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Our Cats
BY
Harrison Weir.
[Illustration:]
[Illustration: The Author
With all good wishes,
Yours truly
Harrison Weir
1889
Engraved by R. TAYLOR, from a Photograph by G. GLANVILLE,
of Tunbridge Wells.]
OUR CATS
AND
ALL ABOUT THEM.
THEIR VARIETIES,
HABITS, AND MANAGEMENT;
AND FOR SHOW,
THE STANDARD OF
EXCELLENCE AND BEAUTY;
DESCRIBED AND PICTURED
[Illustration]
BY
HARRISON WEIR, F.R.H.S.
_NEW EDITION._
London:
PUBLISHED BY THE "FANCIERS' GAZETTE," LIMITED,
54-57, IMPERIAL BUILDINGS, LUDGATE CIRCUS.
1892.
[_All rights reserved._]
TO MY DEAR WIFE,
Alice Mary,
I DEDICATE THIS BOOK,
IN TOKEN OF MY APPRECIATION OF HER GENTLE AND TENDER
KINDNESS TOWARDS ALL ANIMAL LIFE,
MORE PARTICULARLY
"THE CAT."
"_Iddesleigh," Sevenoaks._
PREFACE.
"What is aught, but as 'tis valued?"
_Troilus and Cressida_, Act II.
The following notes and illustrations of and respecting the Cat are the
outcome of over fifty years' careful, thoughtful, heedful observation,
much research, and not unprofitable attention to the facts and fancies
of others. From a tiny child to the present, the love of Nature has been
my chief delight; animals and birds have not only been objects of study,
but of deep and absorbing interest. I have noted their habits, watched
their ways, and found lasting pleasure in their companionship. This love
of animal life and Nature, with all its moods and phases, has grown with
me from childhood to manhood, and is not the least enjoyable part of my
old age.
Among animals possibly the most perfect, and certainly the most
domestic, is the Cat. I did not think so always, having had a bias
against it, and was some time coming to this belief; nevertheless, such
is the fact. It is a veritable part of our household, and is both
useful, quiet, affectionate, and ornamental. The small or large dog may
be regarded and petted, but is generally _useless_; the Cat, a pet or
not, _is of service_. Were it not for our Cats, rats and mice would
overrun our house, buildings, cultivated and other lands. If there were
not _millions_ of Cats, there would be _billions_ of vermin.
Long ages of neglect, ill-treatment, and absolute cruelty, with little
or no gentleness, kindness, or training, have made the Cat
self-reliant; and from this emanates the marvellous powers of
observation, the concentration of which has produced a state analogous
to reasoning, not unmixed with timidity, caution, wildness, and a
retaliative nature.
But should a new order of things arise, and it is nurtured, petted,
cosseted, talked to, noticed, and _trained_, with mellowed firmness and
tender gentleness, then in but a few generations much evil that bygone
cruelty has stamped into its often wretched existence will disappear,
and it will be more than ever not only a useful, serviceable helpmate,
but an object of increasing interest, admiration, and cultured beauty,
and, thus being of value, profitable.
Having said this much, I turn to the pleasurable duty of recording my
deep sense of the kindness of those warm-hearted friends who have
assisted me in "my labour of love," not the least among these being
those publishers, who, with a generous and prompt alacrity, gave me
permission to make extracts, excerpts, notes, and quotations from the
following high-class works, their property. My best thanks are due to
Messrs. Longmans & Co., Blaine's "Encyclopaedia of British Sports;" Allen
& Co., Rev. J. F. Thiselton Dyer's "English Folk-lore;" Cassell &
Company (Limited), Dr. Brewer's "Dictionary of Phrase and Fable," and
"Old and New London;" Messrs. Chatto & Windus, "History of Sign-boards;"
Mr. J. Murray, Jamieson's "Scottish Dictionary," and others. I am also
indebted to Messrs. Walker & Boutal, and The Phototype Company, for the
able manner in which they have rendered my drawings; and for the careful
printing, to my good friends Messrs. Charles Dickens & Evans.
HARRISON WEIR.
"IDDESLEIGH," SEVENOAKS,
_May_ 5_th_, 1889.
PREFACE TO NEW EDITION.
"'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful."
_Othello._
Some time has passed since I published my book, "Our Cats and all about
them," in 1889, and much has taken place regarding these household pets.
All know as well as myself that each and everything about us changes,
nothing stands still; that which is of to-day is past, and that which
was hidden often revealed, sometimes by mere accident, at others by
scientific research; but one was scarcely prepared in any way for so
wonderful "a find" as that of the large number of "mummy" Cats at Beni
Hassan, Central Egypt. They were discovered by an Egyptian fellah,
employed in husbandry, who tumbled into a pit which, on further
examination, proved to be a large subterranean cave completely filled
with mummy Cats, every one of which had been separately embalmed and
wrapped in cloth, after the manner of the Egyptian human mummies, all
being laid out carefully in rows; and here they had lain probably about
three or four thousand years. The "totem" of a section of the ancients,
as is well known, was the Cat; hence when a Cat died it was buried with
due honours, being embalmed, and often decorated in various ways, and,
in short, had as much attention paid to it as a human being. It had long
been believed that a Cat cemetery existed on the east bank of the Nile,
and in the autumn of 1889 the lucky Egyptian, about 100 miles from
Cairo, came unexpectedly upon it.
