Demon Cat
The Demon Cat (also referred to as the D.C.)[1][2] is a ghost cat who is purported to haunt the government buildings of Washington, D.C., which is the capital city of the United States. Its primary haunts are the city's two main landmarks: the White House and the United States Capitol.
History
The story of the Demon Cat dates back to the mid‑1800s when cats were brought into the basement tunnels of the
According to legend, the cat is seen before presidential elections and tragedies in Washington, D.C.,[7][8] allegedly being spotted by White House security guards on the night before the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.[9] It is described as either a black cat or a tabby cat,[8] and the size of an average house cat.[10] However, witnesses report that the cat swells to "the size of a giant tiger"[1][2] or an elephant,[8][2] said to be 10 feet by 10 feet,[11] when alerted. The cat would then either explode or pounce at the witness, disappearing before it managed to catch its 'victim'.[5]
In the 1890s, the cat is said to have inexplicably vanished when some Capitol Hill guards fired their guns at it, and another supposedly died of a
The last official sighting of the alleged ghost was during the final days or aftermath of World War II in the 1940s.[7]
Explanation
According to Steve Livengood, the chief tour guide of the
In popular culture
Founded in 2006, the DC DemonCats are one of Washington, D.C.'s four roller derby home teams.[13]
References
- ^ a b Edmundson, Sheila (October 30, 1999). "Halloween: Many things go bump in the still of night in D.C.". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-61423-656-6.
- ^ Rosenwald, Michael S. (October 31, 2018). "The 'feline spook of the Capitol': How a Demon Cat became Washington's best ghost story". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c Grundhauser, Eric (March 13, 2018). "Why the U.S. Capitol's 'Demon Cat' Legend Is So Persistent". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Davidson, Lee (October 27, 1999). "Plenty of spooks on Capitol Hill for Halloween". Deseret News.
- Capital Policefiring guns toward the hissing cat as it disappeared only to find they were shooting into an empty hallway. 'It was said to appear only on the eve of a national tragedy or the change of administrations.' The cat even has a nickname among Capital workers: 'D.C.'
- ^ a b Catherine Avery (May 28, 1993). "Ghost Story ;There's a supernatural tale at most every corner in town". The Washington Times.
- ^ a b c Shogan, Colleen (29 September 2021). "Demon Cat - The Tale of a Wanderlust Feline Ghost". White House Historical Association. Archived from the original on 2021-09-29. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Elizabeth Jordan (July 13, 2009). "Ghosts Wander The Hill". Roll Call. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2010.(subscription required)
- ^ Jordy Yager (March 4, 2009). "Haunted House - and Senate". The Hill. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
- ^ Tom Kelly (October 26, 1989). "We live in a ghost town!". The Washington Times.
- ^ Jim Abrams (October 31, 2003). "U.S. Capitol is not without its own ghostly tales;'Demon cat' is said to appear at times of national crisis, vanish suddenly". The Herald-Sun.
- ^ "DC RollerGirls". Retrieved October 11, 2014.