TRICKS AND TRAINING.

Some of the tricks which cats perform are highly amusing. Of course I

refer to our fireside puss, and not to publicly performing cats; these

require special training, and a large amount of educating. But almost any

cat will, either of her own accord or with very little teaching, perform

antics and capers enough to amuse children at least, if not indeed to make

older people smile.

Cats must be trained when young; and the very first thing you must teach

them is _to love you_. If you can accomplish this, they will learn almost

anything.

Cats have great jumping power naturally; and this power can be greatly

increased, by proper exercise in the days of their kitten-hood. They can

spring almost incredible distances, either up or down. My own favourite,

when one year old, used to jump clean over the parlour door, fetching away

a bit of meat that had been placed on the top. The best method of

instructing a cat in leaping heights, is to place bits of food at

different elevations, and encourage her to bring them down. She will soon

be able to spring seven or eight feet easily; and this same exercise will

stand her many a good turn, in her predatory excursions in the field, or

her amatory perambulations on the tiles. I have seen a cat, thus trained,

spring from one house-top to another, a distance of fully ten feet; there

were three other cats, but none dared follow her. I know of a cat, of the

extraordinary weight of 22 lbs., that springs with apparent ease from the

parlour-floor on to a door over six feet high. (_See Note K, Addenda._)

At Preston, the other day, my lady Muff chose to declare herself "on the

spree." As usual on such occasions, half a dozen Toms came to serenade

her; and loudly they sang of her charms. The night being muggy and wet, I

determined to keep her ladyship within doors, so Theodore Nero was sent

out to reason with her lovers, while I shut puss up in the bedroom. In

this act of incarceration I was encouraged by the starling, who was busy

examining the anatomy of the pin-cushion, but who left off boring holes to

say,--

"Bravo, doctor! _Br-ravo!_"

"I'll _bravo_ you, presently, if you don't mind," said Muff as plainly as

eyes and eyebrows could speak. Muff was exceedingly wroth.

"Is--is--_is_ cats to be trusted?" remarked Dick musingly to himself, as

he re-commenced playing Old Harry with the pin-cushion. Now the bed-room

window was just twenty feet from the ground, and had been left open at the

top. When I went up to bed, I unlocked the door and entered

cautiously--for I knew all her tricks and manners. The starling was

perched on the looking-glass, asleep, and Muffie was gone. The blind was

disarranged. She had jumped over. I went down with a carpet-bag, to look

for her remains; but there weren't any. Muffie came in at tea-time next

day, seedy rather, but triumphant.

Another capital plan to teach a cat to leap a height, is to attach a

hare's foot to a piece of string at the end of a fishing rod, and set it

in motion. You can thus regulate the elevation to pussy's daily increasing

capabilities. I have seen a cat bring her kittens to this gymnasium, and

teach the whole four of them to jump and seize the hare's foot, which she

herself used to set in motion.

A very common trick, is to teach pussy to jump through your arms. Begin by

holding them low between your legs; having taught her to leap thus, hold

them to one side, and make her jump either way backwards and forwards.

Gradually increase the height, till, standing erect, you form a large P,

and puss springs through the bend of it. Then hold your arms right above

you, slightly bending your neck and your cat--presuming the reader is

anything under seven feet high--shall leap right over your head.

Very pretty and effective exercise for a cat, is hoop-leaping. It costs

little trouble to teach, and every cat will learn it. For this, you must

be provided with a little switch, not to hit the cat, but merely to make a

noise in the air. Pronounce the word "hoop" each time you hold the article

in front of her, and she will soon learn to go through in whatever

position you hold it. Or you may have a series of hoops, at different

elevations, placed in the garden, a few yards apart; or, better still,

hung from the couples of a barn or grain-loft. On these last a young and

healthy cat soon becomes quite a wonderful performer; and, if you wish her

to be still more highly educated in the hoop business, you can dip your

hoop in methylated spirits of wine and set fire to it; she will go through

just the same. Or cover the hoop with thin tissue paper, and teach her to

go through it. At first the paper must be oiled, so as to be nearly

transparent. A friend of mine, coming home at twelve o'clock the other

night, heard an awful noise and rattling in an out-house which he had

fitted up as a cat gymnasium. On going in with a light, he was surprised

to find two full-grown kittens performing--they had been giving a dark

_séance_ on their own account.

After any performance, you must never forget to reward poor puss with food

and water, which latter, on these occasions, she will prefer to milk.

Cats, you know, are not very fond of music, still I have known them taught

to move rhythmically to it.

The hearth-rug is the arena on which puss may be taught to perform a

variety of tricks. I know a cat that, if you ask her to show you how a

hare lies in the market, throws herself on the floor on her side, and,

stretching her fore-legs and hind-legs in a line with her body, lies

there, to all appearance dead, till you bid her rise.

I know a cat that turns somersaults on request. You can easily teach a cat

to beg after the fashion of a broken-haired terrier, as also to give a

paw--right or left, and to jump on your knee, and, placing its two

fore-legs one on each side of your neck, execute quite a theatrical

embrace. Or you may make her stand in a corner on her hind-legs, until

requested to drop down. I know a pussy that jumps on a chair at the

bidding of her mistress, and, placing her fore-paws over the back, rests

her head on them, and simulates sleep. Indeed, nothing is more easy than

to teach a cat to open or shut her eyes at the word of command. (_See Note

L, Addenda._)

There are two things which every household puss may, and ought to be,

taught, viz., to come and lie down quietly by the fire or on the sofa,

when told, and to "watch," that is, to sit by a mouse hole, where you know

a mouse to be, until she catches it; but you must never deceive her.

I know of a daft little puss who sits on her master's shoulder at dinner;

and when he is about to treat himself to some specially tempting morsel,

cleverly snatches it from the fork as he is putting it to his mouth, and

transfers it to her own. She does it with such an apparent appreciation of

the fun of the joke, that no one could be angry with her. (_See Note M,

Addenda._)

You can easily teach your cat to become an expert fisher, by throwing

half-dead minnows on the top of the water, and encouraging her to jump in

and seize them.

Cats can be taught to ring the bell and to open the door.

But whatever other tricks or performances you may care to teach her, it is

very much for pussy's future welfare that she should, when young, have

plenty of leaping exercise; and if, at the same time, you make a good

retriever of her, she will form the habit of always bringing home her

prey. For, with all due respect for the game laws, I do like to see a cat

come trotting home in the gloaming, with a nice young leveret or a plump

partridge in her mouth; nobody is any the poorer, and her master has

something nice for supper. You teach a cat to retrieve with a hare's foot.

Teach her in the parlour first, then by flinging the plaything out of

doors. She will soon learn to bring it in and lay it at your feet. A

freshly-killed bird may then be used, and you will very soon have the

satisfaction of seeing her invariably bring home her quarry.

In the country, but only in the country, you may teach your cat to follow

you in your walks just like a dog, and she will never lose you either by

night or day.

Cats come to your "whistle" much better than to any other call.

In training this interesting animal, you must have every consideration for

her failings and weaknesses, and must never forget that she will do almost

anything, for one who loves her and treats her with kindness.

Inculcate habits of cleanliness in grown cats. There are times when,

through accident or having been shut in a room, even the most

highly-trained cat will deviate from the paths of decency. Never

altogether overlook a thing of this sort. Take the cat, gently, but

firmly, to the place, and show her you are angry--cats are dreadfully

frightened at a scolding--this will generally prevent a repetition of the

offence. But if the same thing should occur again, and there is no excuse

of a closed room or a locked door, then corporeal punishment becomes

necessary. But it must not be severe, or all remembrance of her crime will

be lost in the pain of the correction. Cats are very delicate, and easily

injured about the head. Carry her at once to the scene of her

misdemeanour, and ask her if she sees it, then with a little bit of

whalebone switch her several times across the fore-paws; or tips only of

the ears, and turn her outside the front door. But in no case should

correction partake of the nature of revenge.

If the cat-fancier will attend to these simple rules, he will have cats

that he will be proud of, and they will be proud of him.

CHAPTER V.

CRUELTY TO CATS.

I think it my duty to warn the reader that this is essentially a chapter

of horrors; so that if her or his feelings do not tend in that direction,

it may be skipped. If it pains any one to read it, it must be remembered

that it was much more painful to me to write it; and only the hope of

enlisting the sympathy of the kind-hearted and benevolent in pussy's

favour could have induced me to do so. How far I have been successful,

time will tell. Indeed, I believe the day is not far distant, when it will

become the fashion, nay even a portion of our religion, to treat all

animals, from the dog downwards, with kindness and consideration; and,

when necessity determines life to be taken, to take it in the least cruel

and most humane manner possible. A good and noble work has been begun by

the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. All honour to it,

and success to its organ, _The Animal World_. The field is indeed a wide

one; and one can scarcely help feeling almost despairingly, as he looks

abroad upon the world, and sees the vast amount of cruelty there is to

suppress. But stone by stone old Rome was built; and as the good work

advances, the labourers will increase, and success in the end is certain.

As the case now stands, I think the assistance, of the pulpit by precept,

and of the great and rich by example, is sadly wanted to support the

cause. The efforts of the Society are at present more particularly

directed to obtaining convictions against offenders for ill-treating,

overloading, or torturing horses and donkeys; for improperly conveying and

starving cattle, calves, pigs, and goats; for cruelties to birds, and for

ill-using dogs and cats. Alas! poor pussy comes last and least. But, as

the world advances in civilization, and becomes more humane, new laws will

have to be framed, anent the great ocean of cruelty, the waves of which we

see tumbling and breaking around us every day, and making us apathetic,

because of their very number and our own inability to oppose them.