Immediately on "the find" becoming known, "specimen" mummy Cats were
written for to agents in Egypt, one friend of mine sending for four, and
it appeared for a while that much money would be realised by the owner
of the cave or land in this way; but the number was too great, and the
prices and the interest gave way, and, sad to relate, these former
"Deities" were dug out of their resting-place by hundreds of thousands,
and quickly sold to local farmers, being used for enriching the land.
Other lots found their way to an Alexandrian merchant, and were by him
sent to Liverpool on board the steamer _Pharos and Thebes_.
The consignment consisted of 19-1/2 tons, and were sold by auction, mostly
being bought by a local "fertiliser" merchant. The auction was only
known to the trade, and the lots were "knocked down" at the "giving
away" sums of L3 13_s._ 9_d._, L3 17_s._, to L4 5_s._ _per ton_, the big
and the perfect ones being picked out for the museum and private
collections. The broker who sold used a head of one of these Cats in
lieu of an auctioneer's hammer. And now these tons of "deified" Cats are
used for manure, and in our English soil plants grow into them, and on
them, and of them; and, if it be true, as chemists assert, these plants
take into their system that on which they feed, and so, if so, possibly
in our very bread that we have eaten, we have swallowed "_a little_ at a
time part of if not the whole of a deified cat."
I made several endeavours to find out from those on the spot at
Liverpool whether there was any hair of colours in existence among the
mass of bodies; but in no case could I succeed in getting any, as I had
hoped by this means to possibly come to some conclusion as to the kind
or breed. Of course, it is well known from mummies long in this country
what form, size, and general appearance the Egyptian possessed; but as
yet, as far as I can learn, no one has found so much, if any, of the fur
as to be able to determine the colour.
Apropos with the above, as applying the bodies of the mummy Cats for
manure, comes the modern idea of keeping Cats for their fur. It is
stated that a company has been formed in America for that purpose in
Washington, and an island of some size has been bought or leased for
the purpose. The intention is to raise entirely black Cats; and as their
place of abode will be surrounded by water, it is conjectured that after
the first importation they will go on propagating and producing only
Cats of that beautiful though sombre dark hue. The Cats with which the
island is to be stocked are to be procured from Holland, where already
the "industry" is "at work." So much so that a friend of mine, an
elderly gentleman, sending to a furrier in Holland to know what kind of
fur he would recommend as the best for warmth, received the reply that
Cats' skins "were the most useful and warmest." A few days ago he called
on me wrapped in a cloth coat, with fur collar and cuffs, and _lining
throughout of black Cats' skins_, and I am bound to say that the general
appearance was much in its favour; he also stated that he was in every
way perfectly satisfied.
By-the-bye, the Cat Company intend to feed their Cats on fish, which
abound about the shores of their island, and so they affirm the food
will cost nothing, and their profits consequently be very large. But in
this I hope they have been well informed as to the adaptability of the
Cat to feed _entirely_ on fish, for of this I have my doubts; certainly
those I have had did not appear to thrive if they had fish too often.
Again, as the Cats are to roam the island at their "own sweet will," I
take it there will be at times some "damaging of fur" by the playful way
in which they so often engage, when jealousy incites them to mortal
combat. But possibly this has been considered and duly entered in the
"profit and loss" account.
While writing that portion of my book in which I referred to the
superstitions connected with the domestic Cat, and the amazing stories
told of the witches' Cats, I felt convinced that in those darkened and
foolish times that the very fact of the wonderful faculty the Cat
possesses of applying what it observes to its own purposes was in some
way the cause of the ignorant and superstitious considering that it was
"possessed" of an evil spirit. I therefore searched for proofs among the
evidence given at the trial of witches, and was, as I expected, rewarded
for my trouble. What a Cat would do now would not unreasonably be
thought clever and showing much sagacity, if not attributes of a deeper
kind.
Yet I find that at a trial for witchcraft, the following questions were
put to a man: "Well! and what did you see?" "Well! I saw her Cat walk up
and try to open the door by the latch." "What did you do?" "I
immediately killed it." This, which is now regarded as an everyday
example of the intelligence of the Cat, bore hardly in the evidence
against the witch. Sir Walter Scott, in his letter on "Demonology and
Witchcraft," tells of "a poor old woman condemned, as usual, on her own
confession, and on the testimony of a neighbour, who deposed that he saw
a Cat jump in the accused person's cottage through the window at
twilight, one evening, and that he verily believed the Cat to be the
devil, on which precious testimony the poor wretch was hanged." One more
note and I leave the subject. A certain carpenter, named William
Montgomery, was so infested with Cats, which, as his servant-maid
reported, "spoke among themselves," that he fell in a rage upon a party
of these animals, which had assembled in his house at irregular hours,
and betwixt his Highland arms of knife, dirk, and broadsword, and his
professional weapon of an axe, he made such a dispersion that they were
quiet for the night. In consequence of his blows _two witches_ are said
to have died.
Since writing of the English wild Cat, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr.
