The King of Siam was having kittens over his missing cat, and a $1000 reward was offered for her return, according to a story attributed to the New York TimesThe tale starts with Satsuma, a steel freighter flying the British flag anchoring in Singapore, to pick up more cargo on her way from Japan to New York.  There the crew of the Satsuma sees lots of government vessels questioning the boats in the harbor, particularly those from Bangkok.  They learn that King Chulalongkorn's cat was missing, and that a big reward was offered for her return and the capture of her abductors. Then, just before sundown, as the Satsuma is getting ready to sail, a Chinese junk comes alongside offering a cat for sale.

Her Chief Officer Hodges is quoted in the Los Angeles Herald as saying:

"The Satsuma was simply overrun with rats at that time and we were on the lookout for a good cat and did not care a whit whether she belonged to the sacred or every-day tramp species.”  

Thus, even though Hodges admitted that “At a glance I saw that it was no ordinary cat”   and that the seller asked him to keep quiet, whispering  "It was the King of Siam's cat” the sacred cat became a ship’s cat for the sum of 50 cents.

Jane, as the Siamese cat was renamed, had five actual kittens during the trip.  Their last reported whereabouts were gamboling on the deck of the Satsuma, as it lay docked in Red Hook’s Erie Basin.

The website, The Hatching Cat of Gothem,  has a well illustrated telling of this story

Text from Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXXI, Number 354, 18 September 1904:

Siam's Sacred Cat, Property of the King, Makes a Secret Voyage to New York City

AFTER NARROWLY escaping being sent to the bottom of the Gulf of Pechlli by a floating Russian mine, and with the sacred cat of King Chulalongkorn of Slam for the return of which a reward of $1000 Is outstanding, on board, the New York and Oriental Steamship company's liner Satsuma reached this port, says the New York Times. Chief Officer Hodges, the guardian of "Siamese Jane," says there would be high doings in the Siamese king's court if it were known that his precious pet has brought into the world five more sacred cats, all of which are enjoying perfect health and may be seen any day gamboling on the deck of the Satsuma.

"It was just this way," said the chief officer, "and I don't want you to doubt for a moment anything I am about to tell you, for the whole story is as true as the stars, and the records are on file in Slam to prove it. We left Hongkong on June 11 and arrived at Singapore on the 25th. We did not dock at Singapore, but anchored in the harbor, and received our cargo from lighters and junks. We noticed at the time that a lot of government vessels were about, closely scrutinizing all the craft in the harbor, especially such small vessels and junks as came down the river from Bangkok. We, of course, were interested in these strange proceedings, and inquired what it was all about, and were surprised to learn that King Chulalongkorn's cat was missing, and that a big reward was offered for her return and the capture of her abductors.

"The Satsuma was simply overrun with rats at that time and we were on the lookout for a good cat and did not care a whit whether she belonged to the sacred or every-day tramp species. It was a little before sundown and we were getting ready to sail when a junk came alongside and a Chinaman asked us if we wanted a fine cat. We replied that we did and asked him what he wanted for it. He said 50 cents, and when we agreed to the terms he climbed on board'with her. At a glance I saw that it was no ordinary cat, and asked the Chinaman where he got her. Then he took me aside and asked me for the sake of all the Chinese deities to keep quiet.

"It was the King of Siam's cat, he whispered, and it was because the agents of his majesty were putting up such a relentless chase that he decided to dispose of her.

"Yes, we are going to take the cat back, but we will keep her out of sight when we touch at Singapore. Don't doubt that" ...

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