Why should horses be for ever worked to death, or till death? Why should

their labours and hardships be increased, with their increasing years and

infirmities? We care for and love them when young and handsome; when they

grow old we forget their former services, ill-treat and starve them, and

finally thrash them into the knacker's yard.

Why should donkeys--those patient, much-enduring animals--be all their

poor lives treated with such systematic brutality?

Why should cattle of all sorts be driven to the markets, or conveyed by

rail or steam-boat for long dreary journeys, without either food or water?

Why should they be slaughtered with so little regard to their sufferings,

when the sting of death could be so easily drawn, ere the fatal blow was

struck?

Why should turkeys, fowls, geese, and ducks be carried to market, with

feet tied, and hung over poles head downwards, or huddled together in

cramped baskets, and kept, sometimes, in such pain and suffering that

death itself must be sweet relief?

Why should pigeons, and other smaller birds, be shot in so cowardly and

inhumane a manner as is the fashion at matches in the present day?

Cockfighting itself is much less cruel; for there each bird has a chance

of life, and the wounded are slain.

For the numerous cruelties inflicted on fishes, we can hardly name a

remedy yet; but has the reader ever thought of the agony which must be

endured by the lobster and crab in being boiled alive?

All these outrages on animal life might be prevented or greatly

ameliorated by just and proper laws. England, I trust, will be the first

to take the lead in this matter; and, depend upon it, that nation's arm

will always be the strongest on the day of battle, that, in the time of

peace, is employed in labours of love, and in the advancement of

civilization and humanity.

The Mohammedans are far before us in kindness to the lower animals.

"Accursed be he who spilleth blood," is one of their sayings.

Now, the Hindoos, for instance, are a much older nation than we are. They

were clothed, and in their right minds, thousands of years before we were

out of pig-skin kilts and paint. We are trying to learn from theory what

they have found out from long experience, and will no doubt arrive at the

same conclusions after the loss of much valuable time. I know a gentleman

who puts faith in no statement in the abstract, even if the speaker should

be as old as Methuselah--which isn't often the case--and as wise as Ahab,

until he has carefully ground, as it were, the syllogism in his own mill,

thoroughly sifted it, and microscopically examined it; then he looks

surprised, smiles, and says, "By George, old Thingummy was right after

all." He can't help it however; it is the result of a too liberal

education. He is constantly grinding away at a proverb. Now, I think

proverbs are the pith of a nation's experience: the wisdom of a country is

skimmed off, boiled, evaporated to dryness, burned to get rid of organic

impurities, and the residue washed and distilled, and the essential oil

bottled--in a proverb. But my learned friend, on first hearing one, says,

"Oh, nonsense! Can't be." The proverb haunts him, however, both by night

and day, for perhaps a fortnight, perhaps longer, until it is properly

thought out in all its bearings; _then_ he believes it--not before. He

would save much time by having a little more credulity; but he is getting

wise, and if he lives long enough he will be very wise indeed, although

the process may cost him his teeth--he is bald already.

The Hindoos have, long ago, come to the conclusion that it is wrong to

take life, and accordingly they don't--barring that they murder their

wives when it is required. I think they are right, although I myself draw

the line at naval cockroaches; and the fact that they are disagreeable

things to kill, may have something to do with my sparing them. Besides, a

cockroach has so many relations, and these all come to his funeral, and

insist on seeing him decently interred. This ceremony they perform by

tasting, tasting at him until nothing remains.

I was one day "counting my pieces" to my Indian washerman, on the deck of

my cabin, when out from the bosom of a nightshirt dropped a nine-inch-long

centipede in the full vigour of health and intellect, and began making the

best of his way to the nearest shelter. Giving instant chase, and having

the advantage in length of legs, if not in number, I should soon have run

him down, had not the impudent Hindoo, at the very last moment, pulled me

back by my frock-coat tails. Such an indignity to a British officer, on

board a British man-o'-war, was hardly to be borne with impunity. I

turned, and looking him full in the face in my most impressive manner--

"Sir," said I, "are you aware that Britons never, _never_,

NEVER--will--be--slaves?"

The dobee salaamed.

"Then," continued I, "what have you got to say, that I should not punch

your head or kick your rascally shins, for conniving at the escape of

yonder centipede that has just gained his crevice, and is, even now,

making faces at me with impunity?"

The dobee drew himself up.

"Sahib," said he, "you can kickee my head, you can punchee my shin--all

same. Allah is good, and the Koran say, 'Thou shalt not kill.'"

"_Thou shalt not kill_," repeated I; "why, the man must have learned the

'Shorter Catechism;' he can't be such a heathen after all."

The dobee triumphed. I shook him by the hand, and he had my washing ever

after.

Enter my servant one day. I was living in a room on shore at Bombay.

"Man come for your little ones, Sahib," said he.

"Pandoo," said I in a solemn voice, "what do you mean? I'm a respectable

unmarried man, and never deserved any."

The man, who entered behind Pandoo, carried a shovel, a brush, and a

basket; and I soon discovered that my little ones meant all the earwigs,

bugs, centipedes, and crickets, of which I had a fair sprinkling of each

sort; and he came, not to destroy, but actually to carry them away. He

swept my room and bed moderately clean, and I afterwards found that he had

taken the contents of the basket to the corner of a field, and emptied

them among some straw. For no true Buddhist takes life; and when cows and

horses get infirm, they are regularly superannuated, and sent to an asylum

where they may end their days in peace.

The scenes of cruelty to the lower animals, which one witnesses in the

streets and lanes of our own country, are almost enough to make one doubt

the goodness of God. In many cases, a person at all sensitive cannot

refrain from interfering; and, unless he can show some proper authority

for so doing, he will in most cases come off second-best, and do harm to

the very victim he meant to protect. I have often constituted myself a

sort of knight-errant to distressed quadrupeds; and I flatter myself I

have at times done some good, either by going quietly up to the

perpetrator of the cruelty and trying to reason with him, or, with a

pretended show of authority, demanding his name and address. A man of this

sort is always a coward, and usually "funks" at once. I once had my nose

broken, though, in a row with a butcher about ill-treating a cow. That

brought my knight-errantry to a bloody close for a fortnight; but, thanks

to good surgery, the organ is none the worse.

Last February, while walking in a lane in the neighbourhood of a rural

village, I met a fellow--certainly the most brutal lout ever I

saw--driving, or rather pushing along, two unhappy sheep. The creatures

had walked a very long distance, and appeared completely exhausted; for

the wind was very high, and the cold rain and sleet were beating in their

faces, and stupifying them. Besides, the scoundrel had been striking them

with a strong black-thorn cane; and, as he dared not touch them about the

body, for fear of injuring the appearance of the mutton,--for mutton they

soon would be,--it was across the forehead and nose he hit them, so the

blood was trickling down in streams, and as they shook their heads with

pain, their pretty fleeces were all besmeared. Oh, the amount of misery

depicted in their poor patient eyes! The very dogs seemed ashamed of their

master's conduct.

"It's to be killed, they are to be, at any rate," said the fellow when I

remonstrated with him on his conduct; "and, curse them," he cried, "I'll

make them go." And again the blows began to fall. The sheep moaned low,

and I closed with my friend. A vicious tussle, and the stick flew over the

hedge. Then the lout flew at me. He hit my fist a tremendous blow with his

lower jaw, the result of which was, that he immediately took the world on

his back, like old Atlas--he took the world on his back several times

before he seemed tired of it. Then I gave him to understand, that by way

of recompense for knocking him down, I should at once find a policeman to

take him up, unless he immediately accompanied me to a neighbouring

killing-house, to get a butcher to slaughter the sheep. He reluctantly

consented, and the sorrows of those two dumb creatures soon came to an

end.

About the commonest, if not the simplest form of cruelty to poor pussy, is

that of neglecting to feed her regularly, and at the proper times. Many

people are guilty of this who would not willingly do an unkind action;

they err through ignorance, or want of thought. Pussy, they imagine, can

easily pick up all she needs about the floor. There could hardly be a

greater mistake, or one more fatal to pussy's existence as a pet. For the

mere fact of her having to look out for her own food will make her

dishonest. Others starve their cats to make them catch mice; the very

opposite is the case. It is your plump, well-fed, sleek grimalkins that

are the best mousers; a starveling has not courage nor heart enough to

kill a midge, let alone a mouse.

Higher in the scale of cruelty is the only too common practice of leaving

pussy at home to shift for herself, when the family moves to the seaside

or country, in holiday season. In some instances the cat has access to and

from the house, by some private door of her own. In this case, she will

generally manage to eke out a miserable existence, from the scraps she

picks up on the dung-hill; or she will become a thief, and make raids on

the pigeon-houses or rabbit-boxes of the neighbours. At all events she is

usually successful in sustaining her life, until the return of the family.

But it is very different with pussy, when she is entirely imprisoned in an

empty house, without either food or water, save perhaps an occasional

mouse which chance may throw in her way.

I know of one unhappy cat that lived for three whole weeks, on dry

oat-meal alone.

Another instance I can just recall to memory, and I am sorry to say, it is

only one of many thousands that are happening every day. In this case, the

family had gone to the country for a month, leaving Tabby--as

affectionate a little cat as ever lived, and the constant pet and playmate

of the young children--shut up in the house. The building was a new one;

there were consequently no mice; so, when the family at length returned,

almost the first thing that met their gaze was poor Tabby, lying stark and

stiff on the parlour hearth. She was a perfect skeleton, while the

sardonic grin on her mouth showed how much she must have suffered. Such a

death, in that lonely house, almost makes one's flesh creep to think of.