Francis Darwin (brother of Mr. Charles Darwin) on board the steamboat
going to St. Servan, when, in the course of conversation, he informed me
that a wild Cat was killed at Bramhope Moor Plantation, in 1841, a
keeper having caught it in _two_ traps.
In February of this year, 1891, my kind friend, Mr. Dresser, of
Orpington, the well-known naturalist, wrote to me to know whether I
would like to have a kitten half-bred between the British Wild Cat and a
domestic she Cat, which I was unfortunately obliged to decline, fearing
it would "make matters unpleasant" with what I had. He very kindly
supplied me with the following particulars forwarded to him by O. H.
Mactheyer, Esq.: "Mr. Harrison Weir can see the papa of the kitten at
the Zoo.
"He is a young Cat (under a year old, we thought, by the teeth). He was
seen one moonlight night in company with my 'stalker's' small lean black
Cat, right away in my deer forest. We caught the papa in a trap after he
had killed a number of grouse, and not being badly hurt, I sent him to
Bartlett at the Zoo. We are thoroughly up to real wild Cats here. I have
caught them forty-three inches from nose to tail-end; tails as thick at
the point as at the root; the ears are also differently set on. Martin
Cats, Polecats, and Badgers are all extinct here, and it is ten years
since we got the last wild Cat, but three have been killed in this
district this winter."
I insert the foregoing as being of much interest, it having been
frequently stated that the wild Cat will not mate with the domestic Cat.
The kitten offered to me is now at Fawley Court, Bucks.
Among the numerous letters I have received from America is one from Mrs.
Mary A. C. Livermore, of Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A., who writes: "I have
just come possessed of a black long-haired Cat from Maine. It is neither
Persian, Angora, nor Indian. They are called here 'Coon' Cats, and it is
vulgarly supposed to be a cross between a common Cat and a 'Coon.' Mine
is a rusty bear-brown colour, but his relatives have been black and
white, blue and white, and fawn and white, the latter the gentlest,
prettiest Cat I know. His tail is very bushy and a fine ruff adorns his
neck. A friend of mine has a pair of these Cats, all black, and the
female consorts with no one but her mate. Yet often she has in her
litter a common short-haired kitten."
Since the above reached me, I have received from another correspondent
in the United States a very beautiful photograph of what is termed a
"Coon" Cat. It certainly differs much from the ordinary long-haired Cat
in appearance; but as to its being a cross with the Racoon, such a
supposition is totally out of the question, and the idea cannot be
entertained. The photographs sent to me show that the ears are unusually
large, the head long, the length being in excess from the eyes to the
tip of the nose, the legs and feet are large and evenly covered with
long, somewhat coarse hair, the latter being devoid of tufts between and
at the extremity of the toes; there are no long hairs of any consequence
either within the ears or at their apex. The frill or mane is
considerable, as is the length of the hair covering the body; the tail
is rather short and somewhat thick, well covered with hair of equal
length, and in shape like a fox's brush. The eyes are large, round, and
full, with a wild staring expression. Certainly, the breed, however it
may be obtained, is most interesting to the Cat naturalist, and the
colour, as before stated, being peculiar, must of course attract his
attention independently of its general appearance.
Since the above was written, I have received the following from Mr.
Henry Brooker, The Elms, West Midford, Massachusetts, United States of
America. After asking for information respecting Cats of certain breeds,
he says: "I have had for a number of years a peculiar strain of
long-haired Cats; they come from the islands off the coast of Maine, and
are known in this country as 'Coon' Cats. The belief is that they have
been crossed with the 'Coon.' This, of course, is untrue. The
inhabitants of these islands are seafaring people, and many years ago
some one on his vessel had a pair of long-haired Cats from which the
strain has sprung. There are few short-haired cats on the island as
there is no communication with the mainland except by boat. I want to
improve my strain and get finer hair than the Cats now have. Yellow Cats
are the most popular kind here, and I have succeeded in producing Cats
of a rich mahogany colour with brushes like a fox. They hunt in the
fields with me, and my Scotch terriers and they are on the most friendly
terms." This, as a corroboration of the foregoing letters and the
photographs, is, I take it, eminently satisfactory.
I have been shown a Siberian Cat, by Mr. Castang, of Leadenhall Market;
the breed is entirely new to me. It is a small female Cat of a
slaty-blue colour, rather short in body and legs; the head is small and
much rounded, while the ears are of medium size. The iris of the eyes is
a deep golden colour, which, in contrast to the bluish colour of the
fur, makes them to appear still more brilliant; the tail is short and
thick, very much so at the base, and suddenly pointed at the tip. It is
particularly timid and wild in its nature, and is difficult to approach;
but, as Mr. Castang observed, this timidity may be "because it does not
understand our language and does not know when it is called or spoken
to." I think it would make a valuable Cat to cross with some English
varieties.
A correspondent writes: "In your book on Cats you do not mention
Norwegian Cats. I was in Norway last year, and was struck by the Cats
being different to any I had ever seen, being much stouter built, with
thick close fur, mostly sandy, with stripes of dark yellow." I suppose I
am to infer that both the sexes are of sandy yellow colour. If so, I
should say it is more a matter of selection than a new colour. I find
generally in the colder countries the fur is short, dense, and somewhat
woolly, and as a rule, judging from the information that I am
continually receiving, whole or entire colours predominate.
