all come fawn, with black or dark brown points; the last family are a
little darker on their backs, which gives them a richer appearance than
the pale fawn. Hitherto we have never had any half-bred Siamese; but
there used to be a male Siamese at Hurworth-on-Tees, and there were many
young bred from English cats. They invariably showed the Siamese cross
in the ground colour."
From the foregoing it will be seen how very difficult it is to obtain
the pure breed, even in Siam, and on reference to the Crystal Palace
catalogues from the year 1871 until 1887, I find that there were
_fifteen_ females and only _four_ males, and some of these were not
entire; and I have always understood that the latter were not allowed to
be exported, and were only got by those so fortunate as a most
extraordinary favour, as the King of Siam is most jealous of keeping the
breed entirely in Siam as royal cats.
The one exhibited by Lady Dorothy Nevill (Mrs. Poodle) had three kittens
by an English cat; but none showed any trace of the Siamese, being all
tabby.
Although Mr. Herbert Young was informed by Mr. Brennand that there is
another and a larger breed in Siam, it does not appear that any of these
have been imported; nor have we any description of them, either as to
colour, size, form, or quality of coat, or whether they resemble the
lesser variety in this or any respect, yet it is to be hoped that, ere
long, some specimens may be secured for this country.
Besides Mr. Herbert Young, I am also much indebted to the courtesy of
Mrs. Vyvyan, of Dover, who is a lover of this beautiful breed, and who
kindly sends the following information:
"The original pair were sent from Bangkok, and it is believed that they
came from the King's Palace, where alone the breed are said to be kept
pure. At any rate they were procured as a great favour, after much delay
and great difficulty, and since that time no others have been attainable
by the same person. We were in China when they reached us, and the
following year, 1886, we brought the father, mother, and a pair of
kittens to England.
"Their habits are in general the same as the common cat, though it has
been observed by strangers, 'there is a pleasant wild animal odour,'
which is not apparent to us.
"Most of the kittens have a kink in the tail; it varies in position,
sometimes in the middle, close to the body, or at the extreme end like a
hook."
This tallies with the description given by Mr. Darwin of the Malayan and
also the Siamese cats. See my notes on the Manx cat. Mr. Young had also
noted this peculiarity in "the Royal cat of Siam."
Mrs. Vyvyan further remarks:
"They are very affectionate and personally attached to their human
friends, not liking to be left alone, and following us from room to room
more after the manner of dogs than cats.
"They are devoted parents, the old father taking the greatest interest
in the young ones.
"They are friendly with the dogs of the house, occupying the same
baskets; but the males are very strong, and fight with great persistency
with strange dogs, and conquer all other tom-cats in their
neighbourhood. We lost one, however, a very fine cat, in China in this
way, as he returned to the house almost torn to pieces and in a dying
condition, from an encounter with some animal which we think was one of
the wild cats of the hills.
"We feed them on fresh fish boiled with rice, until the two are nearly
amalgamated; they also take bread and milk _warm_, the milk having been
boiled, and this diet seems to suit them better than any other. They
also like chicken and game. We have proved the fish diet is not
essential, as two of our cats (in Cornwall) never get it.
"Rather a free life seems necessary to their perfect acclimatisation,
where they can go out and provide themselves with raw animal food,
'feather and fur.'
"We find these cats require a great deal of care, unless they live in
the country, and become hardy through being constantly out of doors. The
kittens are difficult to rear unless they are born late in the spring,
thus having the warm weather before them. Most deaths occur before they
are six months old.
"We have lost several kittens from worms, which they endeavour to vomit;
as relief we give them raw chicken heads, with _the feathers on_, with
success. We also give cod-liver oil, if the appetite fails and weight
diminishes.
"When first born the colour is nearly pure white, the only trace of
'points' being a fine line of dark gray at the edge of the ears; a
gradual alteration takes place, the body becoming creamy, the ears,
face, tail, and feet darkening, until, about a year old, they attain
perfection, when the points should be the deepest brown, nearly black,
and the body ash or fawn colour, eyes opal or blue, looking red in the
dark. After maturity they are apt to darken considerably, though not in
all specimens.