A still more shocking case of cruelty recently came to my knowledge, which

shows very forcibly how dreadful must be the sufferings of a starving cat,

and how great the sin of those who leave them thus to perish. In one of

the principal squares of the city of Edinburgh lives Mrs. Blank, a lady

who can carry a high head, in the best society of which the Scottish

metropolis can boast. She subscribes to all the charities, and feeds and

clothes the poor daily; of course she is only "lending to the Lord," and

expects the principal returned on or after the Day of Judgment, with very

good interest. But that is neither here nor there. This lady had a cat, a

very fine one too, on which she lavished an unusual amount of affection;

and this affection was amply reciprocated, for pussy cared for no one in

the house but her mistress. But in process of time, Jenny had the

exceedingly bad taste to give birth to two pretty little kittens, and of

course could not spare so much time as usual on her mistress's lap. So,

when the family had packed up, and were about to move into the country for

the holiday, this lady gave the order to have "that horrid tiresome old

cat and kittens shut up in the house," until her return. Pussy was shut up

accordingly. For a whole fortnight after, the people in the adjoining

house were disturbed by melancholy cries, proceeding from the empty house,

and, at last, unable to endure it any longer; the assistance of the police

was called, and an entrance effected through a back window. A most

horrible sight met their view. Poor pussy, thin even to emaciation, lay

upon her bed in the corner, _nursing the heads of her two kittens_. She

had eaten their bodies. Fancy the sufferings that must have triumphed

over her motherly love. Not only, however, had she eaten the kittens; but,

rendered wild by the pangs of hunger, she had actually torn from her own

thigh a large piece of flesh, and devoured it. It is a wonderful instance

of the tenacity of life in cats, that this pussy, by careful nursing, made

a good recovery. She took up house with her kind preservers, but never

afterwards darkened the door of her cruel lady mistress. (_See Note N,

Addenda._)

The sagacity of the cat is very often beautifully shown, in the means she

takes to provide for herself food and shelter, in the absence of her

owners. On these occasions pussy has often been known to become a "beggar

from door to door." For example, one morning early, a workman,--Mr. D.

Stoddart, 92, Rose Street, Edinburgh,--on going to his work, observed a

large black cat, trotting on before him, with tail erect and evidently on

the best of terms with herself. Her good-humour, however, must have been

simulated for the occasion, for she was very hungry indeed. Presently,

she stopped and looking earnestly in the man's face, all her happiness

seemed at once to forsake her and she mewed in a most pitiful manner. The

good-hearted fellow at once opened his little napkin, and gave pussy part

of his dinner. He was rather surprised next morning, to meet the puss

exactly at the same time and place. In fact, the cat had adopted the

working-man in a small way; and every morning regularly, for six months,

it met him and gratefully received its breakfast. After this, it used to

walk along with him for some distance, singing a little song to him the

while, then took her departure. One day, however, pussy was missed, and it

was a long time before anything else was heard of her. Some months after,

in passing a gentleman's gate, in a different part of the town, who should

come out to bid him welcome, but his quondam friend and companion the cat.

She was sleek and fat, and apparently happy as the sunshine. On making

inquiries, it afterwards transpired that during the six months that pussy

used to meet the working-man, the family were on the Continent.

So common a thing has cruelty towards the feline race become, that one can

hardly take a walk along the streets, or into the country, without seeing

the mangled body of some poor puss, which has been stoned, beaten to

death, or worried by dogs, more than likely in the open light of day.

Indeed, a cat's foes are so very numerous, that the only wonder is, how

she escapes with her life so often. Instead of nine lives, it would I

think, be more convenient for her to have ninety and nine. Most common

among pussy's numerous enemies may be mentioned,--

_Firstly, Gamekeepers._ It must certainly be very annoying to keepers, to

have cats prowling indiscriminately among the preserves, destroying eggs,

birds, rabbits, and game of every description; but, after all, the amount

of injury done must be comparatively small; whereas the cruelties

practised on pussy by these men are at times quite revolting. To kill a

cat by shooting her, may under some circumstances be deemed justifiable;

but to wilfully lay traps for its destruction, in which the poor thing may

linger for days, before death ends its misery, is surely far from humane.

Even after pussy is relieved from the trap, it is, in most cases, only to

have her brains dashed out against the nearest tree, or to have her tail

cut off, and her body left to die on the ground.

_Secondly, Street-boys._ Seldom can a boy see a cat anywhere, on the

street or at large, without lifting the nearest stone to shy at her. And

not boys only, but even grown-up men, have I heard boasting of their vile

exploits in cat-killing.

_Thirdly, Men with dogs._ "The only way I like to see a cat," said a

gentleman to me the other day, "is with a dog at her heels;" and, I'm

sorry to say, such sentiments are far from unfrequent. I know, indeed, it

is an usual thing for young men to go out of an evening with

dogs--generally bull-and-terriers--for the express purpose, of slipping

them at the first cat that chance throws in their way. In these cases any

hope of escaping with her life, is for the poor cat very small indeed,

unless under very exceptional circumstances.

The other day, a friend of mine, who isn't very soft-hearted, was taking a

walk in the suburbs of Manchester, with a bull-terrier dog and a bitch of

the same breed--both champion prize-takers, by the way. A cat was started,

and pussy made directly for the door of her master's house. Both the back

and front doors were open. The cat darted in by the back, closely followed

by the dog; while, as if to cut off all chance of escape, the bitch rushed

round and entered by the front. The family were just at breakfast, when

pussy sprang on the table, attacked simultaneously in front and rear by

her canine foes. They literally _tore her in two_ across the table, and

before her owner's eyes. Of course the damage done to the crockery, was

something very considerable, and my friend had to pay five guineas to hush

the matter up; and "Serve you right," I remarked when he told me. (_See

Note O, Addenda._)

And _fourthly, Cat-skin Collectors_. In nearly every large town in the

kingdom, there actually exist parties who make a living by buying cats

for the sake of their hides. They of course have to pay a pretty large

price for a good skin; and this in its turn gives rise to another branch

of industry, namely, cat-hunting. The cat-hunter is lower in the social

scale, and much more cruel and hardened, than even the bird-catcher. The

occupation seems to be thoroughly demoralizing; and its followers live in

the most squalid dens and infamous purlieus of the city, leading an idle,

dissipated life; and, if not dead of disease before the age of

twenty-five, it is because a grateful country has provided them with board

and lodging free, at stony Portland or muddy Chatham.

Chance took me, not long since, to a beautiful rural district in one of

the southern counties of Ireland. Paddy Taffy, as he was called, from, as

he himself expressed it, his "mother being a Welshman, and his father

Irish," was a farmer's lad, and used to bring me the most beautiful

butter-milk, and the freshest of duck eggs every morning, as certain as

sunrise. He was just the right boy in the right place; he knew every

rock, and bog, and corrie in the parish, besides all the most frequented

rabbit hills, and the pools where the fish were never shy. He was always

catering for fun for me, and was never so happy as when he had found me a

new pleasure. Well, one day, Paddy Taffy comes to me with the eggs and

butter-milk as usual; and, grinning like a grampus, "Augh! sir," says he,

"but it's the raal bit of fun yer honour will be having this blessed

morning, if you'll only be after coming to the river with Taffy."

"And I will that, Paddy," says I; for I had nothing better to do.

"I'll go home first though," says he, "and then meet you at the side of

the strame."

A walk of two miles over the hills took me to the place of appointment. I

forgot to say, that Paddy was never unaccompanied by two dogs, one a very

decent well-bred water spaniel, the other a funny-looking frolicsome imp

of a colley. On this day, when I met him, he had the dogs as usual, and

moreover, what in all the world should he be carrying under his arm, but

a butter-tub. Before I had time to inquire the use of the singular

utensil--singular under the circumstances,--

"It's meself," says Paddy, "that's glad you've come, and by the same

token, yonder come the boys with the cat."

On looking round, sure enough, there were three more boys--of course

"boys" is a mere figure of speech, they were all, including Paddy himself,

grown-up men--with three more dogs, one of which, a large white-and-black

Newfoundland, carried a basket in his teeth. Suspecting that some scene of

mischief or cruelty was to be enacted, I asked Paddy to tell me, right

straight away, what the game was to be. "Sure your honour," said he, "it's

only this:--we put the cat in the tub, and float her down the strame, and

send the dogs ahint her."

It was in vain that I tried to persuade Paddy to give up a scheme which

seemed to me little short of diabolical; for I fully expected to see poor

pussy torn limb from limb in the water. Paddy's reasoning was something

after the following fashion:--

"If it's the dogs you're afraid of, sir, sure enough they'll deserve all

they'll get, and more; if it's the cat, then you needn't be afraid at all,

she's been three times at it before. Och! she's the raal taring

blood-and-wounding captain of the butter-boat; besides, she has kittens at

home, and that makes her the devil himself, sure. Moreover, sir,"--here he

lowered his voice; "the boys is ugly boys, and they've ugly bits of timber

below their flippers, and they wouldn't let us spoil the sport for the

dear life itself."

So, making a virtue of necessity, I stopped to see the fun and fair play.

The river here was broad, and still, and deep. The basket was taken from

the Newfoundland, and all the dogs were led out of sight behind an

adjoining hillock. Then the cat--a wild-looking tortoise-shell--was taken

out, placed in the tub, and the tub shoved well off into the stream. Away

went puss with the current, whirling round and round in her awkward boat,

and looking anything but happy, for she evidently knew all about it. Then

a shout from the boys; and down rushed the dogs helter-skelter, taking the

water in grand style, the spaniel first, the Newfoundland following,

springing right on top of the foremost dog, and sinking him by way of a

lark. Up they all swam to the tub, which was still whirling slowly down

stream; but puss was all ready, and stood by cleverly to repel boarders,

evidently determined to sell her nine lives dearly. The spaniel was the

first to place a paw on the tub; and his nose was at once laid open in

consequence. The colley followed suit, and sung small immediately after.