Large Cats are by some sought after. This, I take it, is a great
mistake, the fairly medium-sized Cat being much the handsomer of the
two, and they are generally also devoid of that coarseness that is found
apparent in the former; while small Cats are extremely pretty, and I
understand are not only likely to be "in vogue," but are actually now
being bred for their extreme _prettiness_. I have heard of some of these
"Bantam" Cats being produced by that true and most excellent fancier,
Mr. Herbert Young, who not only has produced a Tortoiseshell Tom Cat on
lines laid down by myself, but is also engaged in breeding more, and I
have not the least doubt he will be most successful, he having so been
in producing new colours and some of the finest silver tabby
short-haired Cats as yet seen; these short-haired Cats, in my opinion,
far surpassing for beauty any long-hair ever exhibited, and are
certainly of a "sweeter disposition."
In my former edition of "Our Cats," I wrote hopefully and expectantly of
much good to be derived from the institution of the so-called National
Cat Club, and of which I was then President; but I am sorry to say that
none of those hopes or expectations have been realised, and I now feel
the _deepest regret_ that I was ever induced to be in any way associated
with it. I do not care to go into particulars further than to say I
found the principal idea of many of its members consisted not so much in
promoting the welfare of the Cat as of winning prizes, and more
particularly their own Cat Club medals, for which, though offered at
public shows, the public were not allowed to compete, and when won by
the members, in many cases the public were thoughtlessly misled by
believing it was an open competition. I therefore felt it my duty to
leave the club for that and other reasons. I have also left off judging
of the Cats, even at my old much-loved show at the Crystal Palace,
because I no longer cared to come into contact with _such_ "Lovers of
Cats."
I am very much in favour of the Cats' Homes. The one at Dublin, in which
Miss Swift takes so much interest; the one in London, with Miss Mayhew
working for it with the zeal of a true "Cat lover"; and that where Mr.
Colam is the manager, all deserve and _have_ my _sincerest_ and
_warmest_ approbation, sympathy, and support, standing out as they do in
such bright contrast to those self-styled "Cat lovers," the National Cat
Club.
HARRISON WEIR, F.R.H.S.
SEVENOAKS,
_March_ 12_th_, 1892.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Reduction of Cat's Head drawn for Posting Bill,
Crystal Palace Cat Show, 1871 1
Silver Tankard presented by the Crystal Palace Company
to the Author 3
Cat at Show 5
Miss Saunders' White Persian, "Muff" 6
"The Old Lady." Silver Tabby, good in colour and marking,
the property of the Author, shown at the first Crystal
Palace Cat Show, not for competition 13
Miss Saunders' Long-haired Cat, "Tiger" 16
"The Colonel." Deaf White Persian, the property of the Author 17
Miss F. Moore's Persian Cat, "Fez" 19
Miss Saunders' Long-haired Cat, "Tiger" 20
Specimen of a good White Angora 21
Miss F. Moore's Long-haired Kitten, "Dinah." This and "Chloe,"
as Kittens, won first prize and medal at the Crystal
Palace, Brighton, and Bexley Cat Shows, 1887 23
Miss Saunders' very Light Blue Tabby, "Sylvie." A great beauty,
and winner of first prize, silver medal, and silver sugar
basin, at the Crystal Palace, 1886, as the best long-haired
cat in the show; then the property of Mrs. Christopher 24
Mr. Lloyd's Black Persian, "Minnie." Winner of a large number
of prizes at the Crystal Palace, etc. 26
Mr. A. A. Clarke's White Persian, "Tim." First prize and
silver medal at the Crystal Palace, 1885, and winner of
other prizes 27
Mrs. C. Herring's young Persian Kitten 29
Russian Long-haired Brown Tabby Cat, the property of the Author 30
Miss Mary Gresham's Persian Kitten, "Lambkin."
(Also see reference, p. 36) 33
Long-haired Cat, from Daniel's "Rural Sports," 1813 34
Tail of the same 35
Miss Mary Gresham's "Lambkin No. 2." This, with "Lambkin" at
p. 33, won first and special and silver medal at the
Crystal Palace Show. These were of fine quality, and
were said to be the best pair of long-haired kittens
ever seen 36
Miss Moore's Long-haired Persian, "Bogey." First and medal
at Albert Palace Show, 1885; second at Brighton Show 37
Miss Saunders' White Persian, "Fluffie" 38
Mr. Smith's Tortoiseshell He-Cat. The only tortoiseshell
he-cat of entire colouring ever shown at the Crystal
Palace, and winner of numerous first prizes 39
Example of Tortoiseshell Cat, very dark variety, purposely
showing too much black, which is a defect 40
Light White and Sandy She-Cat and Kittens 43
Tortoiseshell-and-white Cat, finely marked, and prize-winner 44
Head of Mrs. Vyvyan's Royal Cat of Siam. Winner of prizes 47
Example of a properly-marked Brown Tabby, showing the width
of the black bars and spaces between. A fine specimen 48
Example of a Brown Tabby, "Aaron," with the black bars far
too wide, only showing the brown as streaks. This is a
defect. Property of the Author 50
Well-marked Silver Black-banded Tabby. First prize in its
class and special prize, Crystal Palace Show, 1886 51
White Cat at the Show. First prize, blue eyes and deep. 53
Example of a finely-marked Spotted Tabby He-Cat 54
Spotted Tabby Half-bred Indian Wild Cat 56
Head of a well-marked Striped Brown Tabby 57
Mrs. Herring's Dark Blue, Small-banded Tabby, "Chin."
