A Cat Who Made a Lot of Ink Flow, OR
MR. LEBUREAU HAS HOBBIES

Bureaucracy is a fine thing, and a necessary one. But, all the same, there are cases where it goes too far. Here is one:
In the midst of war, do you know what tasks some scribes in certain military offices were engaged in? Read these authentic documents:

MINISTRY OF WAR
Artillery
Inspection of Chemical Studies and Experiments
No. 99
The Colonel, Inspector of Chemical Studies and Experiments,
To the Lieutenant-Colonel, Director of Chemical Warfare Material,

I have the honor to inform you that a wooden hut is being built at the Vincennes bursting pit, for the convenience of the experiments being conducted by the Inspectorate of Chemical Studies and Experiments. To ensure the preservation of the instruments and products that will be stored in the barracks, I believe it would be useful to propose the acquisition of a cat, preferably male and previously neutered, under the conditions stipulated by the regulations (No. 200.0 of the nomenclature, draft animals, pack animals, miscellaneous).
If you are not opposed to this approach, I would be grateful if you would let me know, as personal documentation, how you intend to approach the acquisition, maintenance, and possibly the retirement of this animal. Signed P…

Forwarded to the Colonel commanding the local Artillery Park, with a request to please inform me whether the Vincennes Park can ensure the purchase and maintenance of the requested animal. Paris, October 18, 1915.
Signed: V...

To the Director of Chemical Warfare Materials, Paris
Report:
Execution of memo No. 99 of October 18, from the Colonel, Inspector of Chemical Studies and Experiments.

Since the Old Fort Keep is abundant in cats of all sexes, it will be easy, without resorting to acquisition, to choose one that meets the required conditions, and whose neutering, if necessary, would be entrusted to a garrison veterinarian.
Accounted for by administrative certificate No. 200.00, this animal could be maintained by a gunner guarding the barracks, with an allowance of 0.05 francs per day, which would be requested from the Minister, in accordance with his circular of February 3, 1900 (B.O.P. 265). The possibility of this cat's retirement seems to be ruled out, as the same goal can be achieved, without further paperwork, by simply replacing the out-of-service or missing animal with another chosen under the same conditions as the first from among the felines of the Keep.

PARIS ENTRANCED CAMP
No. 9,528
Place de Vincennes
Military Sub-Intendance A
No. 13,590
SUBJECT
A. B. of Cats. No. 9,528.
Signed: J...

The Military Sub-Intendant in charge of Service A,
To the Colonel commanding the Artillery Park of the place,

I have the honor to enclose the documents relating to this matter. To my knowledge, there are no regulations regarding the care or retirement of these animals, nor regarding the sex of those to be employed.
The Subsistence Service may transfer an unneutered male cat to the Artillery Service free of charge.
Signed: E. G…

History does not say whether the Vincennes barracks ever had its cat.
After so much writing... let's hope so!