The other dogs had no better success; for each in his turn, and sometimes

two at a time, were wounded, and had to haul off and lie too. _Tableaux_:

four defeated curs, paddling harmlessly round the tub, barking futilely;

puss erect and frizzly, with one paw impressively uplifted, growling

defiance at the lot. All this time, the big Newfoundland had been swimming

about, taking apparently no notice of the unequal contest. Now, however,

he seemed to think the state of affairs justified his interference, in

order to uphold the prestige of the canine race. Poor dog, he at least had

no intention of killing the cat; but only thought of hauling her, tub and

all, safely in shore. With this kind intention, and in that thoroughly

business-like manner only to be seen in dogs of his class, he paddled

directly up to the vessel, and seizing it by the rim almost lifted it out

of the water, as he put about with tail hard a-port to swim to land. Sharp

and condign was the punishment Captain Puss administered to that dog's

nose, for his unasked-for aid. Nelson dropped the tub like a red-hot shot;

and with a howl of injured innocence, wheeled round and set out for land

in disgust. But puss had no idea of letting him off like this; for the

vessel, rather leaky at the best, had been filling for some time and was

fast settling down; and pussy saw at a glance it must be abandoned. Then

what better refuge, than to make a life-boat of that Newfoundland's head

and shoulders? They just seemed cut out for it, so she didn't think twice

about it, but at once made the spring. If poor Nelson swam quick before,

he now seemed to cleave the water like a new-born steam-boat. Pussy,

however, had no intention of letting him land with her, being doubtful as

to the consequences; accordingly, when only a few feet more of water had

to be passed, with one good parting kick, she sprang nimbly to bank, and

made off for the woods as fast as four legs could carry her. The dogs all

looked very foolish; and presently, like true Paddies, they all fell foul

of each other, and fought in the water and out of the water, to their

heart's content. (_See Note P, Addenda._) On the whole, I think pussy had

the best of it.

CHAPTER VI.

PARLIAMENTARY PROTECTION FOR THE DOMESTIC CAT.

Now, after reading the chapter on cruelty to cats, surely every honest man

and kind-hearted lady in the land will agree with me in thinking, that it

is high time our Legislature should do something to put an end to the

persecutions against, and to protect, our very useful pet pussy. Laws have

been framed for the good of horses, dogs, and game; nay, even the very

wild birds of the field have their friends in Parliament; but the poor cat

is left out in the cold.

In the columns of a paper called _The Bazaar_, a few months ago, a

correspondence was kept up for several weeks on the subject of "Cat

Extermination." No doubt it is highly annoying to have one's beautiful

flower-beds torn up, and one's pet pigeons and rabbits worried at night by

prowling cats. But the methods proposed for their destruction were in

some cases diabolical. Poison of all sorts was to be freely used, and

sponges dipped in tallow--worse torture than giving a shark a red-hot

brick, or a lady's steel crinoline fastened up with hide--and wire fences,

so constructed that the cat might find easy access into a garden, but no

egress, and so be torn to pieces with dogs,

"With mair o' horrible and awfu',

Which e'en to name would be unlawfu'."

But I would fain enlist even these men on pussy's side; not certainly for

sake of the cats, but for their own comfort; for no good--unless the

gratification of a feeling of revenge--can accrue from attempts at

extermination, and only from legislation can they hope to get redress. You

may exterminate the Modoc Indians, extirpate the Maories, and annihilate

the Ashantees, but you'll have no chance against the cats. Now, I should

ask, nay, claim, parliamentary protection for our domestic cat, for many

reasons. Here I shall only mention one or two. First then, because she is

a _pet_--a pet in many a nobleman's and gentleman's family, and still

more so at many a poor man's fireside, who cannot afford to maintain any

larger domestic animal; and because pussy is so _beautiful_, so _gentle_,

_loving_, and _kind_, and capable of such high training; because she is so

affectionate towards her owner; and because _she loves the children so_.

She is, indeed, the pet _par excellence_ of babyhood and infancy.

Secondly, because we are Christians, or live in a Christian land; and

because the cruelties that are practised every day in our midst, against

this defenceless creature are harrowing to all our feelings, and a

disgrace to a civilized country.

Thirdly, and lastly _at present_, because the cat is an animal of great

utility.

Putting aside, then, all sentimentality, let us look at the matter in a

plain business point of view.

We ought to do all in our power for the protection and improvement, of

every domesticated animal under our care, whether kept for use or

ornament; no one will think of denying that. But, there is no creature

under the sun which is so systematically ill-used, and carelessly treated

as pussy. The cause is easily understood: we do not thoroughly appreciate

the good the cat does, and, even if we do, being all naturally selfish, we

like to have and hold all we can, for the least possible outlay and

trouble. Thus, pussy's services are poorly repaid and ungratefully

received, because she is so patient and uncomplaining. If horses or other

cattle were treated in like manner, they would quickly deteriorate in

value; but the cat, looked upon as a mere vermin-killer, is different, her

presence alone, however skinny and lean, being generally enough to

frighten away those pests, rats and mice. Indeed, very few of us, I fear,

fully appreciate the amount of real good done, or the large amount of

valuable property saved annually--in a preventive way alone--by cats. More

quickly than almost any other animal, do rats and mice multiply. Take the

field-mouse for example (the _mus leacopus_ or the _mus sylvaticus_), with

the nests of which nearly every school-boy is familiar,--

"Those wee bit heaps o' straw and stubble,

That cost them mony a weary nibble."

These creatures breed at least four or five times a year; and you seldom

find fewer than seven little baby-mice in each nest. The mischief these

creatures sometimes work in grass fields, and in fields of newly-sown

grain, is almost incalculable. Whole acres have been known to be destroyed

in a single night. Cats are the greatest enemies these creatures have:

they destroy them young and old, by the dozen, for mere sport--they seldom

care to eat them.

In-doors, again, what would the baker, the miller, the draper, the grocer,

or even the bookseller do, without his cat?

There is no prettier ornament, I think, a shop-window can have, than an

honest-looking sleek Tom tabby.

"Yes, sir," a hosier said to me the other day; "I do like my cat. I shan't

tell you, because you could not be expected to believe it, not being a

business man, how much money I lost two years ago in one winter, by rats

alone. I tried everything, traps and poison, in vain, and was forced to

fall back on pussy after all."

A Scotch miller, plagued with rats, and hearing that music would frighten

them away, hired a couple of Highland bag-pipers to play in the mill for

two whole nights. (_See Note Q, Addenda._)

"Of course," he said, "the lads and lasses gathered from every corner, and

it cost me oceans o' whisky; but those rats kent good music, I verily

believe they danced to it. So, failing that, I got twa kittens; and three

weeks after, I hadn't a rat about the place."

But looking at the matter statistically: it is the very lowest average to

say that every cat in this country does away with twenty mice or rats per

annum; and, also, on the lowest average, each mouse or rat will destroy

one pound's worth of property a year. Well, there are, in the British

Islands, over 4,000,000 cats; that, multiplied by 20, gives an annual

saving of £80,000,000 worth of property; and those cats do not take

£4,000,000 to keep them alive, not more--at any rate.

Surely, then, so useful a friend to man ought to be protected by law.

Until, however, the Legislature deems it fit to do something for her, I

think it behoves the public in general, and owners of pets and

cat-fanciers in particular, to do everything they can to check cruelty to

cats, and try to make her life a more comfortable and endurable one. Pussy

is very easily kept, and I would, in the name of common humanity,

earnestly beseech my readers to try the effect of kindness and regular

feeding on the cats they may own, and see how soon it will amply repay

them.

_Cat shows_ ought to receive more encouragement than they do at present.

Nothing can be better calculated both to foster a love for these beautiful

creatures, and increase and perfect the different breeds, than those

interesting exhibitions. At present, only a very few of our leading

aristocracy, and gentry patronize cat shows. But they are every day

becoming more and more popular. Birmingham has emulated the Crystal

Palace, and Edinburgh rivals both; and, before very long, I hope to see

every town, in the United Kingdom holding its annual show of cats.

Now, every one I have spoken to on the subject, admits that something

ought to be done, by the Legislature, for the protection of the domestic

cat. The difficulty seems to be where to begin, and _what sort_ of laws to

frame. Begin, I say, by putting "a stout heart to a stay brae" (stiff

hill), and we are sure to do some good.

The following hints are merely meant to be suggestive, and by no means of

a _ne plus ultra_ character. Indeed, _I should feel much obliged to my

readers, if they would kindly forward to me, their views on this subject_.

The law for the destruction of worthless dogs, found straying and begging

in the streets, although at first blush it appeared a cruel one, was

really both humane and kind to the whole canine race. There were too many

useless curs without owners; and there are also Arab cats as well as Arab

dogs--thousands on thousands, who never had a home and never will,

preferring a nomadic life, because they never knew a better. How can we

get rid of this surplus feline population? I would introduce a _cat

licence_. This licence, of course, should cost a mere nominal sum, what

indeed even the poorest man who was able to afford food for a cat, could

easily pay. The licences should be of two kinds, namely:--one for mere

utility cats, and the other for valuable cats, household pets, etc. The

first to cost one shilling and threepence, the other two shillings. A

cat's collar to be presented to the owner on payment of the fee; the

collar stamped and numbered. The shilling licence collar to be dark; the

other of coloured material. In the event of a cat being wantonly killed, a

fine to be inflicted, of not more than £5 for the first class, and £10 for

the second class of licence. This would have a salutary effect in checking

the present trade of cat-skin hunting.

A place would be required in every town, or district, where all cats found

straying without a collar could be taken, and if not claimed within three

or four days, to be either sold, given away, or destroyed. Cats found

doing damage to gardens, poultry, rabbit warrens, or pigeon lofts, to be

captured if possible, and the owners made to pay damages. All cases of

cruelty to cats to be punished by fines, etc.

