Cat Flaps

(page last updated 30/08/98).

This appeared recently in Big Issue, a popular German magazine:

One of the primary reasons cat flaps are called cat flaps is that they're flaps specifically designed for cats, as opposed to dogs, or giraffes, or humans. All of this became abundantly clear to teenager Jason Evans, of Eastleigh, Hampshire, when he recently spent six hours stuck in one after using it in an attempt to get into his house. He was eventually cut free by firemen.

In Germany, meanwhile, Gunther Burpus remained wedged in his front-door cat flap for two days because passers-by thought he was a piece of installation art. Mr Burpus, 41, of Bremen, was using the flap because he had mislaid his keys.

Unfortunately, he was spotted by a group of student pranksters who removed his trousers and pants, painted his bottom bright blue, stuck a daffodil between his buttocks and erected a sign saying 'Germany Resurgent, an Essay in Street Art. Please give Generously'.

Passers-by assumed Mr Burpus' screams were part of the act and it was only when an old woman complained to the police that he was finally freed.

"I kept calling for help," he said, "but people just said 'Very good! Very clever!' and threw coins at me."