A very fine specimen, and winner of a large number
of prizes, and in champion classes 60
Group of Kittens at the Crystal Palace Cat Show 61
White Cat. Prize-winner in 1879 62
Archangel Blue Cat 66
Group of Kittens in Box 67
Example of a properly-marked Black-and-White Cat 68
Mrs. Vyvyan's Royal Cat of Siam. Prize-winner 69
Mr. Lyon's curiously-marked White-and-Black Cat 70
White Cat. Winner of many prizes 72
Mrs. Lee's Royal Cat of Siam. Winner of many prizes 73
Head of properly-marked Siamese Cat 79
Mr. Thomas's Tortoiseshell Manx She-Cat. Winner of
many prizes at the Crystal Palace 80
Mr. Thomas's Brown Tabby Manx Kitten 83
Kittens at the Show 86
Kittens after the Show 90
The Game of Ball 108
Cat and Kittens. "Happy" 109
What is it? 114
Tired of Play 117
Miss Moore's Long-haired Kitten, "Chloe." (See description
of "Dinah" for p. 23.) Chloe has been several times
shown alone, and never without winning 119
The Cat Club Challenge Vase, presented by Mr. A. A. Clarke,
to be won three times by the same exhibitor before it
is his actual property 122
Example of a finely-marked Tortoiseshell Cat 123
Mr. Babb's beautiful properly-marked Light Silver Tabby
She-Cat. First prize in her class, silver medal and
plate as being the best short-haired cat in the
Crystal Palace Show, 1888; also winner of many
prizes at other shows 133
Example of a well-marked Black-and-White He-Cat 134
Mr. A. A. Clarke's extremely beautiful White Persian
She-Cat, "Miss Whitey." At the Crystal Palace Show
in 1888, first in her class, taking the Crystal Palace
silver medal for the best female cat in the section,
the silver-mounted Doulton ware five o'clock tea-set
for the best long-haired cat in the exhibition, the
gold medal given by the National Cat Club for the
best long-haired cat belonging to a member, the National
Cat Club Challenge Cup, and also winner of numerous
first prizes elsewhere 140
"In full play" 143
Head of Miss Saunders' "Sylvie." (See other description) 146
Wild Cat shown at the Crystal Palace Cat Show, 1871, by
the Duke of Sutherland; caught in Sutherlandshire 154
English Wild Cat, from the British Museum 160
Heading to "Cat Proverbs" 185
Cat watching Mouse-hole 209
Cat on Tight-rope with White Mice 215
Cat made of Snail Shells and Wax 219
Blue Long-haired Persian Cat. Prize-winner 223
Head of Wild Cat 239
[Illustration: A reduction of the large black Cat's Head, drawn for the
Posting Bill giving notice of the first Cat Show at the Crystal Palace,
July 16, 1871.]
OUR CATS
AND ALL ABOUT THEM.
INTRODUCTORY.
After a Cat Show at the Crystal Palace, I usually receive a number of
letters requesting information. One asks: "What is a true tortoiseshell
like?" Another: "What is a tabby?" and yet another: "What is a blue
tabby?" One writes of the "splendid disposition" of his cat, another
asks how to cure a cat scratching the furniture, and so on.
After much consideration, and also at the request of many, I have
thought it best to publish my notes on cats, their ways, habits,
instincts, peculiarities, usefulness, colours, markings, forms, and
other qualities that are required as fitting subjects to exhibit at what
is now one of the instituted exhibitions of "The land we live in," and
also the Folk and other lore, both ancient and modern, respecting them.
It is many years ago that, when thinking of the large number of cats
kept in London alone, I conceived the idea that it would be well to
hold "Cat Shows," so that the different breeds, colours, markings, etc.,
might be more carefully attended to, and the domestic cat, sitting in
front of the fire, would then possess a beauty and an attractiveness to
its owner unobserved and unknown because uncultivated heretofore.
Prepossessed with this view of the subject, I called on my friend Mr.
Wilkinson, the then manager of the Crystal Palace. With his usual
businesslike clear-headedness, he saw it was "a thing to be done." In a
few days I presented my scheme in full working order: the schedule of
prizes, the price of entry, the number of classes, and the points by
which they would be judged, the number of prizes in each class, their
amount, the different varieties of colour, form, size, and sex for which
they were to be given; I also made a drawing of the head of a cat to be
printed in black on yellow paper for a posting bill. Mr. F. Wilson, the
Company's naturalist and show manager, then took the matter in charge,
worked hard, got a goodly number of cats together, among which was my
blue tabby, "The Old Lady," then about fourteen years old, yet the best
in the show of its colour and never surpassed, though lately possibly
equalled. To my watch-chain I have attached the silver bell she wore at
her _debut_.
