Cat and Mouse Chase Turning Heads on Island

The cat never will catch the mouse and the mouse never will eat the cheese, yet this creative cutter is capturing the attention of Mackinac Island residents. The animals trail behind the snowmobile of Island paramedic and City Treasurer Rick Linn, who designed the sled. Mr. Linn has been building the custom cutter since October 2006. Now finished and running around the Island, his "cat cutter" is drawing a lot of attention. The idea started with Mr. Linn's girlfriend, Liz Pitts, who suggested the cat cutter, and grew to include the humorous display. The couple has two cats, which served as models for his design. The ears, which he said were the hardest to make, are tilted back to help show the urgent pursuit of the two animals as Mr. Linn and his entourage pass by. The animals are made from leftover house insulation, which he has shaped, sanded smooth, and painted. The back of the cat lifts up, offering a storage area for groceries and other supplies. "If it didn't carry cargo," said Mr. Linn of his creation, "it would just be silly."