Starving cats to be penal. I should have an inspector to visit every house

once or twice a year, and see that the cats were in good condition. The

revenue from this tax would be over £200,000 a year. I recommend it to the

attention of Mr. Lowe.

These are only a few crude suggestions, which may be very much improved

upon; one thing at least is certain, _the law ought to protect the

domestic cat_.

CHAPTER VII.

FELINE AILMENTS.

Of course, in one chapter--and that is all my available space--it will be

impossible to notice all, or even the greater part, of the evils that

feline flesh is heir to. I will endeavour, however, to lay down a few

simple rules for those who wish to keep their cats in health, and for

their treatment in the most common diseases.

Prevention is better than cure. I believe that is not an original remark;

but it is nevertheless a very true one, as regards the ailments of the

domestic cat, almost all of which may be kept at bay by even ordinary

attention. We all have a duty to perform to the animals under us, even to

animals of mere utility; and much more cheerfully ought that duty to be

performed, if the creature is kept for the beauty that pleases our eye, or

for the love it loves us with. So long as your pet is in health, and

happy and lively, you can easily forgive yourself for many little acts of

neglect towards her; but when she falls ill, when she is writhing in pain,

and looking in your face with eyes that implore your aid, then, indeed, I

do not envy your feelings, if, coupled with your sorrow for her

sufferings, you have the sad reflection that, many a time, you might have

been better to her.

There is more room for improvement, in the breed and condition of the

domestic cat, than in that of any other animal I know; and no creature so

soon repays its master, for the care and attention he may bestow on it.

Instead of the meagre-looking, small, short-haired, guilty thief, that

used to fly and get up the chimney whenever it heard your footstep, you

have a large, honest, plump pussy, with glossy fur and loving eye, that

runs to meet you with a song, and jumps on your shoulder to have the

pleasure of _giving_ you the first caress--a thing of joy and beauty

for----, well, for a matter of fifteen years at least. And these are the

sort of cats I wish to see throughout the length and breadth of the land.

I like to see people fond of their cats. Some will tell you it is unmanly

to love a cat. Fudge! Man's manliness consists in doing, in a

straightforward manner, whatsoever is natural and right, and not fearing

the face of clay in the doing of it.

"But," said I, the other day at Birmingham, somewhat mischievously

interrupting a sporting friend of mine, who was indulging in a long

diatribe on the comparative merits of two bull-terriers, "But, have you

seen the cats?"

"Confound the cats!" he answered testily, and, after a pause, "D'ye know

what I should like to do? Look, see. There are a hundred and twenty

fox-terriers yonder; well, I'd just turn them into the cat show and close

the doors."

"Well, at all events," said I, "come and see them." Arrived in the

building, my friend walked along the rows of cages, peeping into each with

an air of amusing perplexity. At last he stopped before a beautiful

Persian, and,--

"D--n it all," said he--his language was not very choice--"these aren't

cats, Doctor--they are some foreign beasts."

"Foreign only to bad treatment," I said.

The upshot of it was, that I had to buy him a kitten--one of great

promise. He took it away in his pocket.

"I'll be good to it," he said; "and when it's big, if it's game and all

that, I'll--look, see--I'll give it _a dozen rats every Sunday morning_,

hang me if I don't."

He is a rough nut, my friend; but good at the kernel.

In order, then, to keep pussy in perfect health, pelage, and temper, and

worthy of taking her place before the parlour fire, or on the drawing-room

couch, we must attend to three things, viz., her _food_, her _drink_, and

her _housing_.

FOOD.--I have no doubt that cats were originally admitted to the society

of mankind, on account of their proclivities for killing rats and mice. We

can have some clue to the seeming mystery of the veneration, in which cats

were held in ancient Egypt, if we remember the large stores of grain,

etc., which its inhabitants were in the habit of laying up. No country in

the world depended more, for its very existence as a nation, on its

cereals than did Egypt. We can imagine, then, a time when cats were

unknown even to the Egyptians, and a particular year, when the crops had

nearly failed, when the grain was hoarded carefully, and when, with

famine, came a plague of rats and mice, threatening death and annihilation

to all in the land. We may easily fancy, the reign of terror and gloom

that would ensue; and then we can understand the exuberance of joy, and

general rejoicing on the introduction, by some Magi from a far country, of

their new-found friend the cat. _A nation saved by cats!_ Something of the

kind must undoubtedly have occurred; and thus the stringent laws framed

for pussy's protection, and the love and regard, lavished on her by all

classes of the people, may more easily be accounted for. We ourselves have

always had cats, since the conquest by the Romans, and can neither fully

appreciate their value nor use; but think, reader, just for a moment,

what the consequences would be, and how great the destruction of property

by vermin, were cats to be suddenly exterminated. If then, only for the

sake of making pussy more valuable as a vermin-killer, she ought to have

regular and sufficient food. A cat ought to be fed at least twice a day.

Let her have a dish to herself, put down to her, and removed when the meal

is finished. Experience is the best teacher as regards the quantity of a

cat's food, and in quality let it be varied. Oatmeal porridge and milk, or

white bread steeped in warm milk, to which a little sugar has been added,

are both excellent breakfasts for puss; and for dinner she must have an

allowance of flesh. Boiled lights are better for her than horse-meat, and

occasionally let her have fish. Teach your cat to wait patiently till she

is served--a spoiled cat is nearly as disagreeable as a spoiled child. If

you want to have your cat nice and clean, treat her now and then to a

square inch of fresh butter. It not only acts as a gentle laxative, but,

the grease, combining in her mouth with the alkalinity of her saliva,

forms a kind of natural cat-soap, and you will see she will immediately

commence washing herself, and become beautifully clean. (N.B.--If you wish

to have a cat nicely done up for showing, touch her all over with a sponge

dipped in fresh cream, when she licks herself the effect is wonderful.)

Remember that too much flesh-meat, especially liver,--which ought only to

be given occasionally,--is very apt to induce a troublesome diarrhoea

(looseness). Do not give your pet too many tit-bits at table; but whatever

else you give her, never neglect to let her have her _two regular meals_.

Never give a cat food in an _unwashed dish_.

DRINK. It will save you a great deal of trouble, if you have a proper dish

for pussy's drink; and let it stand constantly in the same corner of the

room. It must be a double dish, that is, two saucers joined together, one

for _water_ and the other for _milk_; and remember, it must be carefully

cleaned every morning, for a highly-bred cat will not drink milk, if it

is the least unsavoury, nor water unless it is pure and free from dust. It

perhaps is not very generally known, that cats nearly always prefer pure

water to milk, when they are really thirsty.

A great treat for pussy, when she is a little bit seedy--of a morning,

perhaps, after having been on the spree all night, and the best of cats

will go on the spree occasionally--is a saucer of nice creamy milk, made

warm with water, and slightly sweetened with sugar. It sets her all to

rights straight away, and you will not find her ungrateful for such

kindness.

HOUSING. It is not at all an uncommon practice, in some parts of the

country, for people to turn their cats out at night, before they

themselves retire to rest. They do so, they will tell you, to prevent

pussy from misbehaving in the house. Now such a practice cannot be too

severely condemned. First and foremost, no well-trained cat, unless under

the most extreme circumstances, such as sudden illness, etc., will make

any filth in the house where she resides; for, as I have said before,

there is no animal in the world more cleanly in its habits than the

domestic cat. Secondly, the practice of turning pussy out of doors at

night, is the very thing to engender filthy habits in her during the day.

And lastly, people who treat their cats in this manner, are accountable,

for all the weight of crime, that falls upon pussy's shoulders.

Badly-housed cats become vagrants and thieves, poor, starved-looking,

beggarly brutes, and adepts at all mischief, besides being unhealthy,

ugly, and filled with fleas. These are the cats that plunder pigeon lofts,

steal chickens, tear up beautiful flower-beds, and murder valuable rabbits

in cold blood. They--

"Sleep all day, and wake all night,

And keep the country round in fright."

A cat that has been well fed and cared for by day, will seldom want to go

out at night. If she does not feel sleepy, she will betake herself to the

cellar, and have a little innocent flirtation with the mice or rats, or

kill cock-roaches when everything else fails her.

Make your pussy's bed on a couch or on the parlour sofa, or let her make

it herself. _Apropos_ of making beds: the other night I was lying on the

sofa, prior to turning into bed--I had lowered the gas and admitted the

moonlight--when Muffie entered, apparently in a great hurry to go to

sleep. Seeing her master lying there, she placed her two forepaws on the

sofa, and looking in my face,--

"Will you kindly get up out of that and let me lie down," she said,

speaking with her eyes.

"Not till I'm ready; I'll see you hanged first," replied I, speaking with

mine.

"Very well, then," said pussy; and she went straight to the table, jumped

up and pulled off the cloth, deliberately rolled herself in it, and went

to sleep. She pulled down the ink along with it, and soiled the carpet,

but that was a matter for me and my landlady to settle between us; puss

did not care a rat.

Never turn your cat out at night unless she asks to go.

Never shut her up in a room all night, but let her have free access to

kitchen or attic; you will thus have a healthy, cleanly puss, and never be

troubled with mice.

The simplest form of medicine for a cat, and one which either in town or

country they should never want, is _grass_. It is an excellent

anti-scorbutic, keeps pussy's blood pure, and acts always as a gentle

laxative, and at times as an emetic, according to the quantity taken, and

of this pussy herself is the best judge. In the country, a cat can always

find grass for herself, but in the town it ought to be given to her.