"They are most interesting and delightful pets. But owing to their
delicacy and the great care they require, no one, unless a real cat
_lover_, should attempt to keep them; they cannot with safety to their
health be treated as common cats.
"During 'Susan's' (one of the cats) illness, the old he-cat came daily
to condole with her, bringing delicate 'attentions' in the form of
freshly-caught mice. 'Loquat' also provided this for a young family for
whom she had no milk.
"Another, 'Saiwan,' is very clever at undoing the latch of the window in
order to let himself out; tying it up with string is of no use, and he
has even managed to untwist wire that has been used to prevent his going
out in the snow. We have at present two males, four adult females, and
five kittens." One of our kittens sent to Scotland last August, has done
well.
Mrs. Lee, of Penshurst, also has some fine specimens of the breed, and
of the same colours as described. I take it, therefore, that the true
breed, by consensus of opinion, is that of the dun, fawn, or
ash-coloured ground, with black points. Other colours should be shown in
the variety classes.
The head should be long from the ears to the eyes, and not over broad,
and then rather sharply taper off towards the muzzle, the forehead flat,
and receding, the eyes somewhat aslant downwards towards the nose, and
the eyes of a pearly, yet bright blue colour, the ears usual size and
black, with little or no hair on the inside, with black muzzle, and
round the eyes black. The form should be slight, graceful, and
delicately made, body long, tail rather short and thin, and the legs
somewhat short, slender, and the feet oval, not so round as the ordinary
English cat. The body should be one bright, uniform, even colour, not
clouded, either rich fawn, dun, or ash. The legs, feet, and tail black.
The back slightly darker is allowable, if of a rich colour, and the
colour softened, _not clouded_.
[Illustration: PROPERLY MARKED SIAMESE CAT.]
[Illustration]
THE MANX CAT.
The Manx cat is well known, and is by no means uncommon. It differs
chiefly from the ordinary domestic cat in being tailless, or nearly so,
the best breeds not having any; the hind legs are thicker and rather
longer, particularly in the thighs. It runs more like a hare than a cat,
the action of the legs being awkward, nor does it seem to turn itself so
readily, or with such rapidity and ease; the head is somewhat small for
its size, yet thick and well set on a rather long neck; the eyes large,
round, and full, ears medium, and rather rounded at the apex. In colour
they vary, but I do not remember to have seen a white or many black,
though one of the best that has come under my notice was the latter
colour. I have examined a number of specimens sent for exhibition at the
Crystal Palace and other cat shows, and found in some a very short,
thin, twisted tail, in others a mere excrescence, and some with an
appendage more like a knob. These I have taken as having been operated
upon when young, the tail being removed, but this may not be the case,
as Mr. St. George Mivart in his very valuable book on the cat, mentions
a case where a female cat had her tail so injured by the passage of a
cart-wheel over it, that her master judged it best to have it cut off
near the base. Since then she has had two litters of kittens, and in
each litter one or more of the kittens had a _stump of tail_, while
their brothers and sisters had tails of the usual length. But were there
no Manx cats in the neighbourhood, is a query. This case is analogous to
the statement that the short-tailed sheep-dog was produced from parents
that had had their tails amputated; and yet this is now an established
breed. Also a small black breed of dogs from the Netherlands, which is
now very fashionable. They are called "Chipperkes," and have no tails,
at least when exhibited. Mr. St. George Mivart further states that Mr.
Bartlett told him, as he has so stated to myself, that in the Isle of
Man the cats have tails of different lengths, from nothing up to ten
inches. I have also been informed on good authority that the Fox Terrier
dogs, which invariably have (as a matter of fashion) their tails cut
short, sometimes have puppies with much shorter tails than the original
breed; but this does not appear to take effect on sheep, whose tails are
generally cut off. I cannot, myself, come to the same conclusion as to
the origin of the Manx cat. Be this as it may, one thing is certain:
that cross-bred Manx with other cats often have young that are tailless.
