MTA Revenue Idea: Cats "In Charge"

Sadie, by AllWaysNY at flickr

Given that the MTA project billion-dollar budget gaps in future years and that the cash cow of congestion pricing never made it to the altar, there may be a good idea of increasing revenue by way of Japan. The Associated Press has a story about a "money-losing Japanese train company" whose new lease on business life is thanks to a calico cat named Tama:

All the 9-year-old female cat does is sit by the entrance of Kishi Station in western Japan, wearing a black uniform cap and posing for photos for the tourists who are now flocking in droves from across the nation.

Tama has been doing such a good job of raising revenue for the troubled Kishikawa train line that she was recently promoted to "super-station-master."

Super-station-master! Cats are considered good luck (hello, Maneki Neko) in Japan, and people have flocked to take pictures with Tama, as well as buy her various merchandise--"postcards, erasers, notebooks and pins...even a special 1,365 yen ($13) book of photos of Tama called, 'Diary of Tama, the Station Master.'"

Let's face it, cats in the train stations could do wonders with the rodent problem (do cats eat bedbugs?). Heck, there's even a cat at the Transit Museum--the lovely Sadie!

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By Jen Chung in News on May 27, 2008 3:41 PM

Comments [rss]

TKaisen

They unfortunately do not eat bedbugs fast enough to keep up with bedbug production.

However, mine knew we had them far before we did. She spotted the smaller-than-dust sized babies well before I could see they were even there.

Spirit of 76

Thanks, Spiritof76! Is calico similar to tortoiseshell?

This explains the difference between tortoiseshell and calico. Mostly just a matter of white fur on the latter. Fun fact: only females can be calicos/tortoiseshells, except for some very rare mutant (usually sterile) males.

Jen Chung

How does this look?

the3rdbridge

AWESOME! Thanks!

the3rdbridge

Can we give the cat a sign that says there are service cuts this weekend?

matty

"Thanks, Spiritof76! Is calico similar to tortoiseshell?"

I think it's closer to argyle.

starrygordon

There are already quite a few cats in the New York City subway system. Rodents follow humans because humans are dirty and messy and spill food. Cats follow the rodents. A tradition going back to prehistoric times.

RooseveltIsland360

The above photo was taken at the Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights on Schermerhorn Street. The subway shown is a vintage train sitting on exhibit on the track level of the former Court Street Station.