CATS.

Cats are diminished examples of the feline race; but their fur is longer

than that of others, and they bear a greater resemblance to leopards

than to lions. The idea of majesty is not connected with them, but they

are celebrated for grace, elegance, suppleness, and insidiousness. There

is yet a wild species in existence, which inhabits the mountainous and

wooded districts of the northern part of England, and also Scotland,

where it used formerly to be very abundant. It is scarcely necessary to

give a description, even of the untamed species, so well known are the

general characters of these animals. It will be quite sufficient to say,

that the head of the latter is triangular, the soles of the feet of the

male are always black, their tails are bushy, they spring furiously upon

whoever approaches, and utter unearthly cries. Mr. St. John, when

walking up to his knees in heather, over broken ground, came suddenly

upon a wild cat. She rushed out between his legs, every hair standing

up. He cut a good sized stick; and three Skye terriers gave chase till

she took refuge in a corner, spitting and growling. On trying to

dislodge her, she flew at Mr. St. John's face, over the dog's heads; but

he struck her while in the air, and she fell among the dogs, who soon

dispatched her, even though they say, that a wild-cat has twelve instead

of nine lives. If one be taken, those in the neighbourhood are sure to

be also secured, as they will all, in the manner of foxes, assemble

round the body of their relation.

Domestic cats often run away to the woods and subsist on their own

hunting; but these are not to be taken for the real wild cat. The female

of the latter is the smaller of the two, and retires into the fissures

of rocks, or takes possession of some large bird's nest, when she is

about to have young ones. They are found all through Germany, Russia,

Hungary, and the North of Asia, where their fur is much more valued than

it is here, probably on account of the length and quality of the hair.

Our house cats are, by most naturalists, supposed not to have descended

from the above wild species. Professor Temminck ascribes their origin

to the Nubian cat, found in that country by M. Rüppell, but Mr. Bell

differs from him.

Cats were numerous in Egypt, where they were much prized, and honoured

with being embalmed. In Abyssinia they form part of a marriage dowry,

for fear the mice should eat up the other portions. Nevertheless, it

will be perhaps more like the truth if we give our cats an Asiatic

origin. When they run wild, Mr. St. John says, they are often

irreclaimable, and do incredible mischief. There are instances, however,

of their returning to their homes bringing game with them. One known to

the above gentleman, used every winter evening to bring in a woodcock;

another brought back rabbits and hares; the latter was constantly caught

in traps, which accident did not cure him of his wanderings, and he

never struggled, but sat quietly till some one came and effected his

release.

All cats sleep slightly, raise their back, bristle up their hair, and

swell up their tail when angry. Those which have been domesticated are

very inquisitive concerning things rather than persons; smell, and

inspect a new piece of furniture several times; are attached to houses,

and are extremely fond of scents, especially certain kinds emanating

from plants. They seldom eat the rats which they kill, although they

devour mice. If they should swallow a shrew, which is very rare, they

almost immediately reject it. They will sit hour after hour watching at

the mouth of a hole, and after seizing their prey, bring it to their

favourites in the house to show their prowess, and strut about with a

great air of self-satisfaction. They generally have a great dislike to

water; but they have been known to surmount this when they could catch a

fish, for which species of food they have a great preference. The

accusation that they play with you one minute, and scratch you the next,

is too true: the change is not an act of treachery, but arises from

excitement.

I know not whence it is derived; but for centuries cats have been

connected with superstition and sorcery. They have always been regarded

as attendants upon witches; and witches themselves have been said to

borrow their shapes when on their mysterious expeditions. I was once

told, that Lord Cochrane was accompanied by a favourite black cat in a

cruise through the northern seas. The weather had been most

unpropitious; no day had passed without some untoward circumstance, and

the sailors were not slow in attributing the whole to the influence of

the black cat on board. This came to Lord Cochrane's ears, and knowing

that any attempt to reason his men out of so absurd a notion was

perfectly useless, he offered to sacrifice this object of his regard,

and have her thrown overboard. This, however, far from creating any

satisfaction, only alarmed the men still more; they were sure that the

tempests she would then raise would be much worse than any they had yet

encountered; and they implored his lordship to let her remain

unmolested. "There was no help, and they could only hope, if she were

not affronted, they might, at the end of their time, reach England in

safety."

Black cats were always more especially connected with superstitious

feelings, and I was once accosted by a peasant's wife, who, with a phial

in her hand to contain it, requested I would give her a few drops of

blood from the tail of my black kitten; not only to bring luck to her

hearth, but to keep pestilence from her doors. Even lately, a working

woman told me not to turn a stray black cat from my house; for, if I

did, I should never have any prosperity afterwards. Captain Brown tells

us that on Hallowe'en, it was usual in Scotland for families to tie up

their cat, in order to preserve it from being used as a pony by the

witches that night. Those who neglected this precaution, ran the risk of

seeing their cat scampering through the fields, with a witch on its

back, on the high road to Norway. A black cat was commonly sacrificed by

the ancients to Hecate, or among the Scandinavians to Frea, the northern

Hecate. A black cat, sent with a prayer-book and a bag of sand into a

new house, so as to precede the proprietor in possession, was formerly

deemed essential to ensure prosperity to the person changing his abode.

