Stray Cat Closes Homeless Shelter In Texarkana

With all of the wet weather, many without homes are seeking shelter from the storm. But a stray cat has forced officials at the Randy Sams Shelter to temporary close its doors earlier this week, sending their residents packing. All because the cat brought a group of unwelcomed guests with her - fleas. Ken Jacobs would normally bed down at the Randy Sams Shelter but Tuesday he along with 50 others were told they would have to go. "I thought it was a bluff at first but I guess it wasn`t." The decision was Nina White`s, the newly appointed director of Randy Sams. "I sincerely hope that the people understand why I had to make these decisions," she said. White says a cat found its way inside a few weeks ago. She had babies, and then fleas started taking over. Fearing the flea infestation was getting worse, she ordered the shelter closed until they could get it under control. Traps have since been put out to catch the cat but they`ve had no success. Residents have affectionally named her Missy. "You can`t catch that cat. It ain`t no dumb cat," Jacobs said. Health officials were on hand Thursday to give the shelter a going over. White estimates they spent $3,000 to have exterminators come in, along with replacing a wall inside one of the offices were a kitten died. Officials at the shelter say this is the first time they`ve had this kind of problem with fleas. White plans to bring the homeless back in Thursday night due to the rain. Yet she plans to make it clear to residents when they return that pets are not allowed. "This is a homeless shelter for people not for cats."