As a proof of this, Mr. Herbert Young, of Harrogate, has had in his
possession a very fine red female long-haired tailless cat, that was
bred between the Manx and a Persian. Another case showing the strong
prepotency of the Manx cat. Mr. Hodgkin, of Eridge, some time ago had a
female Manx cat sent to him. Not only does she produce tailless cats
when crossed with the ordinary cat, but the progeny again crossed also
frequently have some tailless kittens in each litter. I have also been
told there is a breed of tailless cats in Cornwall. Mr. Darwin states in
his book on "The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication,"
vol. i. p. 47, that "throughout an immense area, namely, the Malayan
Archipelago, Siam, Pequan, and Burmah, all the cats have truncated tails
about half the proper length, often with a sort of knob at the end."
This description tallies somewhat with the appearance of some of the
Siamese cats that have been imported, several of which, though they have
fairly long and thin tails, and though they are much pointed at the end,
often have a break or kink. In a note Mr. Darwin says, "The Madagascar
cat is said to have a twisted tail." (See Desmares, in Encyclop. Nat.
Mamm., 1820, p. 233, for some other breeds.) Mr. St. George Mivart also
corroborates the statement, so far as the Malay cat is concerned. He
says the tail is only half the ordinary length, and often contorted into
a sort of knot, so that it cannot be straightened. He further states,
"Its contortion is due to deformity of the bones of the tail," and there
is a tailless breed of cats in the Crimea. Some of the Manx cats I have
examined have precisely the kind of tail here described--thin, very
short, and twisted, that cannot be straightened. Is it possible that the
Manx cat originated from the Malayan? Or rather is it a freak of nature
perpetuated by selection? Be this as it may, we have the Manx cat now as
a distinct breed, and, when crossed with others, will almost always
produce some entirely tailless kittens, if not all. Many of the Siamese
kittens bred here have kinks in their tails.
The illustration I give is that of a prize winner at the Crystal Palace
in 1880, 1881, 1882, and is the property of Mr. J. M. Thomas, of
Parliament Street. In colour it is a brindled tortoiseshell. It is eight
years old. At the end of this description I also give a portrait of one
of its kittens, a tabby; both are true Manx, and neither have a particle
of tail, only a very small tuft of hair which is boneless. The hind
quarters are very square and deep, as contrasted with other cats, and
the flank deeper, giving an appearance of great strength, the hind legs
being longer, and thicker in proportion to the fore legs, which are much
slighter and tapering; even the toes are smaller. The head is round for
a she-cat, and the ears somewhat large and pointed, but thin and fine in
the hair, the cavity of the ear has _less hair within it_ (also a trait
of the Siamese) than some other short-haired cats, the neck is long and
thin, as are the shoulders. Its habits are the same as those of most
cats. I may add that Mr. Thomas, who is an old friend of mine, has had
this breed many years, and kept it perfectly pure.
[Illustration]
VARIOUS COLOURS.
Those who have had much to do with breeding, and crossing of animals,
birds, or plants, well know that with time, leisure, and patience, how
comparatively easy it is to improve, alter, enlarge, or diminish any of
these, or any part of them; and looking at the cat from this standpoint,
now that it is becoming "a fancy" animal, there is no prophesying what
forms, colours, markings, or other variations will be made by those who
understand what can be done by careful, well-considered matching, and
skilful selection. We have now cats with no tails, short tails, and some
of moderate length, long tails bushy and hairy; but should a very long
tail be in request, I have no doubt whatever but that in a few years it
would be produced; and now that there is a cat club constituted for the
welfare and improvement of the condition, as well as the careful
breeding of cats, curious and unforeseen results are most likely to be
attained; but whether any will ever excel the many beautiful varieties
we now have, is a problem that remains to be solved.
This concludes the numerous varieties of _colours_ and the proper
markings of the domestic cat, as regards beauty and the points of
excellence to be observed for the purposes of exhibition. These are
distinct, and as such, nearly all have classes for each individual
colour and marking, and therefore it is imperative that the owner should
note carefully the different properties and beauties of his or her
particular specimen, and also as carefully read the schedule of prizes
with such attention as to be enabled to enter his or her pet in the
proper class; for, it is not only annoying to the exhibitor but to the
judge to find an animal sometimes of extraordinary merit placed in the
"wrong class" by _sheer inattention_ to the _printed rules_ and
instructions prepared by the committee or promoters of the show. It is
exceedingly distasteful, and I may say almost distressing, to a judge
to find a splendid animal wrongly entered, and so to feel himself
compelled to "pass it," and to affix the words fatal to all chance of
winning--"Wrong class." Again let me impress on exhibitors to be
careful--very careful--in this matter--this matter of entry--for I may
say it is one of the reasons which has led to my placing these notes on
paper, though I have done so with much pleasure, and with earnest hope
that they will be found of some value and service to the "uninitiated."
