EDUCATION OF CATS AND GOATS.
Cats do not appear to be favorite subjects of the trainer’s art, and it
is rare that they are met with among performing animals. Perhaps their
sly, treacherous nature inspires a prejudice, or perhaps their capacity
for learning is underrated. Certainly with proper and patient training
they may be taught nearly all of the simpler tricks performed by dogs,
and some which dogs cannot, from lack of equal agility. That cats
possess considerable intelligence is shown by the many well
authenticated stories related of them. A specimen is that told by Mr.
Crouch, of a cat who learned to unlock a door of her own accord. “There
was,” writes this gentleman, “within my knowledge, in the house of my
parentage, a small cupboard in which were kept milk, butter, and other
requisites for the tea table, and the door was confined by a lock, which
from age and frequent use could easily be made to open. To save trouble
the key was always kept in the lock, in which it revolved on a very
slight impulse. It was often a subject of remark, that the door of this
cupboard was found wide open, and the milk or butter greatly diminished
without any imaginable reason, and notwithstanding the persuasion that
the door had certainly been regularly locked. On watching carefully, the
cat was seen to seat herself on the table, and by repeated pulling on
the side of the bow of the key, it was at last made to turn, when a
slight pull of the door caused it to move on its hinges. It had proved a
fortunate discovery for puss, for a long time before she was taken in
the act.”
Cats may easily be taught to jump through hoops, climb poles, fetch and
carry, and many similar performances, by adopting pretty nearly the same
means as for instructing dogs. As cats are passionately fond of fish,
this article will be found a valuable incentive to induce them to comply
with your wishes. A small morsel should be given as a reward for each
instance of obedience, while refractory conduct may be punished by a
slight box on the ear.
Cats may be taught to turn the handles of little organs—either real or
mere silent imitations—or music boxes, to turn a little spinning-wheel,
to pull a bell-rope, to fire a pistol and a multitude of similar tricks.
These are all, indeed, but modifications of one another. To instruct the
cat, it is well to commence by teaching her to give her paw, like a dog.
When this is learned, place the paw on the handle of the organ, which
may have a loop of tape or ribbon attached to keep the paw in place, and
give it a few turns. Let go, but continue the circular movement of your
hand near her paw, as an encouragement for her to move her paw in the
same manner. Should she not do so after a few moments, take hold of her
paw again and repeat the movement as before. As soon as she turns the
handle even in the slightest degree without your holding her paw, reward
her. It will not be long before she makes a more perceptible turn, and
will be more prompt to do so. Eventually she need only to be shown the
organ to understand what is desired of her.
When she turns the organ satisfactorily other articles may be
substituted, such as a miniature model of a spinning-wheel, and a single
lesson will be sufficient to show her that her duties are the same as
with the organ.
To ring a bell, a pulling instead of a circular movement is required,
but this is easier to teach. A bit of cloth may be attached to the
string communicating with the bell, to afford the cat something
convenient to seize hold of. It will be easy to induce her to seize it
by holding it near her, or by aggravating her a little with it. When she
does so, and causes the bell to ring, reward her. She will soon learn
that the ringing of the bell is a signal for her to be fed, and that
pulling the string causes that signal. Should you wish her to ring the
bell only when ordered to do so, you should call her away, after she
fully understands pulling the string, and then order her to “ring the
bell.” If necessary, take hold of the string to show your meaning. When
she has pulled it, reward her, call her away again, repeat the order,
and so on until she understands your command. Should she ring then
without orders, call her away and wait a few minutes before you again
order her to ring.
Firing off a pistol may follow this, taught in the same way, a piece of
cloth being attached to the trigger, and the pistol being secured in a
stationary position. Merely snapping the trigger will do at first, then
caps may be used, and finally powder.
