The story of Mack begins in a Rescue League in Albany, New York, where
he was born. The story was very interesting to me as the lady who
owned Mack told me about him. I will try to tell you about the unusual
circumstances in this kitten’s life.
Mack was a Tiger Persian kitten but was afflicted with a disease called
mange when he was very small. His mother had a very bad case of the
mange, but instead of being cruelly treated, her mistress took her
to the Rescue League where she could be well cared for. While under
treatment in this League, which was a home for sick, afflicted and
homeless kittens, Mack was born. A short time after his birth he and
his brothers and sisters became afflicted with the disease of the
mother. When Mack was six weeks old the mother and all the kittens,
excepting Mack, were chloroformed, because of their awful condition
with the disease.
Mack was left an orphan kitten with no home but the quarters of the
Rescue League. One day a kind lady went to this League and from all the
kittens there she selected Mack to go and live in her home. This was
very kind of the lady because Mack needed a home. Let us not forget
this example when we see a homeless or hungry kitten. It would be easy
for many people to make kittens happy in this way.
The lady who took Mack had a little daughter who became attached to the
kitten and in a few weeks they were the best of friends. By the time
Mack was one year old he had learned many tricks and was very obedient.
When he wanted someone to open the door he would stand on his hind feet
and put both front feet around the door knob and try to open the door
or attract attention. It was a good thing that Mack learned to do this.
One night he was left in the kitchen to sleep. The little girl of the
home, Mack’s little mistress, was asleep in another room which opened
into the kitchen. About two o’clock that night the girl’s mother heard
Mack rattling the door knob and meowing with all his might. She knew
that something was wrong so she went to the kitchen to see why he was
calling so much. When she opened the door she saw that the kitchen was
on fire and the blaze had almost reached the door of the little girl’s
room, where Mack was calling for help. His fur was scorched a little
but he was not seriously burned. The mother said that five minutes
more and the blaze would have been beyond control and would have made
its way into the little girl’s bedroom. She feels that Mack saved her
daughter’s life by calling for her to open the door.
When the lady and her daughter moved from Albany, New York, to Chicago,
they did not leave Mack behind. He moved with them as one of the family
and lived for a long time in a boarding house in the big city. There
are so many kittens that do not get to travel over the country; neither
do they get to live in boarding houses. Almost any kitten is satisfied
to have a good place to sleep and plenty to eat. There is another thing
most kittens like, and that is kind treatment. They like to be petted
and loved as well as being cared for with home and food.
After leaving Chicago, Mack moved to Kansas City with his kind
mistress. For some time he lived in this city but at last he moved to
Maple Park, just east of the city on the Interurban line to Excelsior
Springs. It was there he lived and spent many happy days. Out there in
the open, away from the crowded streets of the big cities, Mack caught
grasshoppers as his favorite pastime in the fields. This he enjoyed
very much and it was also good exercise for him.
When the lady’s husband would sit down to read the evening paper in
the big Morris chair, Mack would always sleep on one of the arms of
the chair. At meal time he would sit in a high chair at the table and
eat just what was given to him. He would not offer to get on the table
nor bother anything in the kitchen. One day another kitten came into
the home to live but he was not so careful to keep out of the food not
intended for him. When he would try to get into anything or stand up
against the cabinet or table, Mack would box his ears and make him get
away. Mack had been trained from his baby days to keep off the table or
cabinet and to keep out of food which did not belong to him.
The years passed by in Mack’s life until he became a very old cat. He
never forgot his early training and the many little tricks which he had
been taught to do. Of course, his mistress thought more of him after he
saved the little girl from the fire but he always had a favorite place
in everything.
At the ripe old age of fourteen years Mack died. His life had been
useful and he had been kind and obedient through all the years. It
was a sad day in the home when Mack died. The whole family went to
his burial. He was buried at Maple Park in a little grave over which
many tears were shed. He was loved by all and had helped to make life
brighter with the life which he had lived. A beautiful and obedient cat
was laid to rest.
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