To steal a black cat, and bury it alive, is in the Irish Highlands,

considered as a specific for a disorder in cattle, termed "blacklegs,"

which otherwise proves fatal.

There is yet another peculiar feeling respecting cats--namely, the

strange antipathy which some persons entertain towards them, and is

equally unassailable with that of superstition. Of course, in many

instances, illness and weak indulgence, have greatly increased it, but

in some cases, it has been, unconsciously harboured, and in others

unconquerable. A friend of mine told me, that through life this feeling

had accompanied him, in spite of every endeavour made to eradicate it.

When a little boy he awoke one night, with that trembling and cold

perspiration which always assailed him when a cat was in his vicinity;

and, screaming for help, he intreated the servant who entered to take

away the cat which was in the room. The man searched, but found no

traces of puss. His young master still persisted she was there, but a

renewed search proved equally unavailing, nor could he compose himself

to rest unless the servant remained in the room till he was asleep. This

accomplished, the man left him, and a second time my friend awoke in the

same manner, with the same appeals for assistance. They were obeyed; he

himself joined in the search, and he dragged out a cat from the close

stove (for it was in Germany) which had taken refuge there, and been

wholly unperceived by the man servant. This gentleman's daughter

inherited the same antipathy, and neither the tenderest feelings towards

other "dumb creatures," or the strongest efforts of a mind of unusual

strength, could subdue the uncomfortable and distressing sensation which

thrilled through her when a cat was in her presence.

Where every house has a cat, many two, where every female cat, at least

twice in each year, brings forth a litter of from three to five kittens,

which are not all drowned, some idea may be formed of the untellable

number of cats in London; but it is only the dwellers in what is called

a quiet out-of-the-way street in the metropolis, who can form any notion

of the noise and caterwaulings of this part of the population. All cats,

on first taking possession with their owners, of a house, are obliged to

enter into an alliance, offensive and defensive, with the older

inhabitants of the neighbourhood. In some instances the amicable

arrangements, though less noisy, are the most troublesome, of which I

was convinced in one of my dwellings. The back overlooked a number of

gardens, some of which were large, and to enjoy these sufficiently, a

small, leaded terrace was thrown out from the back drawing-room window.

Here all the cats of all the gardens, the street, and the opposite

square, used to hold their _conversazione_; and I presume, that my cats

were particularly amiable, for often, if the drawing-room window had

been left open during our absence, we found a select few, perhaps five

or six, sitting within its precincts, as if in friendly talk.

Every cat that comes to a new area in London, appears to me to be

obliged to fight till he gains undisturbed possession of it; at least so

it has been the case with my cats. A very fine, bold, powerful tabby,

did this twice with perfect success; but after repeated combats,

although victorious, the struggle made him fierce and occasionally

sullen. Another who was a very beautiful creature, but much weaker, used

to come in with his handsome ears slit, his cheeks swollen, his fur torn

off, his frolic and vivacity gone; and he sat crouching by the fire all

day. At night he was roused by the fierce defiance of his enemies; and

the contest continued till he died from his exertions.

One cat belonging to me had a curious manner of shewing her

disappointment or anger, whichever it might be; for the instant she was

affronted, she walked away and seated herself with her back to the

offending parties. A child of hers was an instance of the effect of

judicious education, for fair and gentle treatment transformed her, from

a violent, outrageous kitten, to a well behaved cat, and it was curious

to see the instantaneous effect which the voice of his preceptress

produced. Cats will learn all sorts of antics, and form all sorts of

contradictory attachments; young birds, puppies, rats and mice

frequently being the objects. My mother-in-law had both a favourite

canary and an equally beloved cat; the former lived in her bed room; and

when alone, she suffered him to fly about the room, for she could there

exclude the latter. Chance, however, discovered that puss was as fond of

the canary as she was; and, to her surprise, on raising her head from

her work one morning, she saw the bird perched upon the cat's body,

without fear, and the cat evidently delighted. After that there was no

further restraint, and the two pets were daily companions. Their

mistress, however, received another fright; for Puss gave a slight

growl, and seizing the bird in her mouth, leaped on to the bed; her tail

swelled out, her hair erect, and her eyes as big as four. The bird was

of course given up for lost: but the door being accidentally left open,

a strange cat had come in; and it was for the preservation of the bird,

that the cat had seized him, and as soon as the intruder was driven

away, she set the prisoner at liberty. Cats have often been trained to

act as game-finders, without offering the slightest damage to their

capture; they have given the alarm when thieves have been breaking in;

and manifested great proofs of reflection and thought, which may be

called reason, without degrading this act of the intellect. One

belonging to my sister invariably goes to her room when she rings her

bell; but does not offer to stir when any other bell in the house is

sounded. Another, in the service of a friend, was in the habit of going

into the garden, catching a bird, and bringing it to the cook,

appearing to ask her to dress it; and yet it was perfectly her own

suggestion.