People who are cat-fanciers, should never take a walk into the country,

without culling a bunch of nice fresh grass for pussy. When you go home,

the best place to keep it will be the cellar, or lumber-room, to which

pussy has access, held fast by the ends between two flat stones or bricks,

a bit of wetted flannel being placed beneath the upper stone to keep the

grass fresh; and the cat will soon know where to go when she finds the

need for it.

Although good and regular food, with proper attention, will generally

succeed in keeping your cats healthy, still these animals have many

troubles which call for medical aid. I give a very few of the commonest,

with the treatment appropriate for each.

_Diarrhoea._ This, for obvious reasons, is a very troublesome complaint in

a cat. It is generally induced by irregular feeding, or exposure to wet

and cold. Fat meat will also bring it on, or too much liver. It very soon

reduces the creature to a mere skeleton, and if not attended to, will end

in dysentery and death. Begin the treatment by giving the little patient

half a small teaspoonful of castor-oil. Give a still smaller dose about

six hours after, to which two drops of laudanum or solution of muriate of

morphiæ has been added. Afterwards give, three times a day, either a

little chalk mixture, with half a drop of laudanum in each dose, or a

teaspoonful of the following mixture:--

[R.] Vin. Ipecac. [dr] j.

Tinct. Kino [dr] iij.

Decoct. Hæmatox [oz] iv.

Give no flesh diet; you may give the cat fish, however, in small

quantities, and arrowroot with bread and milk. A few drops of solution of

lime may be added to each diet with advantage.

In diarrhoea, and in all cases of severe illness, the cat should be turned

into an empty room, with a little fire, a warm bed and a box of earth or

sand.

_To give a cat medicine._ Roll her all but the head in a sheet, and get

some one to hold her. Do not alarm her if possible--mind your fingers--and

pour the medicine little by little down her throat. If a pill or bolus,

dip it in oil, and put it well down and against _the roof of her mouth_.

_Chronic inflammation of the stomach._ This is a frequent disease among

cats. It often follows the administration of poison--supposing the cat to

have escaped immediate death. She refuses nearly all food, has frequent

attacks of vomiting, gets thin and altogether unhealthy-looking, without

any apparent cause. In these cases, I generally recommend the trisnitrate

of bismuth, about a grain, to be placed on the tongue twice a day.

Occasional doses of castor-oil or tincture of rhubarb, with milk diet and

fish, and, if there be much wasting, raw beef may be given twice a day.

_Bronchitis._--Cats are very subject to this complaint, as they are very

liable to catch cold, especially if much exposed. It begins with the

symptoms of a common cold, such as staring coat, shivering, and slight

cough. Then the cat becomes very ill, for a day or two, with the acute

stage of the trouble, which, however, soon passes into the chronic form.

There is now apparent difficulty of breathing, the cat is constantly

coughing, with the tongue hanging over the lower lip; she has an anxious

expression about her face, and the eyes water and are mattery. She gets

rapidly thinner, and moons about, refusing all food, or at times eating

voraciously, and with depraved appetite.

_Treatment._ Begin by giving a simple dose of castor-oil, if no diarrhoea

present; if so, the dose to be combined with two drops of laudanum.

Confine her to the house and feed her on beef-tea and bread, or

milk-arrowroot with beef-tea. If the disease becomes chronic, I know of no

medicine better than--

Extr. Conii

Pil. Scillæ Co. a a gr. xv.

made into a bolus with sufficient bread-crumb; the bolus to be divided

into twenty pills, and one given every night. Keep up her strength, and

complete the cure by a small tea-spoonful of cod-liver-oil twice a day for

a fortnight. This latter often acts like a charm. A certain form of

"mange" often accompanies the disease.

_Consumption._ This is not necessarily, although often, a lung-disease in

cats. Whatever disease induces general wasting of the body, deterioration

of pelage, an unhealthy state of the system, with refusal of, or distaste

for, food--if there be no bilious vomiting--may be called consumption.

_The treatment_, which in most cases is successful, is regulation of diet,

careful housing and attention, raw meat in small quantities twice a day,

and cod-liver-oil twice or thrice a day. Cod-liver-oil must be the sheet

anchor in these cases; but if there is much cough, a little mixture like

the following will not fail to give relief,--

[R.] Tinct. Opii Camph. [dr] j.

Syr. Scillæ [dr] jss.

Sol. Mur. Morphiæ m. x.

Aquæ cum Syrupo ad. [oz] ij.--M.

A teaspoonful occasionally.

_Fits._ Cats are subject to various sorts of fits, delirious and

otherwise. The great thing is to give instant relief. Try first a common

smelling-salts bottle held to the nostrils, or a pinch of dry snuff; if

that does no good, pussy must be bled. I make a minute incision on the

lower part of the ear behind, with a fine-pointed lancet, and then foment

with a sponge and hot water.

The after-treatment will depend much on the condition of the cat. If too

fat or heavy, the diet must be lowered and regulated,--sheep's liver and

melt being given three times a week; if she is thin and emaciated, we must

trust to plenty of milk and raw meat, with cod-liver oil, with one-tenth

of a grain of quinine, twice a day. If the cat be subject to fits the

following will be found useful:--

[R.] Bromid. Potass. gr. x.

Iod. Potass. gr. ijss.

Zinci. Sulph. gr. iv.

Mix with bread-crumb to form twenty pills, and give one morning and night.

_Mange._ I merely use this term because it is a handy one. Cats never have

mange as found in the dog; but they have many kinds of skin diseases, both

pustular and scaly. They may all be treated in a similar manner. Attention

to diet: let it be nourishing, moderate in quantity, and not heating. Let

the cat have plenty of exercise and free access to grass. A lotion of

carbolic acid may be used with advantage, not stronger than one part of

the acid to seventy of water. It must be _very_ carefully mixed, and

washed off again in two or three hours. Afterwards, an ointment of sulphur

and hellebore may be used,--which any chemist will make for you,--and

arsenic must be given internally. The _liquor arsenicalis_ is the medicine

to be used: drop six drops into an ounce bottle of water, and give pussy

one teaspoonful twice a day in her milk. There is no taste with the

medicine. Continue this for a fortnight, then omit for three days, and

resume again until a cure is effected and the hair begins to grow again.

_The Yellows._ This disease is often as fatal in the dog as in the cat. It

is caused by derangement of the liver, and is most common in large overfed

cats, which get little exercise. The disease is ushered in by general

feverishness, loss of appetite, and shivering. Sickness next comes on,

accompanied by vomiting of a bright yellow, or dark green fluid, mixed

with froth. The vomiting continues, and is at times very distressing; and

diarrhoea and dysentery may supervene and cause death. If taken in time,

give her about half a small tea-spoonful of glauber salts, well diluted

with water. This, even if it should cause vomiting, will thereby do good

by clearing the stomach; besides, the shock may tend to check the fever.

If the vomiting continues, try a pinch of white bismuth, placed on the

tongue, or from one to three drops of laurel-leaf water; or, take one

drop of creasote, a few grains of aromatic powder, and sufficient fresh

bread-crumb to form ten pills; and give one three times a day. Give, for

four or five nights half a grain of calomel on the tongue; and if much

diarrhoea is present, give her a grain of white bismuth three times a day,

with one or two drops of laudanum at night; and complete the cure by

infinitesimal doses of quinine, with cod-liver-oil and raw meat, if there

be much emaciation.

_Dysentery._ This is a very serious complaint, and nearly always fatal. It

is best treated by castor-oil to begin with; afterwards, minute doses of

opium and ipecacuanha, with generous diet and occasionally a little port

wine.

_Milk Fever._ On no account should a cat's kittens be taken from her all

at once. Indeed, one should always be left to be reared. In milk-fever the

paps are swollen and painful, the secretion of milk is suppressed, and the

cat is either highly excited--sometimes attempting to kill her kittens--or

dull and stupid-like. A little bleeding will give relief if there is

delirium. The tits are to be well fomented with warm water, and a little

wine given occasionally, with cream. Three or four drops of compound

tincture of camphor, twice a day, will tend to allay irritability.

_Inflammation_ of one or both eyes is not uncommon among cats, either

through injury, or from cold. _Remedy_: A lotion of sulphate of zinc, two

grains to an ounce of water, or a few grains of common alum in warm water,

as a fomentation, will generally effect a cure.

For _ulcers_ and _sores_ of external ears or cheeks, touch them

occasionally with blue-stone, and apply--

[R.] Sulph. Zinci gr. x.

Tinct. Lavandula [dr] j.

Aquæ [oz] iv.

If they are very inveterate, they will only yield to red precipitate

ointment, and arsenic internally, as for mange.

Cats stand operations of all sorts well. If a cat's leg is broken and

lacerated by a trap, cut it off. Don't be afraid. Only leave sufficient

flesh to cover the bone, and have ready a strong red-hot wire, to

cauterize and stop bleeding, then bring the flaps together by a needle and

thread.

Many cats die of apoplexy, many of paralysis. I have dissected some who

had well-marked softening of the brain. And many die in their sleep. As a

general rule, if your cat seems ailing, you can't do wrong to give her an

emetic--try a little weak salt and water; or let her have fresh grass, and

either a dose of castor-oil, or a very little grey powder.

I have often seen cats' lives saved, by giving raw beef and cod-liver oil.

When a cat is in bad health, either her stomach, bowels, liver, or

kidneys, are out of order; and as a rule we can generally only conjecture

which. A medicine, therefore, that acts, gently but effectively, on all

the organs would be a sort of specific for cats' complaints. In the "Cat's

Medicine Chest," advertised at the end of this book, I have placed a

medicament of this nature, which I have often prescribed with excellent

results. There is everything in that little box to make a Pussy well, and

keep her happy.

CHAPTER VIII.

ODDS AND ENDS.

When my pet cat read the heading of this chapter, she sarcastically

remarked,--

"Humph! I suppose you mean that cats tails are the 'ends'; but what's the

'odds'?"