My brother, John Jenner Weir, the Rev. J. Macdona, and myself acted as
judges, and the result was a success far beyond our most sanguine
expectations--so much so that I having made it a labour of love of the
feline race, and acting "without fee, gratuity, or reward," the Crystal
Palace Company generously presented me with a large silver tankard in
token of their high approval of my exertions on behalf of "the Company,"
and--Cats. Now that a Cat Club is formed, shows are more numerous, and
the entries increasing, there is every reason to expect a permanent
benefit in every way to one of the most intelligent of (though often
much abused) animals.
[Illustration]
THE FIRST CAT SHOW.
On the day for judging, at Ludgate Hill I took a ticket and the train
for the Crystal Palace. Sitting alone in the comfortable cushioned
compartment of a "first class," I confess I felt somewhat more than
anxious as to the issue of the experiment. Yes; what would it be like?
Would there be many cats? How many? How would the animals comport
themselves in their cages? Would they sulk or cry for liberty, refuse
all food? or settle down and take the situation quietly and resignedly,
or give way to terror? I could in no way picture to myself the scene; it
was all so new. Presently, and while I was musing on the subject, the
door was opened, and a friend got in. "Ah!" said he, "how are you?"
"Tolerably well," said I; "I am on my way to the Cat Show." "What!"
said my friend, "that surpasses everything! A show of cats! Why, I hate
the things; I drive them off my premises when I see them. You'll have a
fine bother with them in their cages! Or are they to be tied up? Anyhow,
what a noise there will be, and how they will clutch at the bars and try
and get out, or they will strangle themselves with their chains." "I am
sorry, very sorry," said I, "that you do not like cats. For my part, I
think them extremely beautiful, also very graceful in all their actions,
and they are quite as domestic in their habits as the dog, if not more
so. They are very useful in catching rats and mice; they are not
deficient in sense; they will jump up at doors to push up latches with
their paws. I have known them knock at a door by the knocker when
wanting admittance. They know Sunday from the week-day, and do not go
out to wait for the meat barrow on that day; they----" "Stop," said my
friend, "I see you do like cats, and I do not, so let the matter drop."
"No," said I, "not so. That is why I instituted this Cat Show; I wish
every one to see how beautiful a well-cared-for cat is, and how docile,
gentle, and--may I use the term?--cossetty. Why should not the cat that
sits purring in front of us before the fire be an object of interest,
and be selected for its colour, markings, and form? Now come with me, my
dear old friend, and see the first Cat Show."
Inside the Crystal Palace stood my friend and I. Instead of the noise
and struggles to escape, there lay the cats in their different pens,
reclining on crimson cushions, making no sound save now and then a
homely purring, as from time to time they lapped the nice new milk
provided for them. Yes, there they were, big cats, very big cats,
middling-sized cats, and small cats, cats of all colours and markings,
and beautiful pure white Persian cats; and as we passed down the front
of the cages I saw that my friend became interested; presently he said:
"What a beauty this is! and here's another!" "And no doubt," said I,
"many of the cats you have seen before would be quite as beautiful if
they were as well cared for, or at least cared for at all; generally
they are driven about and ill-fed, and often ill-used, simply for the
reason that they are cats, and for no other. Yet I feel a great pleasure
in telling you the show would have been much larger were it not for the
difficulty of inducing the owners to send their pets from home, though
you see the great care that is taken of them." "Well, I had no idea
there was such a variety of form, size, and colour," said my friend, and
departed. A few months after, I called on him; he was at luncheon, with
two cats on a chair beside him--pets I should say, from their
appearance.
[Illustration]
This is not a solitary instance of the good of the first Cat Show in
leading up to the observation of, and kindly feeling for, the domestic
cat. Since then, throughout the length and breadth of the land there
have been Cat Shows, and much interest is taken in them by all classes
of the community, so much so that large prices have been paid for
handsome specimens. It is to be hoped that by these shows the too often
despised cat will meet with the attention and kind treatment that every
dumb animal should have and ought to receive at the hands of humanity.
Even the few instances of the shows generating a love for cats that have
come before my own notice are a sufficient pleasure to me not to regret
having thought out and planned the first Cat Show at the Crystal
Palace.
[Illustration]
HABITS.
Before attempting to describe the different varieties, I should like to
make a few remarks as to the habits and ways of "the domestic cat."
When judging, I have frequently found some of the exhibits of anything
but a mild and placid disposition. Some have displayed a downright
ferocity; others, on the contrary, have been excessively gentle, and
very few but seemed to recognise their position, and submitted quietly
to their confinement. This is easily accounted for when persons are
accustomed to cats; they know what wonderful powers of observation the
cat possesses, and how quickly they recognise the "why and the
wherefore" of many things. Take for instance, how very _many_ cats will
open a _latched_ door by springing up and holding on with one fore-leg
while with the other they press down the latch catch, and so open the
door; and yet even more observant are they than that, as I have shown by
a case in my "Animal Stories, Old and New," in which a cat opened a
door by pulling it _towards_ him, when he found _pushing_ it of no
avail. The cat is more critical in noticing than the dog. I never knew
but one dog that would open a door by moving the fastening without being
shown or taught how to do it. Cats that have done so are numberless. I
noticed one at the last Crystal Palace Show, a white cat: it looked up,
it looked down, then to the right and then a little to the left, paused,
seemed lost in thought, when, not seeing any one about, it crept up to
the door, and with its paw tried to pull back the bolt or catch. On
getting sight of me, it retired to a corner of the cage, shut its eyes,
and pretended to sleep. I stood further away, and soon saw the paw
coming through the bars again. This cat had noticed how the cage-door
was fastened, and so knew how to open it.