A brother of mine had a favourite tortoise-shell cat, named Monkey, who

always sat on his shoulder when he was shaving, and evinced every sign

of deep attachment. He left her under the care of some friends when he

went abroad; and, two years after, these ladies were surprised the

evening he was expected home, at the extreme restlessness of the animal.

She heard the arrival of the carriage at the garden gate before they

did; and ere the bell was rung, she was furious to be let out to meet

him. Her joy was indescribable; and the next morning she took her place

on his shoulder as usual, when she saw him prepare his razor. Such

attachments have been known to continue after death; and cats have died

of grief on their master's grave.

I have already noticed a great friendship between a pug dog and a cat;

and the following proof of a similar strength of love is taken from the

pages of M. Wenzel, in his "Observations on the Language of Brutes." "I

had a cat and a dog, which became so attached to each other, that they

would never willingly be asunder. Whenever the dog got any choice morsel

of food, he was sure to divide it with his whiskered friend. They always

ate socially out of one plate, slept in the same bed, and daily walked

out together. Wishing to put this apparently sincere friendship to the

proof, I one day, took the cat by herself into my room, while I had the

dog kept in another apartment. I entertained the cat in a most sumptuous

manner; being desirous to see what sort of meal she would make without

her friend, who had been hitherto her constant table companion. The cat

enjoyed the treat, and seemed entirely to have forgotten the dog. I had

had a partridge for dinner, half of which I intended to keep for supper.

My wife covered it with a plate, and put it into a cupboard, the door of

which she did not lock. The cat left the room, and I walked out on

business; my wife meanwhile sat at work in an adjoining apartment. When

I returned home, she related to me the following circumstances:--The cat

having hastily left the dining-room, went to the dog, and mewed

unusually loudly, and in different tones; which the dog, from time to

time, answered with a short bark. They went together to the door of the

room where the cat had dined, and waited till it was opened. The two

friends then immediately entered the apartment. My wife rose from her

seat, went softly to the door which stood ajar, to observe what was

going on. The cat led the dog to the cupboard which contained the

partridge, pushed off the plate which covered it, and taking out my

intended supper, laid it before her canine friend, who devoured it

quickly."

The following anecdote almost places the cat on a level with the

dog:--"A physician of Lyons was requested to inquire into a murder that

had been committed on a woman of that city. In consequence of this

request, he went to the habitation of the deceased, where he found her

extended lifeless on the floor, weltering in her blood. A large white

cat was mounted on the cornice of a cupboard, at the far end of the

apartment, where he seemed to have taken refuge. He sat motionless with

his eyes fixed on the corpse, and his attitude and looks expressing

horror and affright. The following morning he was found in the same

station and attitude, and when the room was filled with officers of

justice, neither the clattering of the soldier's arms, nor the loud

conversation of the company, could in the least degree divert his

attention. As soon, however, as the suspected persons were brought in,

his eyes glared with increased fury, his hair bristled, he darted into

the middle of the apartment, where he stopped for a moment to gaze at

them, and then precipitately retreated under the bed. The countenances

of the assassins were disconcerted, and they were now, for the first

time, abandoned by their audacious atrocity."

There are several instances on record of cats finding their way back to

their former abodes under circumstances of great difficulty, and the

following appears to me to be one of the most striking of them, and

quoted from a letter:--"When living at Four Paths, Clarendon, Jamaica,

I wanted a cat, and had one given to me, which was nearly full grown; it

was brought from Morgan's Valley Estate, where it was bred, and had

never been removed from that place before. The distance was five miles.

It was put into a canvass bag, and carried by a man on horseback.

Between the two places there are two rivers, one of them about eighty

feet broad and two feet and a half deep, running strong; the other is

wider and more rapid, but less deep; over these rivers are no bridges.

The cat was shut up at Four Paths for some days, and when considered to

be reconciled to her new dwelling, she was allowed to go about the

house. The day after obtaining her liberty, she was missing; and, upon

my next visiting the estate she was brought from, I was quite amazed to

learn that the cat had come back again. Did she swim over the rivers at

the fords where the horse came through with her, or did she ascend the

banks for a considerable distance, in search of a more shallow place,

and where the stream was less powerful? At all events she must have

crossed the rivers, in opposition to her natural habits."

A singular malformation in the cat has been perpetuated, till a race of

tailless cats is now in existence, and which is certainly no improvement

on the original stock; for nothing can be more graceful than the

attitudes of the cat's tail, or more expressive of its feelings of joy

or anger.