Theodore Nero raised his chin slightly from the carpet to add,--

"So long's you're happy."

"You brute!" said Muffie. "You don't know what you're talking about; you

always are half asleep."

But touching cats' tails (it wouldn't be the best policy to touch every

cat's tail however), a lady asked me seriously at dinner the other day,

"Why does a cat waggle its tail?" Such a question at such a time was a

poser, and, to comfort me, she added, that she really was asking for

information. I answered, as Dundreary, "Becauth a cat ith sthronger than

its tail; if the tail wath the sthronger, the tail would waggle the cat."

Cats are extremely proud of their tails. Pulling a Jew's beard, and a

cat's tail, are indignities of an equality. Doubtless, did mankind possess

these appendages, he would be equally jealous of their honour. But they

have been overlooked somehow in the outfitting. But just imagine how

gingerly we gentlemen would use them! How elegantly we would carry them

under our arms while walking, and how we would flare up if any one trod on

our tail! Imagine Paddy at a fair: "Twelve o'clock, and no foight yet!

Will any gintleman just spit on the point of my tail?"

How useful, too, tails would be in many ways in riding, driving, or

boating! On a rainy day, one's umbrella might be tied to it, so as to have

both hands free; and in mobs and crowds it could be worn out of sight. How

handy, to dig your neighbour in the ribs with, and say, "Sly dog"; or,

"Don't you see, don't you see?" when you'd made a bad pun! How useful to

the orator, for elegant gesticulation, to give point to an argument, or

to indicate derision. For example:--

_Lord Chief Justice_: Did you poke your tail at me, sir?

_Claimant_: No, my lord; I----

_L. C. J._: Very well, sir; don't do it again--that's all.

How convenient the British sailor would find a tail, when aloft reefing

topsails; and, sure, wouldn't Jack also use it as a tobacco stopper? If

men had tails, the medical profession would be benefited thereby. There

would be several new diseases and new operations. How beautifully this

would sound, for instance: "Compound comminuted fracture of the middle

third of caudal extremity;" or, "Amputation at the tenth caudal vertebra;"

which would give rise to advertisements like the following: "Turner's

Circular Splint," and "Beautiful, easy-fitting Caudal Appendages, equal to

Nature; patronised by the illustrious Duke of Dunmore, whose tail was

carried away by a 500 pounder, at the battle of Dorking, during the

famous charge of the gallant London Scottish. Only _seven-and-six_!"

The ends of justice, too, would be assisted. New laws would be added to

the penal code. Garotters would be condemned to "Two years' imprisonment

and deprivation of caudicity." Lesser offences punished by "Six months,

and six inches off tail." Thus we should easily know a rogue in the

street, when we met one.

I must stop. I feel I should warm to the subject; and one of such vast

ramifications ought to have more space for its consideration, than I can

afford. However, to band-masters, acrobats, public-speakers, parsons,

painters, and policemen, tails would indeed be invaluable; and, upon my

honour, when I come to think of it, I only wonder how human beings, have

come to be overlooked in this little matter.

Cats, it may be observed, wag their tails when pleased; when angry, they

lash them; and, when excited, and about to spring on their prey, the tail

quivers. This is all involuntary on the part of pussy, and is an index of

the state of her feelings, the tail being principally supplied with nerves

from the spinal chord, and along this chord the nervous force is carried

from the brain.

_Why do cats always fall on their feet?_ This question is by no means

difficult to answer. When she first falls from a height, her back is

lowermost, and she is bent in a semicircle. If she fell thus, fracture of

the spine, and death, would be the inevitable result. But natural instinct

induces her, after she has fallen a foot or two, to suddenly extend the

muscles of her back, and stretch her legs; the belly now becomes the

convexity, and the back concave, thus altering the centre of gravity, and

bringing her round; then she has only to hold herself in this position in

order to alight on her feet.

One day lately, a lady, who lives in the _fourth_ story of a house in

Dundee, hung the cage with the canary on a nail outside the window. The

cat, from the inside, watched it for some time till, unable any longer to

withstand the temptation, she made a spring, and, somehow missing the

cage, fell to the ground, some forty feet. But she alighted on her feet,

and walked off as if nothing had occurred. (_See Note R, Addenda._)

* * * * *

Cats are wonderfully sure footed. I saw a cat one day, taking an airing

along a housetop, where Blondin could hardly have walked without a pole.

She had a kitten in her mouth, too, to make her performance all the more

entertaining. Another puss I saw sitting on an iron rail, a few feet from

the ground, and apparently fast asleep. The rail was only about one inch

in diameter, and she sat there fully an hour.

* * * * *

Very few cats care to drink spirituous liquors. Dogs are not so

particular. One dog I had once, on board ship--a Labrador retriever--used

to attend the call of "Grog O!" every day, and get his allowance along

with the men. He never got drunk though, and he showed his wisdom by

taking it well watered. I know a little bull-terrier bitch, who goes to a

hotel every day she has a chance. Her favourite tipple is beer poured

upon a salver. As she cannot speak, she sits in a chair and thinks a lot.

As she always meets plenty of friends willing to stand treat, she never

comes home sober. I saw her a few weeks ago, trying in vain to cross the

street. At last she sat down in the middle, and barked to me. I was sorry

to see a well-bred young lady in such a condition, so I helped her home,

for which she showed gratitude next day. (_See Note S, Addenda._)

But my father had a cat,--a big Tom, whom the servants used to make drunk

at any time. His beverage was Scotch whiskey-brose, _i.e._, oatmeal and

whiskey; and I've seen him come staggering into the parlour and tumble

over the leg of the table. Then he would fall asleep.

* * * * *

Cats, as a rule, do not like music; although, if brought up in a musical

family, they learn to tolerate it. A cat is easily taught to come when

whistled upon. A friend of mine has a cat, who, if he commences to whistle

a tune, immediately jumps on his breast, and rubs her head all over his

face, as if trying to comfort him, having the notion, no doubt, that he is

in some sort of anguish. But if he puts out his hand to take down his

fiddle in her presence, she at once erects her back and tail, and growls

at him, in unmistakable anger. However, in this she shows her good taste,

for her master is certainly the most execrable performer, that ever

tickled hair on gut.

* * * * *

There are many old superstitions regarding cats still extant, and many

foolish notions about them, that had much better be unlearned. Sailors

believe, that, if the ship's cat be lost overboard, shipwreck, or some

such disaster, is almost sure to follow. My own old captain, Commander

McH---- was imbued with this notion, hence his extreme care to retain the

black cat on board, as depicted in the tale, which follows this

Chapter--"The Skipper's Imp."

Witches are supposed by some to be constantly attended by an evil spirit,

in the shape of a black cat.

To dream of cats is considered very unlucky. In some of the more

unfrequented districts of Scotland, the good folks are still very careful

to shut up their cats in the house, on Hallowe'en, _i.e._, the 31st of

October. And they tell me, that those cats that have managed to escape

incarceration, that night may be seen, by those brave enough to look,

scampering over hill and dell, and across the lonely moors, each one

ridden by a brownie, a bogle, a spunkie, or some other infernal jockey, in

fact, a devil's own steeplechase. And, they say, those cats never produce

young again; or, if they do, the sooner the kittens are put out of sight

the better; they are subject to startings in their sleep--no wonder--have

a weird unearthly look about their eyes, and soon pine away, and die, and

go--we shudder to say whither.

Cats are supposed to be capital prognosticators of the weather. If a cat

is seen washing her face with more than usual assiduity, it is going to be

stormy; and if pussy sits much with her back to the fire, you may expect

frost and snow in winter, and thunder and lightning, with hail, in summer.

Some portion of pussy's person seems, indeed, to retain the power of

foretelling the weather, even after death, as witness that common toy,

which poor people use instead of a barometer, a wee wee man, and a wee wee

woman, living together in a wee wee house; one of them pops out every day;

if the day is to be fine, the lady comes, if not, like a loving wife, she

sends her good man out--the secret is, the little couple are suspended on

catgut, which twists or untwists according to the state of the atmosphere.

[Illustration: LONG-HAIRED BLACK.

First Prize--Owned by MISS ARMITAGE.]

[Illustration: MANX.

First Prize--Owned by P. WILLIAMS, ESQ.]

There is a very common popular fallacy, regarding cats sucking an infant's

breath, and killing it. The idea is simply preposterous. Cats, being

extremely fond of children, naturally like to get into the cradle, to lie

beside, and watch them. They often crouch upon the child's breast; this

may impede breathing more or less, according to the relative size of the

cat to the baby. If the cat actually sits upon the child's face, then

indeed the poor creature may be suffocated. But such an occurrence is

so very rare, that it is hardly worth mentioning. Many more deaths occur

from bad arrangement of a baby's pillow, in which case the mother must be

glad when there is a cat to put the blame upon.

* * * * *

Cats have any amount of wiliness about them. A dog would scarcely think of

hiding below a bush until its prey came within reach; but cats are adepts

at an ambuscade. A cat knows by experience that a bird--say a

sparrow--looks almost in every direction, saving directly beneath it, and

so pussy always steals a march on it, from below. If a bird is foolish

enough to alight on the top of a clothes-pole, pussy has a very easy

victory. It is that same habit of never looking downwards, which causes

those large birds, which alight on a ship's yards at sea, to be so easily

captured by the sailors.

* * * * *

Instances of jealousy are by no means uncommon in the feline race.