Many cats that are said to be spiteful are made so by ill-treatment,
for, as a rule, I have found them to be most affectionate and gentle,
and that to the last degree, attaching themselves to individuals,
although such is stated not to be the case, yet of this I am certain.
Having had several in my house at one time, I found that no two were the
"followers" of the same member of my family. But it may be argued, and I
think with some degree of justice, Why was this? Was it only that each
cat had a separate liking? If so, why? Why should not three or four cats
take a liking to the same individual? But they seldom or never do, and
for that matter there seems somewhat the same feeling with dogs. This
required some consideration, but that not of long duration. For I am
sorry to say I rapidly came to the conclusion that it was jealousy. Yes,
jealousy! There was no doubt of it. Zeno would be very cossetty, loving,
lovable, and gentle, but when Lulu came in and was nursed he retired to
a corner and seized the first opportunity of vanishing through the door.
As soon as Zillah jumped on my knee and put her paws about my neck, Lulu
looked at me, then at her, then at me, walked to the fire, sat down,
looked round, got up, went to the door, cried to go out, the door was
opened, and----she fled. I thought that Zillah seemed then more than
ever--happy.
Though jealousy is one of if not the ruling attributes of the cat, there
are exceptions to such a rule. Sometimes it may be that two or more will
take to the same person. As an instance of this I had two cats, one a
red tabby, a great beauty; Lillah, a short-haired red-and-white cat; the
latter and a white long-haired one, named "The Colonel," were great
friends, and these associated with a tortoiseshell-and-white, Lizzie.
None of these were absolutely house cats, but attended more to the
poultry yards and runs, looking after the chicken, seeing that no rats
were about or other "vermin," near the coops. Useful cats, very!
Mine was then a very large garden, and generally of an evening, when at
home, I used to walk about the numerous paths to admire the beauties of
the different herbaceous plants, of which I had an interesting
collection. Five was my time of starting on my ambulation, when, on
going out of the door, I was sure to find the two first-named cats, and
often the third, waiting for me, ready to go wherever I went, following
like faithful dogs. These apparently never had any jealous feeling.
Of all the cats Lillah was the most loving. If I stood still, she would
look up, and watch the expression of my face. If she thought it was
favourable to her, she would jump, and, clinging to my chest, put her
fore-paws around my neck, and rub her head softly against my face,
purring melodiously all the time, then move on to my shoulder, while
"The Colonel" and his tortoiseshell friend Lizzie would press about my
legs, uttering the same musical self-complacent sound. Here, there, and
everywhere, even out into the road or into the wood, the pretty things
would accompany me, seeming intensely happy. When I returned to the
house, they would scamper off, bounding in the air, and playing with and
tumbling over each other in the fullest and most frolicsome manner
imaginable. No! I do not think that Lillah, The Colonel, or Lizzie ever
knew the feeling of jealousy. But these, as I said before, were
exceptions. They all had a sad ending, coming to an untimely death
through being caught in wires set by poachers for rabbits. I have ever
regretted the loss of the gentle Lillah. She was as beautiful as she was
good, gentle, and loving, without a fault.
It may have been noted in the foregoing I have said that my cats were
always awaiting my coming. Just so. The cat seems to take note of time
as well as place. At my town house I had a cat named Guadalquiver, which
was fed on horseflesh brought to the door. Every day during the week he
would go and sit ready for the coming of "the cat's-meat man," but he
never did so on the Sunday. How it was he knew on that day that the man
did not come I never could discover; still, the fact remains. How he, or
whether he, counted the days until the sixth, and then rested the
seventh from his watching, is a mystery. A similar case is related of an
animal belonging to Mr. Truebner, the London publisher. The cat, a
gigantic one, and a pet of his, used to go every evening to the end of
the terrace, on which was the house where he resided, to escort Mr.
Truebner back to dinner on his arrival from the City, but was never once
known to make the mistake of going to meet him on Sundays. And again,
how well a cat knows when it is luncheon-time! He or she may be
apparently asleep on the tiles, or snugly lying under a bush basking in
the sun's warm rays, when it will look up, yawn, stretch itself, get up,
and move leisurely towards the house, and as the luncheon-bell rings, in
walks the cat, as ready for food as any there.
Most cats are of a gentle disposition, but resent ill-treatment in a
most determined way, generally making use of their claws, at the same
time giving vent to their feelings by a low growl and spitting
furiously. Under such conditions it is best to leave off that which has
appeared to irritate them. Dogs generally bite when they lose their
temper, but a cat seldom. Should a cat dig her claws into your hand,
never draw it backward, but push forward; you thus close the foot and
render the claws harmless. If otherwise, you generally lose three to
four pieces of skin from your hand; the cat knows he has done it, and
feels revenged. Some cats do not like their ears touched, others their
backs, others their tails. I have one now (Fritz); he has such a great
dislike to having his tail touched that if we only point to it and say
"Tail!" he growls, and if repeated he will get up and go out of the
room, even though he was enjoying the comfort of his basket before a
good fire. By avoiding anything that is known to tease an animal, no
matter what, it will be found that is the true way, combined with gentle
treatment and oft caressing, to tame and to make them love you, even
those whose temper is none of the best. This is equally applicable to
horses, cows, and dogs as to cats. Gentleness and kindness will work
wonders with animals, and, I take it, is not lost on human beings.