A story is recorded of Cecco d’Ascoli and Dante on the subject of
natural and acquired genius. Cecco maintained that nature was more
potent than art, while Dante asserted the contrary. To prove his
principle, the great Italian bard referred to his cat, whom, by repeated
practice, he had taught to hold a candle in her paw while he supped or
read. Cecco desired to witness the experiment and came not unprepared
for his purpose. When Dante’s cat was performing her part, Cecco lifted
up the lid of a pot which he had filled with mice. The creature of art
instantly showed the weakness of a talent merely acquired, and dropping
the candle, immediately flew on the mice with all her instinctive
propensity. Dante was himself disconcerted, and it was adjudged that the
advocate for the occult principle of native faculties had gained the
cause.
To make a cat a good ratter she must not be handled by children, or any
other person; must be fed rather sparingly at regular times, and as much
as possible on fresh meat, and usually by the same person. She will soon
become accustomed to such circumstances, will answer the call of this
person who can change her about to different parts of the house, as a
night in the cellar, and so on. When treated in this way she will become
shy and wild, but will soon be a terror to rats.
Valmont de Bomare saw at the fair of St. Germain cats turned musicians;
their performance being announced as the “mewing concert.” In the center
was an ape beating time, and some cats were arranged on each side of
him, with music before them on the stalls. At a signal from the ape,
they regulated their mewing to sad or lively strains. Mons. Bisset
having procured three kittens, commenced their education, with his usual
patience. He at length taught these miniature tigers to strike their
paws in such directions on the dulcimer as to produce several regular
tunes, having music-books before them, and squalling at the same time in
different keys or tones, first, second, and third, by way of concert. He
was afterward induced to make a public exhibition of his animals, and
the well known “cats’ opera” in which they performed, was advertised in
the Haymarket theater. His horse, dog and monkeys, together with these
cats, went through their parts with uncommon applause to crowded houses;
and in a few days Bisset found himself possessed of nearly a thousand
pounds to reward his ingenuity and perseverance.
[Illustration: GOAT TRICK OF HINDOO JUGGLERS.]
Another story of a cat we cannot refrain from giving: A lady who had a
tame bird was in the habit of letting it out every day, and had taught a
favorite cat not to touch it; but one morning as it was picking up
crumbs from the carpet, the cat seized it on a sudden and jumped with it
in her mouth upon the table. The lady was much alarmed for the safety of
her favorite, but on turning about, instantly discovered the cause. The
door had been left open, and a strange cat had just come into the room.
After the lady had turned the strange cat out, her own cat came down
from her place of safety, and dropped the bird, without doing it any
injury.
Goats may be taught many tricks heretofore described. It is best to
commence their instruction when they are quite young, as when older they
are apt to develop an obstinate disposition, besides not being so apt
pupils as when young. Goats not being very fastidious as to what they
eat—asparagus or brown paper being devoured with about the same apparent
relish—almost anything in the shape of fruit, vegetables, or bread, will
do as a reward for good conduct. Harshness seems only to arouse their
obstinacy or increase their stupidity, and we doubt whether it ever does
any good. If we did not really believe severity would only defeat the
aims of the trainer, we should almost be tempted to leave goats to take
their own chances for kind treatment; for ever since a venerable
specimen of the animal butted us, in our youth, down a steep bank,
merely because in stooping to pick up something, we furnished a
temptation too strong for him to resist, we have felt an unconquerable
prejudice against the whole tribe. But after all the trainer will find
bribes better than blows.
Many of the common tricks taught horses and dogs can be taught goats. As
we have fully described the methods of teaching those animals it would
be merely repetition to give minute details here; the method is
substantially the same with goats as with horses or dogs, for the same
tricks.
The Hindoo jugglers use the goat in dexterous feats of balancing. The
sure-footedness of the animal enables him to stand on the end of a
section of bamboo cane whose surface barely affords room for his four
feet. Sometimes this stick is placed upright, the lower end being
secured in the ground. At other times the bamboo stick, with the goat
standing on its end, is balanced on the hand, chin or nose of the
juggler.