Jealousy is an indication of a sensitive nature, and no animal in the

world is more sensitive than a cat. A lady had a pretty little pussy,

which she had saved from drowning. This cat was excessively fond of its

mistress, was never absent from her while in the house, and outside used

to follow her like a dog. But in course of time, this lady bought a

parrot, and pussy must have thought her mistress was paying the bird too

much attention, for all of a sudden the cat's nature seemed entirely

changed. It did not respond to the lady's caresses; it would sit for an

hour at the time, looking with gathered brows at the parrot, and instead

of accompanying her mistress abroad she remained sulking in doors. In

truth, the cat was breaking her heart; her glossy fur got dry and rough,

and at last she refused all food; so, as she really loved her cat, this

lady parted with her parrot, although with great reluctance. Pussy

recovered at once; the effect seemed magical; and in a few days she was

herself again, the same fun-loving, frolicsome, loving wee cat she had

been before.

A gentleman had a cat whom he called "Pimento"--the pimento-tree, the

reader will remember, is said to permit no rival plant to grow within its

shade. There was another cat in the same house; but Pimento, although

otherwise a nice cat, and gentle and loving in the extreme, would never

allow his master to pay the slightest attention to this cat. If he did,

there was a row at once; and if his master protected the other cat, then

Pimento at once left the room growling, and in high dudgeon. (_See Note T,

Addenda._)

"In a house where I resided," says a correspondent (_see Note U,

Addenda_), "there were two cats, a young and an old one. The young one was

a smart clever animal with a decided turn for humour, the other liked to

be taken notice of. One day I was paying some attention to the latter,

which, of course, was highly pleased. With tail erect, it walked backward

and forward. The young one, which had been pretending to be asleep,

suddenly seized hold of the tail of the other with its paw, gave it a

sharp pull, and was again in a sleeping attitude ere the other had time

to look round. The old one turned about, saw the young one apparently

asleep, and me laughing. It immediately retired to a corner of the room,

thinking no doubt that I was a double villain."

* * * * *

Did the reader ever observe how very fond cats are of sitting on paper.

One can hardly have a pet puss, and not observe this trait. If you have a

book in your lap, up jumps Pussy, and seats herself right on top of it. If

you are writing a letter, Pussy creeps along the table, singing so that

you can hardly be angry with her, and places herself on the writing

materials. My present puss prefers the _Daily Telegraph_ to anything else

for a bed at night, or to have her kittens on; indeed, if the _Standard_

is lying on the same sofa, and she gets on to it by mistake, she will very

soon get off, and on to the _Telegraph_.

* * * * *

Are cats revengeful? Never as a rule. Yet they do sometimes display little

pettish outbursts of temper. They would not be like women if they did not

do that.

A lady tells me that when she is writing, her cat will sometimes come and

plant herself right in the way, and when gently pushed off, she suddenly

loses her temper, and pitches the writing materials right and left on to

the floor.

The following anecdote is highly illustrative of the kind and quantity of

pussy's revenge:--

"Now for the story of the cat; she was a lovely black and white Kâbul cat

(the same as Persian) with hair like floss silk, as long as one's finger;

and as wise--as a great many human beings. She had a great dislike to

roast mutton cold, and when I had nothing else to offer her, her

resentment was most marked: she refused my caresses, and walked straight

off to my dressing-room, where on the top of the chest of drawers stood my

bonnet-box. She jumped up and administered slaps to the box, until it fell

on the floor, when she would come away at once, her revenge being

gratified. This occurred on several occasions, and only when she was

offered a cold mutton dinner. Was not the knowledge of what would

distress my feminine feelings a wonderful piece of intelligence? We quite

looked out for it after the first few times, and would watch her walking

off to my room, and then in a minute or two there would be 'bump, bump,'

and my husband would say, 'There goes your bonnet!'" (_See Note V,

Addenda._)

I only know one instance of what might be called revenge proper. It was a

large black cat of the name of Imp. The poor fellow was exceedingly

ill-used by the servant maid, who used to beat him on every occasion

possible. Imp's dislike to the girl was very great, although he evidently

was afraid to attack her, but one day this servant was coming downstairs

with a tray of dishes, and seeing both her hands full, Imp thought he

ought not to miss such a golden opportunity for retaliation. He

accordingly flew at her, and scratched both her arms and face severely. So

we see that cats, although gentle and forgiving in the extreme to those

who love them, do not easily forget an injury from the hands of a

stranger or cat-hater. (_See Note W, Addenda._)

* * * * *

The reader must have often heard that cats seem to possess some wonderful

instinct which enables them to predict certain kinds of coming

calamities,--such as earthquakes, and different sorts of explosion.

Personally, I know one instance of this, although I cannot explain it,

viz., our ship's cat taking to the rigging and sitting on the main-truck

_before_ our vessel was discovered to be on fire. Another I have from my

grandfather--an officer in the 1st Royals at the time of the last

Anglo-Franco war. My grandmother was bending down, taking something from a

chest on the floor, when suddenly the whole window was blown to

splinters--dust almost--around her, with the thunder of some dreadful

explosion. It was a transport that had entered the harbour--Kiel, I

think--some days before, laden with war munitions, and which had blown up

with all hands. But it was remarked by every one on the quay, that the

ship's cat had been sitting all the morning of the explosion, on the

vessel's main-truck.

* * * * *

Cats are sometimes very fond of horses. I know an instance of this where

the stable-cat was very much attached to a certain horse, and that animal

evidently reciprocated the cat's kindly feelings. And Pussy used to stand

quietly, and allow the horse to lick her fur _the wrong way_, and indeed

seemed to enjoy it. (_See Note G, Addenda._)

* * * * *

We all know how proud Miss Puss is of her song. Barring a certain drowsy

monotony, which acts like a narcotic both on herself and kittens, and at

times even on human beings, there isn't much melody in it, however. This

power of singing becomes lost in sickness, and also in extreme old age. I

know of a cat, of very advanced years, that had given up singing for many

a day, until a kitten--a famous musician in its way--came to reside at her

house. Then poor old Pussy tried hard to get out a bar or two, and her

efforts to succeed were quite ludicrous. Being laughed at she flew into a

passion, and put her spite out on the happy little kitten. The more this

spirited pussy was thrashed however, the louder it sang; so the old cat

left the room in disgust.

* * * * *

The days and years of a cat's life, are on an average fourteen, but many

live very much longer. Fifteen and seventeen are very common ages for

Pussy to die at. The longest time I have ever known a cat live, was till

its twenty-second year, but I have heard of them dying at the age of

thirty.

* * * * *

It is quite a common thing for a cat to feed itself with milk or cream, by

dipping her forepaw in the jug, and then licking it. Pussy is very awkward

at drinking water from a crystal tumbler. At first she will generally

thrust her head too far in, which will make her sneeze; then she will sit

and eye the glass for a time, as if considering how far the water comes

up. Not content with ocular demonstration, she will next put a paw

cautiously in, until the extreme end of her toes touches the water, and

thus, after marking the distance, she can drink in comfort.

A certain cat which had been reared on the spoon, used, when full-grown,

to sit up on her hind-legs, and reaching down the spoon to her mouth with

her paws, swallow the contents. The same cat used to drink milk, if poured

into her mouth from a jug, or any dish with a spout to it. So expert at

that trick did she become, that, sitting up as usual, she used to receive

and swallow a continuous stream poured into her throat from a height of

three feet. (_See Note X, Addenda._)

* * * * *

For the subject matter, of the remainder of this chapter, I am indebted to

a lady who takes a great interest in feline nature. (_See Note H,

Addenda._)

"It is certain," she says, "that cats have some strange instinct, that

sends them, when lost or starving, to certain people. They have followed

me in gay crowded streets, and met me in fields; I have gone into shops

and bought milk and rolls for the starvelings; and have gone again to the

same place, and they were gone,--doubtless, cats on the tramp and

destitute. I have known a friend's cat lost for five days, and it never

attempted to make its sorrows known, until I passed before the window of

an underground room, when her shrieks were horrible to hear, and so

prolonged, that the passers-by stopped to listen. I remained speaking to

the poor creature, whose claws were rattling against the shut door, until

the key was brought, and pussy set free."

She relates an instance of a young surgeon, who was on his way to join his

ship, to sail to the antipodes, and who was followed to the very boat by a

pretty little kitten. As it seemed bent on being a sailor, the surgeon put

the poor thing in his pocket. It was presented to a lady on board, who was

interested in its story, and is now doing duty among the cats of South

Australia,--a country, by the bye, where cats are more fully appreciated

than here.

Beda was a beautiful blue tabby. One summer's morning, down in Devon, she

had been missed for hours, and on being called, a viper glided out from a

thicket in the garden, closely followed by the cat. The snake--until

killed by a lady--kept moving off, but every moment turning round, and

hissing at Beda, who, however, was in no ways put about. The following

also tends to show that cats have no fear of snakes:--

"At Artea, in the province of Orissa, a cobra had his den under a

mulberry-tree, near a garden walk. One day our English tabby cat, Beda,

had been missing with all her kits for some hours. She was found at the

foot of the mulberry-tree, teaching her children to pat the cobra on the

head, every time he popped it out. When the head was protruded too far, a

stroke from puss herself, caused its speedy withdrawal. Thinking the game

dangerous, the cobra, which measured two inches in diameter, was dug out

and killed. We were afterwards told by the natives, that no snake will

kill a cat, as they dislike the fur."

Cats are like dogs, and generally have a favourite among the litter, the

handsomest. Once when Beda was nursing in India, a wild cat sprang in by

the open window, and tried to seize the kittens. Beda made off with her

pet, and the wild cat was beaten out. Beda, however, forgot where she had

hidden the favourite, nor would she be consoled with the other members of

her family. A search was accordingly made, and the pet kitten at last

found on a sofa, in an adjoining bungalo.

This lady's cat never attempted to touch the canary, nor indeed any birds

about the place.

CHAPTER IX.

THE TWO "MUFFIES."--A TALE.