The distance cats will travel to find and regain the home they have been
taken from is surprising. One my groom begged of me, as he said he had
no cat at home, and he was fond of "the dear thing," but he really
wanted to be rid of it, as I found afterwards. He took the poor animal
away in a hamper, and after carrying it some three miles through London
streets, threw it into the Surrey Canal. That cat was sitting wet and
dirty outside the stable when he came in the morning, and went in
joyfully on his opening the door, ran up to and climbed on to the back
of its favourite, the horse, who neighed a "welcome home." The man left
that week.
Another instance, and I could give many more, but this will suffice. It
is said that if you wish an old cat to stay you should have the mother
with the kitten or kittens, but this sometimes fails to keep her. Having
a fancy for a beautiful brown tabby, I purchased her and kitten from a
cottager living two miles and a half away. The next day I let her out,
keeping the kitten in a basket before the fire. In half an hour mother
and child were gone, and though she had to carry her little one through
woods, hedgerows, across grass and arable fields, she arrived home with
her young charge quite safely the following day, though evidently very
tired, wet, and hungry. After two days she was brought back, and being
well fed and carefully tended, she roamed no more.
The cat, like many other animals, will often form singular attachments.
One would sit in my horse's manger and purr and rub against his nose,
which undoubtedly the horse enjoyed, for he would frequently turn his
head purposely to be so treated. One went as consort with a Dorking
cock; another took a great liking to my collie, Rover; another loved
Lina, the cow; while another would cosset up close to a sitting hen, and
allowed the fresh-hatched chickens to seek warmth by creeping under her.
Again, they will rear other animals such as rats, rabbits, squirrels,
puppies, hedgehogs; and, when motherly inclined, will take to almost
anything, even to a young pigeon.
At the Brighton Show of 1886 there were two cats, both reared by dogs,
the foster-mother and her bantling showing evident signs of sincere
affection.
There are both men and women who have a decided antipathy to
cats--"Won't have one in the house on any account." They are called
"deceitful," and some go as far as to say "treacherous," but how and in
what way I cannot discover. Others, on the contrary, love cats beyond
all other "things domestic." Of course cats, like other animals, or even
human beings, are very dissimilar, no two being precisely alike in
disposition, any more than are to be found two forms so closely
resembling as not to be distinguished one from the other. To some a cat
is a cat, and if all were black all would be alike. But this would not
be so in reality, as those well know who are close observers of animal
and bird life. Of course the gamekeeper has a dislike to cats, more
especially when they "take to the woods," but so long as they are fed,
and keep within bounds, they are "useful" in scaring away rats from the
young broods of pheasants. What are termed "poaching cats" are clearly
"outlaws," and must be treated as such.
TRAINED CATS.
That cats may be trained to respect the lives of other animals, and also
birds on which they habitually feed, is a well-known fact. In proof of
this I well recollect a story that my father used to tell of "a happy
family" that was shown many years ago on the Surrey side of Waterloo
Bridge. Their abode consisted of a large wire cage placed on wheels. In
windy weather the "breezy side" was protected by green baize, so
draughts were prevented, and a degree of comfort obtained. As there was
no charge for "the show," a box was placed in front with an opening for
the purpose of admitting any donations from those who felt inclined to
give. On it was written "The Happy Family--their money-box." The family
varied somewhat, as casualties occurred occasionally by death from
natural causes or sales. Usually, there was a Monkey, an Owl, some
Guinea-pigs, Squirrels, small birds, Starlings, a Magpie, Rats, Mice,
and a Cat or two. But the story? Well, the story is this. One day, when
my father was looking at "the happy family," a burly-looking man came
up, and, after a while, said to the man who owned the show: "Ah! I don't
see much in that. It is true the cat does not touch the small birds [one
of which was sitting on the head of the cat at the time], nor the other
things; but you could not manage to keep rats and mice in there as
well." "Think not?" said the showman. "I think I could very easily."
"Not you," said the burly one. "I will give you a month to do it in, if
you like, and a shilling in the bargain if you succeed. I shall be this
way again soon." "Thank you, sir," said the man. "Don't go yet," then,
putting a stick through the bars of the cage he lifted up the cat, when
from beneath her out ran a white rat and three white mice.
"Won--der--ful!" slowly ejaculated he of the burly form; "Wonder--ful!"
The money was paid.
Cats, properly trained, will not touch anything, alive or dead, on the
premises to which they are attached. I have known them to sport with
tame rabbits, to romp and jump in frolicsome mood this way, then that,
which both seemed greatly to enjoy, yet they would bring home wild
rabbits they had killed, and not touch my little chickens or ducklings.
[Illustration: "THE OLD LADY."]