Of course there are, as there must be, a number of beautiful shades of
colour, tints, and markings that are difficult to define or describe;
colours and markings that are intermediate with those noticed; but
though in themselves they are extremely interesting, and even very
beautiful, they do not come within the range of the classes for certain
definite forms of lines, spots, or colourings, as I have endeavoured to
point out, and, indeed, it was almost impossible to make a sufficient
number of classes to comprehend the whole. Therefore it has been
considered wisest and even necessary as the most conducive to the best
interests of the exhibitor and also to simplify the difficulties of
judging, and for the maintenance of the various forms of beauty of the
cat, to have classes wherein they are shown under rules of colour,
points of beauty and excellence that are "hard and fast," and by this
means all may not only know how and in what class to exhibit, but also
what their chance is of "taking honours."
As I have just stated, there are intermediate colours, markings, and
forms, so extra classes have been provided for these, under the heading
of "any other variety of colour," and "any other variety not before
mentioned," and "any cats of peculiar structure." In this last case, the
cats that have abnormal formations, such as seven toes, or even nine on
their fore and hind legs, peculiar in other ways, such as three legs, or
only two legs, as I have seen, may be exhibited. I regard these,
however, as malformations, and not to be encouraged, being generally
devoid of beauty, and lacking interest for the ordinary observer, and
they also tend to create a morbid taste for the unnatural and ugly,
instead of the beautiful; the beautiful, be it what it may, is always
pleasant to behold; and there is but little, if any, doubt in my mind
but that the constant companionship of even a beautiful cat must have a
soothing effect. Therefore, not in cats only, but in all things have the
finest and best. Surround yourself with the elegant, the graceful, the
brilliant, the beautiful, the agile, and the gentle. Be it what it may,
animal, bird, or flower, be careful to have the best. A man, it is said,
is made more or less by his environments, and doubtless this is to a
great extent, if not entirely, a fact; that being so, the contemplation
of the beautiful must have its quieting, restful influences, and tend to
a brighter and happier state of existence. I am fully aware there are
many that may differ from me, though I feel sure I am not far wrong when
I aver there are few animals really more beautiful than a cat. If it is
a good, carefully selected specimen, well kept, well cared for, in high
condition, in its prime of life, well-trained, graceful in every line,
bright in colour, distinct in markings, supple and elegant in form,
agile and gentle in its ways, it is beautiful to look at and must
command admiration. Yes! the contemplation of the beautiful elevates the
mind, if only in a cat; beauty of any kind, is beauty, and has its
refining influences.
[Illustration]
USEFULNESS OF CATS.
In our urban and suburban houses what should we do without cats? In our
sitting or bedrooms, our libraries, in our kitchens and storerooms, our
farms, barns, and rickyards, in our docks, our granaries, our ships, and
our wharves, in our corn markets, meat markets, and other places too
numerous to mention, how useful they are! In our ships, however, the
rats oft set them at defiance; still they are of great service.
How wonderfully patient is the cat when watching for rats or mice,
awaiting their egress from their place of refuge or that which is their
home! How well Shakespeare in _Pericles_, Act iii., describes this keen
attention of the cat to its natural pursuit!
The cat, with eyne of burning coal,
Now crouches from (before) the mouse's hole.
A slight rustle, and the fugitive comes forth; a quick, sharp, resolute
motion, and the cat has proved its usefulness. Let any one have a plague
of rats and mice, as I once had, and let them be delivered therefrom by
cats, as I was, and they will have a lasting and kind regard for them.
