed out a year ago when a 20-year-old kitten at Missoula laid claim to the age championchip. The story appeared in papers all over the country and no cat arose to dispute the Billings' Tom's honors.

Bismarck Tribune, 12/27/1922