Feral Cat Caught in Classroom Supply Closet

A feral cat loose in an Anne Arundel County elementary school outsmarted motion detectors and traps set for it, turning up Tuesday morning in a closet before school opened.

Food left in traps inside Richard Henry Lee Elementary School in Glen Burnie over the weekend was not touched by the cat, according to Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and searches of the building showed no signs of the animal. So, classes resumed on time Tuesday, after school was called off Friday because of the roaming cat.

Authorities said the feral cat set off motion sensor alarms in the building Thursday night and early Friday, prompting the dismissal when the animal could not be cornered. School officials believed the cat was no longer inside the elementary building.

But, teachers found cat fur and urine in a classroom supply closet Tuesday morning, and animal control officials were finally able to capture the cat in hiding. Children were not yet at school when the cat was captured and the area cleaned.

Here is the letter to parents from Richard Henry Lee Elementary School Principal Christopher Wooleyhand.

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I am writing to thank you for your patience and understanding over the last few days as we have searched for the cat that entered our building Thursday evening. While I regret the fact that we had to close school on Friday, I am heartened at the way you reacted to that news and understood that we were acting in the best interests of your children and our staff.

As you know, despite our best efforts over the weekend, we were unable to trap the animal. Detecting no movement, we believed it had left our building. Well before students arrived this morning, however, two of our second-grade teachers discovered cat urine and fur in a classroom supply closet. We closed the closet door, notified Animal Control, and made plans to move students in the classroom adjacent to that closet to another area of the building when they arrived.

Animal Control was able to confine the cat, and took custody of the animal. We have been told by officials at that agency that they will monitor the cat’s progress and assess the animal in order to make an appropriate determination on what to do next.

No students were present when the cat was captured. I am pleased to tell you that our instruction proceeded normally throughout the day. The second-grade students returned to their classroom this morning after the area was cleaned.

Finally, I want to thank our incredible staff for the way in which they looked after our children on Friday. The arrival of nearly 500 youngsters, some on their first day of kindergarten, can be hectic enough without the unusual circumstances that occurred last week. We are most fortunate to have an outstanding staff working with our children.

Thank you again for everything you do for our school.

»Photo: Feral cat captured at RIchard Henry Lee Elementary School in Glen Burnie. Credit: Anne Arundel County Public Schools