A friend not long since informed me that a cat at Stone's Distillery was
seen to catch two rats at one time, a fore foot on each. All the cats
kept at this establishment, and there are several, are of the red tabby
colour, and therefore most likely all males.
I am credibly informed of a still more extraordinary feat of a cat in
catching mice, that of a red tabby cat which on being taken into a
granary at Sevenoaks where there were a number of mice, dashed in among
a retreating group, and secured four, one with each paw and two in her
mouth.
At the office of _The Morning Advertiser_, I am informed by my old
friend Mr. Charles Williams, they boast of a race of cats bred there for
nearly half a century. In colour these are mostly tortoiseshell, and
some are very handsome.
The Government, mindful also of their utility, pay certain sums, which
are regularly passed through the accounts quarterly, for the purpose of
providing and keeping cats in our public offices, dockyards, stores,
shipping, etc., thereby proving, if proof were wanting, their
acknowledged worth.
In Vienna four cats are employed by the town magistrates to catch mice
on the premises of the municipality. A regular allowance is voted for
their keep, and, after a limited period of active service, they are
placed on the "retired list," with a comfortable pension.
* * * * *
There are also a number of cats in the service of the United States Post
Office. These cats are distributed over the different offices to protect
the bags from being eaten by rats and mice, and the cost of providing
for them is duly inscribed in the accounts. When a birth takes place,
the local postmaster informs the district superintendent of the fact,
and obtains an addition to his rations.
* * * * *
A short time ago, the budget of the Imperial Printing Office in France,
amongst other items, contained one for cats, which caused some merriment
in the legislative chamber during its discussion. According to the
_Pays_ these cats are kept for the purpose of destroying the numerous
rats and mice which infest the premises, and cause considerable damage
to the large stock of paper which is always stored there. This feline
staff is fed twice a day, and a man is employed to look after them; so
that for cats' meat and the keeper's salary no little expense is
annually incurred; sufficient, in fact, to form a special item in the
national expenditure.
Mr. W. M. Acworth, in his excellent book, "The Railways of England,"
gives a very interesting account of the usefulness of the cat. He says,
writing of the Midland Railway: "A few miles further off, however--at
Trent--is a still more remarkable portion of the company's staff, eight
cats, who are borne on the strength of the establishment, and for whom a
sufficient allowance of milk and cats' meat is provided. And when we say
that the cats have under their charge, according to the season of the
year, from one to three or four hundred thousand empty corn sacks, it
will be admitted that the company cannot have many servants who better
earn their wages.
"The holes in the sacks, which are eaten by the rats which are not
killed by the cats, are darned by twelve women, who are employed by the
company."
Few people know, or wish to know, what a boon to mankind is "The
Domestic Cat." Liked or disliked, there is the cat, in some cases
unthought of or uncared for, but simply kept on account of the
devastation that would otherwise take place were rats and mice allowed
to have undivided possession. An uncle of mine had some hams sent from
Yorkshire; during the transit by rail the whole of the interior of one
of the largest was consumed by rats. More cats at the stations would
possibly have prevented such irritating damage.
And further, it is almost incredible, and likewise almost unknown, the
great benefit the cat is to the farmer. All day they sleep in the barns,
stables, or outhouses, among the hay or straw. At eve they are seen
about the rick-yard, the corn-stack, the cow and bullock yards, the
stables, the gardens, and the newly sown or mown fields, in quest of
their natural prey, the rat and mouse. In the fields the mice eat and
carry off the newly-sown peas or corn, so in the garden, or the ripened
garnered corn in stacks; but when the cat is on guard much of this is
prevented. Rats eat corn and carry off more, kill whole broods of
ducklings and chickens in a night, undermine buildings, stop drains, and
unwittingly do much other injury to the well-being of the farmers and
others. What a ruinous thing it would be, and what a dreadfully horrible
thing it is to be overrun with rats, to say nothing of mice. In this
matter man's best friend is the cat. Silent, careful, cautious, and
sure, it is at work, while the owner sleeps, with an industry, a will,
and purpose that never rests nor tires from dewy eve till rosy morn,
when it will glide through "the cat hole" into the barn for repose among
the straw, and when night comes, forth again; its usefulness scarcely
imagined, much less known and appreciated.